Cricket: McCullum saddles up new venture

Brendon McCullum: 'I've always been a self-educated type person. I'll approach something, step...
Brendon McCullum: 'I've always been a self-educated type person. I'll approach something, step back from it, build a system and then get involved.'
Brendon McCullum is mastering a different sport.

The New Zealand cricket captain has launched his own bloodstock company - Vermair Racing Ltd. He's completed his due diligence and market research by attaining small ownership shares in several horses and has taken advice from prominent industry personalities.

The company mission statement is "to build a stable of horses that compete and succeed on the world's biggest racing stage".

It's an ambitious goal but McCullum already has a successful business record.

His most recent venture is Quality New Zealand, which involves fellow international cricketers Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming and Geoff Allott and the export of premium New Zealand products - notably meat, seafood, wine and water - to India.

Quality New Zealand sent its first shipment of lamb to India last month.

McCullum is also involved in CricHQ, an IT company founded with Fleming and Simon Baker that promotes cricket through social media networks and now employs 85 staff.

Racing fits well with the McCullum ethos.

It's competitive, requires strategic planning and patience and accompanies a thriving social scene.

McCullum has ownership shares in 14 gallopers, as well as lease shares in another three, and he part-owns promising pacer Cyclone Prince with Kyle and Heath Mills and former All Black Ant Strachan.

McCullum went close to Group One success at Awapuni last month when the Stephen McKee-trained two-year-old colt Prince Mambo finished second to stablemate O'Marilyn in the $200,000 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes. Another of his colts, Passing Shot ran fourth in the same race.

"I've just tried to get a better understanding of the industry and meet the right people and make sure I had some knowledge about it before embarking on this project," he says.

"I had a bit of a think about what I wanted to achieve and decided to set up Vermair to start a racing brand. I'll race my horses under that banner and try and create a fresh and vibrant brand around it. Long-term I'm really interested in trying to get into the breeding side of the bloodstock industry."

For McCullum, who grew up in Dunedin to the soundtrack of Forbury Park harness racing commentaries from across the neighbourhood, Vermair Racing is the realisation of a long-term ambition.

"It's amazing what a tour to Bangladesh can do, isn't it?" McCullum quips when quizzed about the depth of planning that has gone into the new venture.

"I bought a small percentage in my first horse about six years ago and I really enjoyed it and from there I've just got the bug.

"I've always been a self-educated type person. I'll approach something, step back from it, build a system and then get involved. But you've got to be passionate about it, otherwise it's just a waste of time.

"It's nice to be able to take your attention off cricket for a while. I love playing cricket but sometimes it consumes you as your job and that can affect your real love of the sport and enjoyment of it and that's where racing and the businesses provide an outlet."

While Prince Mambo and Passing Shot's performances at Group One level came with the promise of more to come for their Classic seasons at three, more immediate anticipation stems from exciting Redoute's Choice three-year-old colt El Doute, who won four of his 13 starts for Christchurch

trainer Michael Pitman before transferring to leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller last month.

Developing a stallion prospect and securing valuable breeding mares is also part of the vision. McCullum reasons any additional focus on a colt because it races under the Vermair banner could be the profile it might need to secure a place on a stud farm's stallion roster.

"That's where the branding comes in. If you can have a popular following around those kind of horses, then hopefully it becomes a bit more attractive to some of the studs as well.

"I want [Vermair Racing] to stand on its own two feet but it could help that I'm someone that's playing a high profile sport and that's probably why I've pulled the trigger on it now while I'm still playing and before nobody really cares who you are any more."

"Initially it was about getting an understanding of the industry, about working out where in the country I wanted my horses trained, syndicates and who I go through and what vets they use.

"I'm looking to buy a few more well-bred fillies so I've got that broodmare option and if I'm lucky enough to get a stallion then that would be great too. To do that you need to ensure you are earning a bit of cash through prizemoney. Eventually the breeding side is where I want to end up."

Plenty of sportspeople have enjoyed racing success after retirement.

McCullum shares ownership of Prince Mambo with All Blacks great Sir Colin Meads, while former rugby players Mark and John Carter and Simms Davison have all made their mark on racing.

English footballer Michael Owen has a stable of more than 90 horses and employs a private trainer, while Australian cricketer Mark Waugh manages his wife's stable in New South Wales.

Former Black Caps Kyle Mills and Simon Doull are also keen participants.

"I've just leased one with [Waikato Stud boss] Mark Chittick and Dan Carter so that should be good fun," McCullum says. "Three good lads who don't mind a beer and a day out at the races. For some people, there's a stigma about racing but everyone I've met in the game so far has been great."

McCullum is playing for the Chennai Super Kings - coached by Fleming - in the Indian Premier League. NZ Racing Desk

- Aidan Rodley

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