Aushorse has a six member board of directors comprising:

• Antony Thompson (Chairman)
• Graham Ingerson (Vice Chairman)
• Sally Oakes (Treasurer)
• Ron Gilbert
• John Kelly
• Adam Sangster

Antony Thompson is the seventh generation member of the Thompson family to be actively involved in Widden Stud, founded in 1867 and home to breed-shaping sires such as Todman, Bletchingly, Vain, Marscay, and Lunchtime. He worked with trainer John Morish before stints at Ra Ora Stud and Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, Vinery Kentucky, and later, Eaton Sales with London-based bloodstock agent Luke Lillingston. 

Graham Ingerson is a former Deputy Premier of South Australia who spent almost 20 years in parliament. In eight years of government from 1993 his ministerial duties covered Recreation, Sport and Racing; Tourism; Industrial Affairs; Industry, Trade, Tourism and Major Projects, Infrastructure; Police; Local Government and Emergency Services

He has long held a passion for racing and his achievements included an overhaul of the SA TAB Board, which resulted in significant wagering growth, and introducing the incentive scheme for South Australian breeders. His leadership also created Australian Major Events as a replacement event organisation after the loss of the Adelaide Grand Prix to Melbourne. AME generates more than $150million a year in economic activity.

Since leaving parliament, he has become more involved with the racing industry, including roles as Chairman of TBA’s South Australian branch from 2004 and a Director of the TBA National body from 2005, before his election to the Aushorse Marketing Board this year.

Sally Oakes has been involved in thoroughbred breeding and racing from the time she was old enough to own her first horse. She grew up at renowned Fairfields Stud in Western Australia and took over the running of that farm in 1975 and did so until selling the property in early 2008.

Sally has been a tireless worker on thoroughbred breeding committees for many years. She has been on the board of the WA Thoroughbred Breeders for 30 years, including a nine year stint as President before reverting to the role of Treasurer in 2008. She has also been on the board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia since 1999 and has been Treasurer since 2001.

Property developer Ron Gilbert's passion for thoroughbreds led to the establishment of boutique Highgrove Stud on the Darling Downs in Queensland, a region widely revered as prime thoroughbred country.

In a short space of time, Highgrove has rapidly established itself among the nation's leading yearling consignors, and Ron prides himself on a select band of elite broodmares, focusing on breeding to sell.

John Kelly is the third generation of the Kelly family at Newhaven Park near Boorowa in NSW to be actively involved in the property which stands sires including Zeditave and Marauding, with his father, Richard Kelly.

Newhaven was founded by the Kelly family in 1920 and became a fully-fledged thoroughbred venture in 1945. Apart from a stint in central Queensland, John’s life has been based around Newhaven, where past luminaries include Luskin Star and Wilkes. He is extensively involved in racing through the family’s Burst Pty Ltd syndicate.

Son of the legendary breedshaper Robert, Adam Sangster has spent a lifetime learning about and working in an industry he loves.
 
After finishing school in 1984, Adam worked for Sir Patrick Hogan at his Cambridge Stud in New Zealand and then South Africa for Terrence Millard.
 
He then spent a number of years in the finance industry in both London and Hong Kong, before setting up in Australia in 1991 and overseeing the family’s southern hemisphere operations, in particular, the Sangster-Hayes joint venture, Collingrove Stud in Victoria.
 
He became a naturalized Australian in 2004 and a short time later bought out both family interests in Collingrove and rebranded the stud Swettenham, in line with the name his father had made famous.
 

THE TEAM

Peter McGauran - CEO

Peter joined the organisation after a 25 year career in public life as a member of the Federal Parliament, including a term as Minister for Agriculture.

He sees his principal role as securing greater sales of Australian horses, both within Australia and overseas, which will benefit breeders and the racing industry as a whole.

Peter has a long history in the racing industry, having tried his hand as an amateur jockey and racing steward before entering politics.  He is an avid racing enthusiast and has ambitious visions to further develop Australian breeding into the future.

Rowena Smith - Marketing & PR

Rowena Smith grew up on a mixed grazing property near Boorowa in NSW. Her interest in thoroughbreds originated from her family's involvement in the industry.

She brings practical experience to Aushorse after working in communication and marketing roles within Australia's agricultural sector.

Anna has a professional background in Media and PR and comes to Aushorse after a contract role at Sydney Turf Club during the Golden Slipper Festival.  Prior to her contract at Sydney Turf Club Anna worked at Liquid Ideas a company specialising in marketing, public relations and events.  During her time at Liquid Ideas, Anna assisted Aushorse at the William Inglis & Son Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2009 to promote Aushorse and help introduce potential new owners to the Thoroughbred industry.

Anna’s interest in horses stems from her experience as a sponsored 1* Eventing Equestrian competitor, working and riding on major horse properties in Canada and Tamworth and growing up riding on the family weekender property in Berry, NSW.

Before graduating with a degree in International Agricultural and Equine Business Management, Fiona spent time preparing yearlings in Kentucky and working on stud farms in the UK and New Zealand.

Fiona also completed two and a half years at William Inglis and Son, working in the marketing and bloodstock departments. On returning to Europe, Fiona spent three years in the marketing and nominations department of Derrinstown Stud, leaving in 2002 to set up and manage the office of De Burgh Equine, Hubie de Burgh’s respected bloodstock consultancy.

Nathan Exelby - Website, Research and PR

After completing a Sports Journalism degree in 1996, Nathan has carved out a successful career in the media and specifically within the thoroughbred industry.

Nathan was editor of Turf Monthly magazine from June 2000 to May 2008, in which time he was named Young Thoroughbred Writer of the Year in 2002 and later awarded an AAMI Victoria Derby National Media Print Editorial Award.