About
Our story
Who is the Osher Group?
At The Osher Group, we stand by our promise ‘Winning Connections’ and pride ourselves on being able to offer both winning and connections.
We cater for every type of owner and budget, and work with you every step of the way, from go to whoa, to let you experience just how unique and astonishing our amazing industry can be, whether it’s choosing to be fully immersed into the science of the industry or to simply meet new people over a meal.
We organise days at the races and other sporting events, networking luncheons at idyllic locations, other exciting experiences, access to some of the world’s premier stud farms and leading racehorse stables, regular trainer updates, and even on-going contact from one of our senior partners.
It’s what being a member of The Osher Group means and what it takes to become a winning connection.
So, what makes us different?
- We start the search for talent well before the auctioneer’s fall of the hammer and with more than just racing in mind
- At The Osher Group, we pride ourselves on being able to identify and ultimately purchase colts and fillies that have the ideal combination of pedigree and confirmation to help develop into elite racehorses that compete at the top level and ultimately realise their highest sale price once we determine their racing career concluded.
- This involves extensive research and, in most cases, monitoring and physically inspecting a yearling’s growth and development for up to 18 months – from foals right through to being offered for sale as yearlings or two-year-olds.
- Once purchased, the next stage is to select the country’s leading trainers for each specific yearling to ensure each horse is best suited to the trainer they are entrusted to. Throughout their career each horse’s progress will be closely monitored as we work with trainers to ensure each horse receives the best possible chance to reach their highest potential.
Once the time comes to head to the races…
…we believe this is where The Osher Group really excels. In conjunction with our trainers, we formulate specialised programs delivering an analytical edge that incorporates form ratings and speed data. This offers a huge advantage in selecting the right races and engaging the correct tactics which are both critical in a sport where every centimetre counts…and costs. This same expert form analysis is employed after each race, allowing owners to receive accurate and unbiased feedback to help us jointly determine future plans.
At every step of the process, we remain mindful of delivering a defined goal of maximizing long-term profitability to owners.
It’s all part of the ownership experience when you become part of The Osher Group
Meet Our Team
Headquartered in Brisbane, we have key people positioned in Sydney and Melbourne to ensure we offer owners from all over Australia the best service and opportunity to find the horse and winning connection that’s right for them.
Led by Wade Burridge, this team is unparalleled in terms of experience and success in identifying horses and ensuring that clients receive the very best information around their investments, both on and off the track.
But finding the right horses is just part of the battle…we also need to have them ready to perform to their very best and deliver the results their pedigree and breeding suggests they can. To this end, we have chosen our trainers not just for their incredible training records, but also for their understanding of what we are trying to achieve and their willingness to embrace our “Winning Connections” mantra. Over the next two years, it is our intention to further engage and broaden our list of preferred trainers to cover all States and expertise.
Founder
Wade Burridge
Coming from a family deeply immersed in racing (two generations as trainers, and a former champion jockey for a father), it was only natural that Wade wound up in the racing industry.
After nine years with Magic Millions (three in Australia and a further six in Singapore), Wade ventured out on his own in 2014 and has since bought, syndicated and sold horses successfully across the world and enjoyed winning success in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Dubai, Malaysia and New Zealand, including Group 1 winners in three countries and Stakes winners in five.
A winner of the Marcus Oldham Scholarship for Horse Business Management (2005), Wade has sold over 400 individual winners, including 2019 horse of the year I’m Incredible, champion sprinter Aramco and a host of Group winners.
Team Profile
Darren Buckingham
Darren’s interest in racing developed from his father taking him to race-tracks all over Victoria at a very young age.
His passion grew and, as a result, he has raced horses for 35 years, enjoying success not only in Australia, but also overseas in Singapore and Macau.
Darren’s professional career as a Casino Executive for over twenty years has seen him live in six different countries and enabled him to perfect his skills in customer service, business development, finance and marketing. He was entrusted to look after VIP players all over Asia and fortunately, this coincided with twelve consecutive years at his favourite race day outside of Australia, the Hong Kong International meeting.
After twenty-three years of being away from his beloved Gold Coast, Darren joined The Osher Group. As a key part of the “Winning Connection” team, Darren’s main responsibility is to be the key contact point for each and every owner in The Osher Group.
