Swettenham Stud manager Alan Morton is returning home to New Zealand at the end of 2012 after 22 years of service to the Sangster family.
Former Bellerive Stud operations manager Brian Gorman will take over as Swettenham manager on February 1.
A former New Zealand-based jumps jockey and trainer, Morton has been an integral part of Swettenham Stud since his days at Sandy Hollow in the Hunter Valley.
“When I arrived in Australia in 1991, John Vincent managed Collingrove,” Swettenham owner Adam Sangster recalled this week. “When John left to work at Tyreel, Alan took over and he helped raise Group 1 winners like Isca, Blackfriars, HaHa and Universal Prince on the property.”
Morton was in charge when Darley leased Collingrove in 2001 and, along with Ollie Tait, stood six stallions for Sheikh Mohammed until they purchased their own Stud in 2003. Alan cared for all the Swettenham bloodstock until their global dispersal in 2008. He moved to Swettenham ,Victoria in 2008 after Nathan Tinkler purchased the Hunter Valley Stud to form Patinack Farms base in NSW.
Morton has been a driving force in Swettenham’s expansion and the Nagambie nursery now stands seven stallions headed by Group 1 sprinters Equiano and Master Of Design and established sires Dash For Cash and Bianconi.
“On behalf of my family, staff and all our loyal clients, I want to thank Alan and his wife Pat and wish them all the best for the future, I owe a lot to Alan” Sangster said. “Swettenham wouldn’t be where we are today without them.”
Brian Gorman brings a wealth of experience to Swettenham after working for 10 years at Segenhoe Stud and John Messara’s Bellerive Stud for 9 years. Born and bred in Victoria, Brian returns home with his wife Catherine and daughter Charlotte.
Assistant Manager Tim Jones and resident pre-productive on farm vet Dr. John Hurley will continue their long associations at Swettenham.