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Sarah Green is a popular member of the thoroughbred industry. Donning her famous orange silks from her business Barneswood farm which she is in a 50/50 partnership, Sarah is prominent to her peers for her breeding, racing and sponsorship involvements. Behind the Stable Doors caught up with Sarah to discuss her involvement within the industry.
Sarah grew up with her dad as an owner-trainer and he was also a committee member for the local racing club. Thus began her affinity with horses. Fast forward several years at a dinner with her Husband Chris for his business Midlands Seed, Ger Beemsterboer, who is in the same line of business as Chris was also attending the dinner. Chris encouraged Sarah to sit next to Ger during dinner and after talking, Ger said “You love horses why don’t we buy a horse together?” since then they have been 50:50 in all of their horses and Barneswood Farm.
Sarah is extremely passionate about the racing side of it but above all has loved the friendships she has created, while her husband Chris and racing partner Ger are particularly interested in the breeding side it has created a sound harmony that means they all work well together and fit in like a puzzle. The dream is going to the sales to find the ‘next good one’ keeps them all engaged and excited about the future. the Barneswood farm team tend to buy fillies at the sales and sell the colts. They breed several foals both in New Zealand and Australia every year.
Primarily the horses they keep for racing are trained by Peter and Dawn Williams. Sarah met them when she was quite young and they trained out of her parent's stable in Ashburton. When it came to racing her horses, Sarah felt it was important to have them with Peter and Dawn as loyalty is highly prioritized. They will always have them train their horses and value the friendship and the success that has come from their relationship.
Media Sensation is a very special horse to Barnsewood Farm. Jane as she was affectionately known around the stable for her plain looks was a big and strong girl whom Peter and Dawn advised Sarah, Chris and Ger on at the Karaka Sales. After struggling for a name Sarah decided to ask friends on Facebook for a name and through all of the great responses they got ‘Media Sensation’. After calling Peter to ask which of the two horses is going to be better, Jane was named Media Sensation. She won the 1000 Guineas in 2018, won at Listed, G3, G2 and G1 and in her last race won the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Group 2 level, ending an extraordinary career for an extraordinary horse.
Something very important and she considers success is her family. Sarah and her husband Chris have two children, Sophie (28) and Harry (22) and they also have some special boys from Fiji and Tonga who after arriving in New Zealand and staying with them have become part of their family. Sarah loves to cook! When she is at home her favourite thing is to host and her specialty is an eight-hour slow roast and Pavlova to finish off – which Harry is a particular fan of! They also spend a lot of time travelling, and with horses in Australia, they make trips to the Hunter Valley, NSW to visit them. But her favourite place is Turkey! From the culture, people and food – what's not to love? Sarah and her daughter Sophie, who has recently moved to Sydney, love to cook and often attend cooking classes overseas and the first agenda on any trip is booking restaurants! Sarah is extremely proud of her husband Chris and their children and the life they have created together.
While Sarah has had success at Group One level with Planet Rock and Media Sensation, and Vavasour won a Group 3 and Group 2, Sarah finds great joy in seeing her children and their friends get behind their horses. It creates an engaging environment that started with Sarah's parents and now is with Sarah's children getting their friends involved. They often go to the pub or bar to watch the horses run and previously when Sarah was struggling for a name, got her son Harry and his friends involved. Harry who was at Lincoln University at the time got mates together to organise a naming competition. If a name got used they got a pub voucher – ideal! From this Harry’s friend, Ryan Sheehan named ‘Desert Lightning’ and ‘The Instigator’. They all feel a unique connection that makes them feel a part of the team.
Without Sarah’s love and passion for the industry, it would leave a gaping hole. Through her involvement of her racing team and the band of broodmares and goals she sells and races her tireless support also extends to several sponsorship ventures including the sponsorship of the Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas - Group 1. The industry is forever in debt to Sarah and her team around her including her Husband Chris, children Sophie and Harry – and their friends and of course Barneswood Farm partner Ger Beemsterboer. Sarah is an incredible human who supports many people and horses in many ways.
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