Team Profile
Murray Tillet
After completing his Commerce degree in Western Australia, Murray began his professional career in racing with an Equine Industry apprenticeship in New Zealand in the 1980’s.
Returning to his home State, he purchased Goodwood Bloodstock in 1990 and successfully grew the operation before selling the business to Magic Millions later that decade, remaining with them and managing their Western Australian operations until 2012 when he relocated East to Victoria.
With the astute purchase of stallions such as stakes winner Written Tycoon and Zoustar, winner of the million dollar 2013 Golden Rose, Murray helped Woodside Park Stud grow to be recognised as a major player in the breeding industry.
Murray joined the Aquis expansion into Victoria in 2018 to manage their Seymour-based stallion roster until joining The Osher Group in 2021.
Team Profile
Kate Allen
An Entrepreneur who has developed and owned successful brands, Kate Allen has over 20 years experience in the business world. Kate’s professional skill set includes event management.
This, combined with her passion for travel and horse racing has landed her a new role with the Osher Group.
Kate is heading up our ladies in racing division called FILLIES ON TRACK.
Meet our Leading Trainers
Trainer
Nick ryan
A former champion apprentice jockey, Nick Ryan is a trainer on the rise, He attention to details is second to none and he rides the majority of the horses under his care in the mornings in order to be able to strategically plan the best plan forward for where his horses.
Trainer
Robert Heathcote
Rob has been a champion trainer in Queensland for many years with over 1500 winners (including 11 Group 1’s) and over $52 million in prize money. Renowned for getting the absolute best out of his horses, Rob is also a terrific communicator with owners and we look forward to our association.
Trainer
Matthew Dunn
Based at Warwick Farm and Murwillimbah, Matty Dunn and his wife Keira are among racing’s new rising stars. With two locations, they are able to mix up the style of work that the horses can do which has helped them achieve a 16% winning strike rate and over $25 million in prize money.
Trainer
Peter Moody
Trainer of the legendary Black Caviar, over 2600 winners including 57 Group 1’s and over $110 million in prize money, Peter and his team have proven over decades that their systems and processes work better than most. His return to training has been a breath of fresh air to the racing industry and we look forward to the success of our horses under Team Moody.
Trainers
Peter & Manny Gelagotis
Multiple Group 1 winning trainers, Peter and Manny, simply ooze pride and passion and constantly strive to achieve the ultimate glory with their horses. We are excited to join up with the successful Gelagotis boys.
Trainer
Richard Freedman
Trainer
Michael Freedman
Based at Randwick, Michael Freedman comes from one of Australia’s best-credentialled racing families After 20 years in a partnership with his brothers, he branched out on his own in Singapore, where he won 468 races at a strike rate of 15% before further success in Hong Kong. The Osher Group have targeted some of our best-credentialled yearlings with Michael.
Trainers
Mick Price & Michael Kent JNR
A recent partnership that has already made a major impact on the scene presenting emerging superstars such as Profiteer, I’m Thunderstruck and the recent high class 2 year old Jacquinot, The Osher Group is thrilled to be associated with Price Kent Racing.
Trainer
John Smerdon
From the famous Smerdon racing family, John has enjoyed a tremendous strike rate since coming to the Gold Coast. Given it is our home base, we were keen to align with a local trainer that specialises in targeting races for horses to improve their value.
Trainer
Bjorn Baker
Trainer
John O’Shea
After three successful years as Godolphin’s head Australian trainer, John returned to the public training ranks in 2017, celebrating more than 550 winners including 10 Group 1 victories. Renowned for his professional no nonsense attitude, John has proven his ability to extract the best out of all types of racehorses and everyone at The Osher Group looks forward to a long and successful association.
Trainer
Tony Gollan
There has never been a better time to get involved
The Australian Racing landscape has never been healthier and, with prizemoney forecast to increase, financially rewarding. We firmly believe that long term sustained profits in this industry are now very achievable- albeit with the correct advice and careful management. Our attention to detail, expertise and unique service sets us apart and ensures we offer an unrivalled service to all of our clients.
We look forward to welcoming you into The Osher Group and letting you experience Winning Connections.
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