Episode 358: John Muir

With the 2022 Inglis Easter Sale upon us we thought it timely to chat with long time vendor John Muir. The former high profile car dealer runs Milburn Creek, a boutique breeding farm at Wildes Meadow on the Southern Highlands. John begins by talking about the 2018 sale of the landmark Muir’s Motors  dealership on Parramatta Rd. Ashfield. 

John reveals that his late father Les Muir had predicted the intrusion of an underground road link. 

He talks of his father’s early connection with General Motors Holden which in the 1950’s commanded a major percentage of the Sydney car market. 

John looks back on childhood days in a house situated right on the car yard.

He recalls teaching himself to ride on an uncle’s pony. Later he got to ride a pony owned by a Randwick horse trainer who didn’t think much of his style in the saddle. He talks of an early work experience stint with a legendary horse trainer.

John predictably joined Muir’s Motors but got no favours. He remembers some of the thankless jobs his father gave him to do.

He was 18 when Les Muir helped him to launch his own dealership just up the road at Fivedock. Looking for a different niche in the Sydney market, John dealt in imported American cars only. 

He eventually made a modest entry into the horse breeding business. He talks of the very first broodmare he ever purchased.

John clearly remembers his second mare purchase under very unusual circumstances. He bought a pregnant mare called Safest whose filly foal would become one of his foundation matrons. He later sold a colt from Safest destined to become his first Randwick winner as a breeder. That colt later came back into his life.

He talks of his first breeding farm situated on Milburn Creek near Cowra. His commercial thoroughbred enterprise has carried the name of that creek ever since.

John talks of his move closer to Sydney in 1986. He transformed a run down Grose Vale dairy farm into a state of the art horse breeding property. It was around this time he bought a well bred filly as a potential broodmare. He decided to race Chez Paree for a couple of years with great results.

He recalls his purchase Old Fernbrook Farm at Wildes Meadow in 2000 as the site of his new breeding base. He  later added two adjacent properties  which have enabled him to expand the operation.

John acknowledges a number of Milburn Creek graduates who’ve gone on to notable racetrack achievements.

The respected breeder relates the fascinating story of the weanling filly he bought with the intention of reselling her the following year. He got “left” with the daughter of Dubawi. John raced Secret Admirer himself with stunning results.

He talks of the Dundeel colt out of Secret Admirer who’ll be one of his nine horse draft at the Inglis Easter sale.

John makes mention of another eight yearlings to be offered for sale under the Milburn Creek banner.

He talks of a long and happy association with Inglis. He regards this year’s catalogue as one of the best he’s seen.

John closes with tributes to wife Trish, son Matthew, daughters Meredith and Amelia and seven grandchildren. A laid back chat with one of racing’s good guys.