Alabar News November 2013

ALABAR NEWS

NOVEMBER 2013

Smiling

Shard Inside Big Jim His foals are turning heads.

betterthancheddar He’s arrived and rearing to go.

art official & Mister Big Their 2yo’s are looking the part.

Millionaire pacer, Smiling Shard at home at Alabar Australia

BETTERTHaNCHEDDaR IS REARING TO GO!

B

ettor’s Delight’s fastest and richest son, Betterthancheddar, has arrived safely in New Zealand and is rearing to begin his new career.

The response to Bettethancheddar has been outstanding with multiple Group winning racemares, dams of stakeswinners and sister to stakeswinners already booked in!

His book is close to full so please contact our office today to avoid disappointment.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • A champion 3yo he won the Cane Pace and the Breeders Crown Final.

• As a 4yo, set World Record’s on both half mile and five eighths tracks and won 9 from 11 starts.

• Regarded by his leading trainer as the fastest and most talented horse she ever had in her care.

• His dam, Lady Ashlee Ann was voted into the US Broodmare Hall of Fame.

SERVICE FEE AUS$4,950 (incl GST) NZ$4,500 (plus GST)

THANK YOU

MUSCARA PAYBACK The Muscara family appreciate the support the breeders of NZ and Australia have given their stallions — Mach Three, Art Official and Mister Big. They would like to acknowledge this support by rewarding breeders who have supported one of these stallions (since the 2011/12 season when they began standing at Alabar) by giving them a

$500 CREDIT to a service (or services) to Art Official or Mister Big this season.

This credit is additional to any Alabar multiple mare discounts.

On behalf of the Muscara family, we thank you for your support and invite you to take advantage of this generous offer.

ON THE RECORD ART OFFICIAL & mister big Art Official and Mister Big have both made strong starts to their siring careers with their first crop of two-year-olds in North America in 2013.

Both have sired many stakes winners with Art Official’s best including Lets Drink On It 1:51.2, $116,417 (out of a mare by Camluck) and Sister Stroll 1:54.2f, $102,617 (out of a mare by Western Hanover). While Mister Big’s leading performers have been Crafty Master 1:54s, $165,585 (out of a mare by Camluck) and Falcon Justice 1:53.2s, $51,750 (out of a mare by Falcon Seelster).

Art Official’s and Mister Big’s first Southern Hemisphere crop will race as two-year-olds this season – and the trainings reports are hugely encouraging. Here’s what the trainers have been saying …

Gavin Smith has three Art Official twoyear-old fillies in his stable. They are out of Karis (by Knight Rainbow), Rock And Roll (by Bettor’s Delight) and New Year Bopper (by Totally Western).

“All three fillies are almost identical physically, being plain bays and of average size. They are all lovely horses, good gaited and all show a bit of speed.

They have run home better than 29 seconds before being turned out.

“I can’t fault them and I really like them a lot.

“It is worth noting all three dams of the fillies weren’t the best gaited and he seems to have cleaned them all up gait wise.”

Taj Bromac (by Art Official)

John Howe trains Fast Official, a filly

by Art Official out of the Wingspread mare, Fast Winger

James Lewin Photo

“She is the best two-year-old I’ve got.

She is going to make a racehorse and really pins her ears back and wants to go when another horse comes alongside her which is a good sign.

“She has a perfect gait and is really tough and I plan to have her at the trials in November.”

Makin Bickies (by Mister Big)

Qld horseman Ryan Veivers trains Makin Bickies a Mister Big filly out of Trend Setter.

“I like her a lot. I took her to the educationals at Marbug thinking she would go a mile in 2:20 and she paced 2:12.”

“She is a lovely filly, great nature, front row shoulders. I haven’t put a boot on her and I don’t think I will have to.”

“She has everything.”

Peter Bullock trains the Mister Big filly Our Shannons Pride after being bought

by Peter Neil’s Raynegold Pty Ltd at the NZ Yearling Sales.

Our Shannons Pride has already qualified, rating 2:05.5 she won her trial well by 4 metres.

“I’m very happy with her; she is the best 2yo in my stable.”

