WP SMOOTH TALKER Q-93518
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2025 AQHA INCENTIVES- NUTRIEN CLASSIC SALE & CAMPDRAFT
2025 STALLION SHOOTOUT CAMPDRAFT RUNNER-UP
WP SMOOTH TALKER Q-93518
AQHA $ 1,000 BREEDER’ S INCENTIVE: PETER & CAROLYNE DOONAN
IT WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR AQHA BREEDER ' S CASH INCENTIVE RECIPIENTS, PETER AND CAROLYNE DOONAN, WHEN WP SMOOTH TALKER, RIDDEN BY HUGH MILES, SECURED THE RUNNER-UP TITLE AT THE 2025 NUTRIEN / DALGETY STALLION SHOOTOUT CAMPDRAFT.
WORDS BY: LYN HOFFMANN © 2025 • PHOTOS BY: SELECT SIRES
WP Smooth Talker boasts an impressive list of achievements in Campdrafting and Cutting. Notably, he won the Open Cutting at the 2023 AQHA Nationals, then shifted gear to the Campdraft arena, winning his first Novice, and soon after, his first Open Draft.
Peter says that they always look at the bottom sides of horses. WP Smooth Talker’ s dam is Honey Theyre Achin Q-84533, by Acres Destiny, and out of Honey Don’ t Tell Q-58157. Peter bought Honey Theyre Achin as a 2yo, because he loved Acres Destiny Q-38061 horses, but had remembered seeing Honey’ s mother perform in the Cutting pen, and he absolutely loved that mare!
‘ We couldn’ t believe it when Honey Theyre Achin came on the market! I called Craig Kefford, of Copperwood Ranch, and bought the filly, who at the time was with Hugh Miles. Hugh would later ride Honey Theyre Achin to second overall in the 2019 Royal Easter Show World Championship Campdraft, among other WCC awards. We’ ve known Hugh now since we bought Honey, and have used him in our program ever since.’
During a trip to the USA, the Doonans bought and imported a couple of mares, but also saw the stallion, Smooth Talkin Style Q-71863.
‘ We liked his type, his impressive performance record, and his progeny’ s successes. But the fact that he was out of the unbelievable mare, Stylish Play Lena, solidified our decision to breed Honey to him. That breeding resulted in a black colt, the first of four foals from Honey, by Smooth Talkin Style.’
Peter later offered the yearling colt for sale, and a call came in from Terry Snow, from Willinga Park, who expressed interest in buying Honey Theyre Achin.
‘ While we wouldn’ t sell Honey, Terry decided to purchase the colt, and a couple of fillies out of Honey. The deal was that Terry send the colt to Hugh Miles for training. We explained that we’ d always had success using Hugh with our horses. Terry agreed.’
The Doonans felt honoured that Terry had bought the colt, and allowed him to name the horse, using his prefix. WP Smooth Talker was soon sent to Hugh Miles.
‘ Talker has been with Hugh right the way through, and Hugh has always praised him, noting that he is very much like his dam. Hugh has stated that Honey was one of the best horses he’ s ever ridden and has referred to her as a great producer of impressive progeny. With WP Smooth Talker, the breeding is one aspect, but the training and set-up is the next part. Hugh has nurtured Talker through, and just puts him in places, where the horse just gets better and better. We couldn’ t be more proud.’
Peter and Carolyne Doonan will watch Talker’ s progress as a performance horse and a sire, and wish his owners, Tom Henry and Scott Waters, great success.
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au