Bruce McNaughton has been competitive in the sport of campdrafting longer than most. In this time, he has tried and tested many horses and has always been a strong believer in dam lines. Over his time in the sport Bruce has owned some of the most pre-eminent mares in campdrafting, he is a wealth of knowledge on horses and campdrafting and there are a few stand out mares he thinks of fondly.
Bruce is black and white in his beliefs and has said that campdrafting is a sport where it all comes out in the wash, the breeding of a horse, the training, conformation, and the time you have put in, it all catches up in the end. Start with a decent horse that is bred right and it will generally save you some headaches.
Amac Drydust was born at St Aubyns Station, Walcha, NSW on October 15, 2016. A bay colt from one of Bruce’s favourite open mares Gold Dust. He was born a well-developed foal that drew attention whenever he was run into the yards. His type, the way he moved, and his demeanour when handled, attracted Bruce’s attention.
A lifetime of breeding horses, including many, many colts and Amac Drydust is the ONLY one born to be given the one liner, “We might not cut him yet”.
Bruce’s theory of never having kept a colt settles around the notion of, “Why have a colt that isn’t as good as your best mares”.
As a breaker he was threatened with being cut at one wrong turn, and the family stated it would not have come as a shock to see Drydust being gelded. However, he passed the rigourous challenge of meeting Bruce’s standards as a 2yo and 3yo.
He was later sent on the road droving with Terry Hall to see what his opinion of the horse was. Terry and Bruce have dealt and swapped horses with each other throughout their careers and often hold the same opinion of what a good horse is.
After many phone calls from Bruce during this time, Terry assured Bruce that Drydust was worthy to keep as a stallion, “I’ve only ever ridden one better, and that was his sire Conman”.
The mare lines in Drydust are all proven campdraft winners and producers. His grandam Oaks Star Dust and her full sister Oaks Serene, both owned by Bruce and Julie, are the only two full sisters in history to produce two Warwick Gold Cup winners:
- 2011 – Serene Acres with Tom Williamson
- 2012 – Cooldust with Ben Tapp
Bruce’s confidence in Drydust to become a producer stems from the history of the horses that stamp his family tree.
The McNaughton’s are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Drydust and his progeny and wish everyone who has bred to him, and will breed to him, every success.