“She is lovely to steer, beautifully gaited, has good manners and a nice turn of foot.”

“She’s just a perfect horse to train.”

Southland horseman Philip Devery trains Taj Bromac, a two-year-old colt

by Art Official out of the Live Or Die mare Toni Hanover.

Taj Bromac has been to three public workouts and has won on all three occasions. The latest was a two length win at Invercargill on the 19th of October.

“A really nice well rounded two-yearold. He is going along really nicely. He has good manners, is good gaited with no knee boots and is doing everything right at this stage of his preparation. He should make a two-year-old.”

Terry Ferguson bought a Mister Big filly out of the Artsplace mare Spirited Storm at the Melbourne Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sale and she is impressing him so far.

“The filly is very nice, and broke in a charm. She is a perfect pacer with a long stride and a treat to handle.”

“My gut feeling is she will go early, so I am aiming to have her racing in February.”

Q&A with.....

Tim Butt

Anthony and Tim Butt

Tim Butt has established himself as one of Australasia’s premier trainers. Each season horses in the Butt colours and with brother Anthony driving, feature in big pacing and trotting races on both sides of the Tasman. The strike rate of the stable is outstanding.

How many years have you been training?

I have trained for 25 years.

What have been some of the greatest training highlights you have had to date?

There have been many. The Interdominion Pacers Final win with Mr Feelgood was special. It is such a hard race to win. Lyell Creek’s third Rowe Cup win was also special – what a horse! Another was Flashing Red’s second New Zealand Cup win. We really worked hard for that one. He was nine when I first put a bridle on him. His will to win was incredible.

How many horses do you currently have in work and how many staff do you have helping?

I have 25 horses in work with four full time staff along with two part time staff and myself.

Which do you prefer – pacers or trotters? Why? I have no preference really. The top pacing races are more prestigious but there is still more skill to trotters in my opinion.

What’s the secret to your success with trotters?

There are many things. Both grandfathers were great with trotters especially Wes. I believe in rhythm before speed. The speed will come later. I give them lots of slow work and don’t be scared to give them a bowl around every day.

Are we on the right track trying to improve our trotting breed by bringing out top trotting stallions from North America such as the recently deceased Earl and the young millionaire trotting stallion Majestic Son? Without doubt, we now have access to all the leading pacing sires in the world, but it’s not the same for trotters. Our trotting breed is still behind America and Europe.

What is it you like about Majestic Son at this early stage?

He was a great horse. His two-year-olds have proven it on the track. They look to have gait and speed.

You have gone outside the square by buying three Swedish trotters to race here and to become possible stallion prospects when their careers are over. What made you do it and what racing plans do you have for them?

I believe that the European blood crossed with American blood will be fantastic. The European horses are raised very naturally and are given time to mature. They are very sound and very strong. The American horses are a bit more pressure-cooked, but they have high speed.

Peak will race in the top grade this season. Kvintet Avenger is extremely well bred. I would like to race him and put him to stud early. Sir Lexington is an up and comer. Time will tell!

What is it you most like about the good Grin pacers?

They are genuine. Mr Feelgood was some horse – the first American import to really measure up.

Smiling Shard was one of my favourite horses although I didn’t train him.

Vulcan

Your wonderful Earl trotter Vulcan had a great season last year.

How does he compare with the top trotters of the past you have trained? What races are you targeting with him this season?

Vulcan is a different horse to train. He loves the climate and Australian style of racing. He is a real trier and I think in the tough races he will come into his own. The Dominion Handicap and Great Southern Stars are his main targets. He is very underrated when he is right. I guess Lyell Creek and Take A Moment just had that X factor though.

Your strike rate in Grand Circuit pacing races in Australia has been outstanding. What type of horse do you need to succeed at this level in Australia?

It has to be a good one, but they need to handle the pressure of the travel and be relaxed and be easy going. The ability to follow speed and finish off races is very important.

You often buy pacers still on the way up and then improve them to race and win against the best. What is it you look for when searching for such a horse? Is there any training formula you stick with when moulding them into Grand Circuit performers?

