Racing dream will stop Slaters returning to north

BILLY Slater says he doesn’t fear life after football as the Queensland Origin star prepares to convert his success in rugby league into becoming a champion horse breeder.

In recent years, the kid from Innisfail decided he would re- kindle his childhood passion for horse-racing by venturing into the world of breeding.

Slater and wife Nicole, also a horse lover, have no interest in failing.

“I don’t do things to run second – I want to breed the best possible horses,” said Slater.

“I’m not just dipping my toe in. I am passionate about the industry and want to give us the best chance to be successful.

“I’ve always loved the racing industry. We have two brood mares and we have set up a company called Slater Thoroughbreds. We envision our life breeding racehorses and hopefully they go on and become successful racehorses.”

Such is the desire to succeed, the Slaters have no plans to move back to Queensland. They are currently building a new property on vast acreage in Victoria, with a view to cultivating a breeding empire.

“We originally planned to move back home,” said Slater’s wife Nicole, from Cairns. “We had bought some land in Queensland and we were ready to come back whenever Bill retired. Then we started to see ourselves really enjoying our life in Victoria.

“I grew up loving horses and was competitive with horses and that’s where Billy and I first met. We have a history with horses and that’s what ties us together. Billy is a footballer and I’m an artist and it doesn’t seem like it goes together, but our love of horses makes us a good match.

“We can always holiday in Queensland, but I see us staying here (in Melbourne).”