Our Locations
Michael Hickmott Bloodstock offers the attentiveness of a boutique operation with the advantage of world-class facilities. Lakewood’s quiet, private setting anchors the daily routine, while Murray Bridge’s state-of-the-art tracks and conditioning options provide valuable variety. Together, the two bases create a training environment focused on individual care, soundness, and long-term performance, consistently producing horses capable of competing, and importantly winning at the highest level.
Lakewood
A Premier South Australian Training Base
One of South Australia’s most historic and iconic thoroughbred properties, Lakewood Stud was purchased by the Michael and his wife Jade, along with their daughter Ella in 2020. Once home to successful stallions and renowned breeding operations, Lakewood has been transformed into a leading modern training facility designed to produce elite racehorses.
Lakewood features:
• Two training tracks – a 1600m grass track and a 1500m deep sand track
• 40 spacious on-site boxes
• Irrigated spelling paddocks capable of accommodating more than 70 horses
• Walker and treadmill installed as part of the farm’s ongoing expansion
The deep sand track has been a major asset to our recent success. It allows us to build exceptional fitness bases in a low-impact environment, helping rejuvenate tried horses and extend soundness and longevity, as well as building strong bases into young horses without exerting them physically.
With the flexibility to train horses from both traditional boxes and day yards, Lakewood enables us to tailor programs to the individual needs and temperaments of each horse. Being able to train and spell on the same property provides further value for owners, ensuring continuity of a calm, familiar environment for the horses.
Murray Bridge Racecourse
A Modern Training Hub
Located just 30 minutes from Lakewood, the Murray Bridge Racecourse has quickly become one of South Australia’s premier thoroughbred centres. With more than $30 million invested in development over the past five years and further upgrades planned, the facilities provide world-class options for fast work and conditioning.
Key features include:
• An 800-metre uphill sand track perfect for building strength and stamina
• A 70-metre equine swimming pool for low-impact conditioning
• State leading high-quality surfaces ideal for jump-outs and away gallops
Murray Bridge complements the Lakewood training base perfectly, allowing us to rotate horses between facilities and craft highly individualised training programs that maximise each horse’s athletic potential.
A Strategic Location for Victorian Racing
Lakewood’s position offers a significant competitive advantage. Its proximity to Victoria makes it easier to target the lucrative prizemoney available across Melbourne’s premier tracks. This strategic approach has delivered outstanding results, including wins at Flemington, Caulfield, and Moonee Valley, contributing to a remarkable 40%+ strike rate in Victoria through recent years.