Your top Mach Three horse Mah Sish, winner of last year’s Hunter Cup, is a classic example of this.

I have my own ideas. I like horses that are untapped - also the ones that aren’t burnt out at two or three. I like to put them in the deep end and see if they can ‘swim’. Pass Them By for example had a hard run in the Methven Cup but backed up five days later and won. It proved to me he can handle the racing.

What do you hope to see from Mah Sish during the season?

He has had a great build up for the Cup with plenty of condition work but it may be time for him to step up. He is far from screwed down. He may not have the class of Christen Me or Terror To Love but my three main aims for him are the New Zealand Cup, the Hunter Cup and Interdominion.

You had great results with the outstanding Grinfromeartoear horse Mr Feelgood, winning many major races with him on both sides of the Tasman. I see you also have another of his progeny in Pass Them By also being set for the bigger races?

I like him. He will travel to Australia after the Cup meeting. It will be the making of him. I see the Hunter Cup as a chance for him to win a Group One. He has been well looked after and has it all ahead of him. He is a big kid moulding into a lovely horse and he has great gate-speed and can stay.

Another top open class pacer you have in your barn is the Courage Under Fire pacer Choise Achiever who also won a Hunter Cup. I’ve got a soft spot for him. If only we could have seen the best of him. He has had three wind operations, a bone chip removed from a back fetlock and a cracked bone in his hock. He is a delicate horse to train with all the issues he has had but on his day he is not bad.

He’s got a big one left in him somewhere, I’m sure.

On the breeding front you have booked a mare to our new young Grinfromeartoear sire Mister Big. You saw Mister Big race in North America. What were your impressions of him as a racehorse and did this influence you to breed to him?

For sure. He was awesome, tough and strong and the sort of horse that could leave older Cup class horses. I like that horses improve from year to year.

You also have bought some Mister Big youngsters. How are they coming up in their early preparations and what do you like about them?

I bought Viper Fire, a colt from Tapestry and Miss Aroha, a filly from What’s The Score. They both look great with good attitudes.

They were just a punt.

Finally Tim, with all the talk about this year’s New Zealand Cup being a two-horse race between Terror To Love and Christen Me, do you have a horse that could upset them? And what about the Dominion Handicap? Are you confident Vulcan can win?

It’s hard to go past those two really. I try and just concentrate on my own team. Everybody from horses to drivers to trainers, feel the pressure. It’s a race that has that edge to it. You have to be confident in your horse and your plan. I have three chances if those two falter.

I love the Dominion Handicap. It’s a race that’s been good to me.

Vulcan loves the big hard races but don’t discard Stig. There are also a few up and comers in the mix as well. And you never know, the European horses may be there as well!

“

He was awesome, tough and strong and the sort of horse that could leave older Cup class horses. I like that horses improve from year to year.

Tim Butt on Mister Big.

Big Jim - Cloneen (by Live Or Die) colt

BIG JIM FOALS PROVIDING EXCITEMENT

Big Jim - Russian Rose (by Road Machine) filly

Big Jim - Tirol’s Sallance (by In The Pocket) filly

One of the most exciting moments is the career of a new stallion is the arrival of his first foals.

After having seen photos of Big Jim’s first foals in North America, we expected a lot from his new arrivals in New Zealand and Australia - and we haven’t been disappointed.

Big Jim (by Western Ideal) was a phenomenon on the race tracks of North America. Tall, dark and handsome – he became very much a crowd favourite. He broke the traditional mould by becoming a world champion and breaking the world mile record for a twoyear-old without the support of a big-time owner, trainer or driver.

He won the Breeders Crown, was the clear US 2yo Pacer of the Year and retired to stud as the fastest two-year-old of all time.

The first New Zealand foals by Big Jim are very much in the image of their sire, being tall and athletic - and having an air of quality about them.

