Our Background

Born and bred in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs, Brian went on to forge a rugby league career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. After retiring from rugby league, he would go on to become one of Australia’s most successful business people founding and growing the company Claim Central Consolidated into a multi million dollar enterprise.

A passion for thoroughbreds, originating from his upbringing on the Darling Downs, also saw Brian slowly but surely develop his interests in this industry thanks to childhood friend and now renowned trainer Tony Gollan. In his initial forays into racehorse ownership with Gollan Racing, Brian started what would also become a long-term affiliation with Eureka Stud and Harry McAlpine.

Then two of Brian’s horses bred at Eureka Stud would inspire him to pursue a much-deeper involvement in the industry – the Boom brothers Temple of Boom and Spirit of Boom, both celebrated Group 1 winners with Spirit of Boom becoming one of Australia’s prominent stallions today. Now with a growing racing and breeding operation called Black Soil Bloodstock, the name recognising his thoroughbred roots on the Darling Downs, Brian is committed to the growth of this great industry.

Harry grew up working with horses at his family farm Eureka Stud, helping breed, raise and prepare horses for sale. An interest to explore a career in sales led to a foray bid-spotting at Magic Millions and an internship at Europe’s leading auction house Tattersalls. After returning to Australia to complete studies in International Business and Law, Harry joined Australian auction house William Inglis and Sons where he worked as a Bloodstock Consultant and Auctioneer. In his time at Inglis, he travelled the country to select horses for their sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Scone while also travelling internationally to recruit buyers.

Then Harry had a call to return home to Eureka Stud after the first crop of Spirit of Booms hit the track with the hype surrounding their achievements creating a surge in business for the farm. The following season, Spirit of Boom covered an incredible 220 mares.

At this time Harry also maintained his involvement in a bloodstock agent capacity setting up Harry McAlpine Bloodstock to be able to service clients and establishing a new venture with long-time friend Brian Siemsen. This marked the launch of Black Soil Bloodstock which Harry serves as Principal Agent.

Tony is Queensland’s leading trainer having won the metropolitan premiership for the past six seasons since setting up his stable Gollan Racing at Eagle Farm. Tony has had a long-time relationship with Brian Siemsen and also the McAlpine family of Eureka Stud, all part of the amazing Temple of Boom and Spirit of Boom stories.

John is one of the leading bloodstock agents in Australia, a regular purchaser at weanling, yearling and breeding stock sales in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Americas. He is the main agent for Gollan Racing and is an important consultant for our bloodstock purchases.

Stephen Lock aka ‘Lockie’ manages the communications & digital content strategy for Black Soil Bloodstock including social media, website, videos & newsletters.

Brian looks after our ownership management at the sales & on racedays adding flair to our owner and supporter experiences. He brings commercial acumen as a successful business owner and a passion for thoroughbreds as an owner, member and enthusiast. Brian is also a founder of the Boyz On Tour owner’s group, a syndicate in numerous Black Soil Bloodstock fillies.

Eureka Stud was the breeding ground of both Temple of Boom and Spirit of Boom and is proud to stand the latter as a stallion today. The farms’ paddocks, facilities and staff provide an ideal environment for the development, welfare and sales preparation of young thoroughbreds and we’re proud to call it home for our broodmares and resulting offspring. Eureka Stud photos by Sharon Chapman, Fast Track Photography.

Providing decades of experience in bloodstock selection and acquisition is our buying team comprising bloodstock agents Harry McAlpine & John Foote, trainer Tony Gollan & owner Brian Siemsen.