Rob and Jacqui Jones are city folk through and through, with Rob being a plumber and Jacqui a teacher in North West of Sydney. Growing up and raising a family in the suburbs doesn’t leave much room for other interests. So, owning cutting horses was probably something that they never expected to be a priority.
Growing up as a city child, Rob always had mates that hailed from rural areas and from these friendships he developed a genuine interest in the country lifestyle and atmosphere. He enjoyed getting out in the bush and experiencing the rural lifestyle.
He was introduced to the sport of cutting several years ago and fell in love with not only the horses, but the people within the industry. Rob spent two or three years hanging around the Futurities, watching, learning, and enjoying the excitement that cutting had to offer. The desire to be involved began to stir and the first reaction was that if he and Jacqui were going to be involved it had to be done right. There was obviously too much money involved to not have definite aims and goals. Without truly understanding the costs involved, Rob set about forming a plan to breed a potential cutting champion and a horse that one day he could potentially compete on.
It was recommended that he start with an Embryo Transfer program under the watchful eye of skilled vet Al Simpson, using eggs from a chosen mare to breed with, that mare was One Moore Annie, a beautifully bred mare by One Moore Playboy and from an Acres Destiny mare. Rob then had to decide on a sire. At the time, Dual Rey was the “best”, but Rob got his first shock when he learnt the price of the Service Fee. So he reorganised his thoughts and decided he was better off to spend the same money on two foals by younger sires, finally deciding on Metallic Cat and Highbrow CD.
They were very excited when the program was totally successful and they received two live healthy colts. Being new to the breeding game they had no preference for fillies or colts, they were just pleased to have them alive and healthy. Both colts were agisted on open paddocks until it was time to send them to be broken in. Rob had met Steve Smith, a breaker from Goondiwindi, to take on the task of forwarding these young colts into the next stage of their development. Steve had never broken in a Highbrow CD foal before and was excited for the task ahead. Steve was so taken by the ease in training the young colt that he bred to Highbrow CD in that coming breeding season.
The biggest decision then had to be made. To find a trainer that would fit Rob’s plan to give both horses the best opportunity. With the number of outstanding trainers on offer the decision was a very difficult one. It was early when Rob decided on taking One Wild Cat to Corey Holden. He had watched over the years the ability Corey had in getting the best out of his young horses when the time was right. Peanut, the name that was given to him by Rob’s daughters due to his chestnut colour, headed to Corey’s to be trained in a way that would bring out the flare of his father (High Brow CD) but also the grace of his mother (One Moore Annie).
With Corey and his team guiding One Wild Cat towards his first year as a futurity horse, they found that this horse had something special. His ability to read a cow and his eagerness to show what he had sometimes brought him unstuck, but the potential was there. Over time, and with maturity has seen Peanut develop into a cutting machine, with him eager to please not only his trainer but everyone in general.
Rob believes that he has been blessed with two outstanding Stallions in Moore Metal and One Wild Cat in his first attempt in cutting. Both have outstanding qualities in temperament and attitude. Both cut differently, both never leave a stone unturned. He believes that each one will pave their own destiny of success in the future. But with One Wild Cat, Rob believes his time is now. The maturity and results he has shown in his Futurity and Derby years has been phenomenal. With the continued training and support with Corey and his team, One Wild Cat will be on the lips of many cutters.
Living in the city and not owning a rural property means that everything comes at a cost. Semen and Egg fees, Veterinary costs, Embryo Transfer Fees, agistment, breaking, training, transportation, rugs, farriers, feed etc. It makes it a very expensive exercise when you decide that every step has to be top quality. It’s a journey that needs total commitment, but a journey that can be well rewarded if it is done right.
What Rob feels he has learnt in this industry is to have patience and not to push your horses too hard. Some horses mature early and some much later but in the end if you allow them to be themselves it’s amazing what they can show you when you least expect it.