The three Big Jim foals born so far at Alabar NZ have been: • A filly from Tirol’s Sallance (a daughter of In The Pocket who won the Group 1 Caduceus Classic and went on to be voted NZ 2yo Filly of the Year) • A colt from Cloneen (a three-win daughter of Live Or Die) • A filly from Russian Rose (a 1:57.8 daughter of Road Machine) Incidentally, these foals exemplify what we believe to be three of the best mating options for Big Jim. 1. Direct Scooter line mares (i.e. daughters of Christian Cullen,

In The Pocket, Mach Three etc). The Western Ideal / Direct Scooter line mare cross has been tremendous producing the likes of Rocknroll Hanover and American Ideal. Big Jim, a son of Western Ideal with no Direct Scooter in his pedigree, should be tailor-made for Direct Scooter line mares 2. No Nukes line mares (i.e. daughters of Live Or Die, Caprock, Village Jasper, Safely Kept etc). The duplication of No Nukes is becoming increasingly prevalent in the pedigrees of top horses around the world. What’s more the breeding of a No Nukes line stallion (as is Big Jim) to a No Nukes line mare is also producing outstanding results – recent examples of this include the dual NZ Cup winner Terror To Love (by Western Terror out of a Live Or Die mare), the Miracle Mile winner Baby Bling (by Western Terror out of a Caprock mare) and the sensational two-year-old Bling It On (by American Ideal out of a Caprock mare).

3. Mares with Road Machine in their pedigree. Big Jim’s 5th dam (Vacation Time) is also the 3rd dam of Road Machine. As an added attraction, Big Jim already has two strains of this family as his 3rd dam is by Airliner – another representative of this same dams family. The duplication of mare lines in a pedigree is often a good idea – He’s Watching, the current rising star in North America, presents a pedigree where his sire, his dam, the dam of his sire and the grand-sire of his dam all trace to the same mare.

Doubling up Big Towner a good thing There is now strong evidence to suggest that duplicating Big Towner in pedigrees can lead to positive results and that could be a pointer for Big Jim given he is out of a Big Towner mare.

Big Towner was a great stallion who topped the North American Sires Premiership at one time. He was a leading broodmare sire and it is through his daughters that his legacy lives on.

Many successful stallions possess a dose of Big Towner in their maternal line. Most notably Art Major whose second dam is

by Big Towner. Two of Art Major’s leading performers, Major In Art and current star 2yo filly Precocious Beauty, both contain duplications of Big Towner.

Always A Virgin is very similarly bred to Big Jim, being by Western Ideal out of a Big Towner mare. With his oldest progeny now three, Always A Virgin has done a very job in the Indiana Sires Stakes program to date. So it is worth noting that four of his top nine highest earners carry a duplication of Big Towner, while a fifth carries a duplication of Gene Abbe - the sire of Big Towner.

Allamerican Native, a former Hanover stallion, is by Presidential Ball out of a Big Towner mare. Of his top 10 performers, four contain a duplication of Big Towner and a further three contain a duplication of Gene Abbe.

Pacific Fella is another stallion out of a Big Towner mare and while he didn’t achieve success with mares containing Big Towner as a sire, his efforts as a broodmare sire are a different story.

Five of his top eight performers as a broodmare sire are by stallions that contain Big Towner maternally!

So we really believe that duplicating Big Towner will be a big part of Big Jim’s success. The good news is that there have been quite a few stallions stand downunder that contain Big Towner maternally.

Art Major mares look ideal for Big Jim as not only do you get the Big Towner connection but also Artsplace; which should suit Big Jim down to the ground.

Other potential sources of Big Towner include Walton Hanover, Pacific Fella, Aces N Sevens, Jet Laag and Northern Luck.

Q&A with..... terry

lewis

The Lewis brothers from left to right - Peter, Terry, Paul, David and Garry

Terry Lewis is one of five brothers who have made a name for themselves in the Victorian Harness Industry through their breeding and racing operation. Terry, a Harness Breeders (Victoria) committeeman, offers some insight into his success as a breeder and owner.

How did you get started in breeding standardbreds?

My father always bred some foals and when we were growing up we always had horses and foals around us.

I personally got started breeding standardbreds in the early 90’s with two mares; an old mare called Gamway, a Hilarious Way mare. She was a mare that Dad gave me and she left us 8 winners including Game Star who won us our first race at Moonee Valley.

The other mare was Frosty Again, she really got us started. She’s the mother of Jolaura (mother of Amajorjo, Lewisienna Jo, Smileawayjo), Frosty Lady (won a Vicbred 3yo Fillies Final), Frosty Bulldog (won the St Arnaud Cup) and Frosty Mattina (the mother of Abettorpunt).

She was a great broodmare. Her descendants have won 104 races for us and over $800,000.

My main role in the operation is the breeding side of things, while David concentrates on the racing.

What are your main criteria when purchasing or selecting a future broodmare?

We haven’t bought too many mares in recent times, but when we do we look for mares by noted broodmare sires and when I think back to what we have bought they have either been by Fake Left, Falcon Seelster, Holmes Hanover or Troublemaker.

We have also purchased some better bred yearling fillies with the intention of racing and then breeding. Examples of them are Top Flite Lombo (Bettors Delight – Concorde Lombo), Nightoffire (Blissfull Hall – Into The Fire) and Shesallyank (Falcon Seelster – Paige Nicole Q).

However most of our mares we have bred ourselves.

I’d rather breed them than go buy them as I get a greater sense of achievement and satisfaction seeing them born, rearing them and then see them go on and compete at the highest level.

When it comes to choosing stallions for your mares, what do you look for?

That’s a good tough question! I like to pick everyone’s brains.

How many broodmares do you currently own?

That’s a complex question! In total between the five brothers we’ve got about 35 mares. We don’t breed from all of them every year, but there is a core that we are breeding from every season.

We generally always look to outcross.

You own a lot of mares in partnerships - could you tell us who is involved and how that works?

There are five brothers involved in our operation – myself, Peter, Gary, David and Paul.

Some mares are owned by us individually. Some are in partnership with each other.

The other key thing I look at too is very much the temperament and size of the stallions when making selections. For example if we’ve got a mare with a fizzy temperament we like to go to a quieter stallion and the same with size.

If I’ve got a bigger mare I don’t want to be breeding to a bigger stallion. Whether that’s right or wrong I wouldn’t have a clue, but that’s what we do!

We also like to take a punt on one or two highly performed, but as yet unproven younger stallions. When I think back we bred a few

mares to Bettors Delight and got Abettorpunt. Then we did the same with Art Major and got Amajorjo.

In recent times we have punted a bit on Jeremes Jet, Shadow Play and Rock N Roll Heaven.

Smileawayjo. He had his first start at Melton and won going 1:58, so we were pretty happy with that. He’s a very big horse, a big striding horse. He’s still getting things together but he’s improving all the time.

Are there any young stallions that you like?

I definitely like Rock N Roll Heaven. He was a great racehorse and very fast. I think he’ll continue the siring success of his father.

We are very impressed with our Jeremes Jets. We broke in six of them that are now 2yos and they all broke in exceptionally. Our breaker said they were the best group of young horses he has ever broken in for us.

I like Auckland Reactor. We quickly overlook how brilliant he was as a young horse. He’s by Mach Three and beautifully bred.

The other 2yo that broke in really well was a Changeover colt out of Compulsive Franco.

Also Betterthancheddar, he’s the best son of Bettors Delight and we’ve all seen the job Bettors Delight’s done. There’s certainly going to be a son of his breed on at some stage, so Betterthancheddar is one we like.

As I say the racetrack tells but at the moment they look good.

The other one, and I know you haven’t got him back, is Jeremes Jet. We’re a massive wrap for the Jereme’s Jets. I know you might say he hasn’t really set the world on fire, but we have some really lovely 2yos by him and I think his best is yet to come.

“

I like Auckland Reactor.

We quickly overlook how brilliant he was as a young horse. He’s by Mach Three and beautifully bred.

Terry Lewis on Auckland Reactor

Any young up and coming racehorses we should keep an eye out for?

We raced a horse last season, he won four of his eight 2yo starts, called The Fat Man. He was immature and gangly, but he’s been given time to mature and we have hopes he’ll be a Derby horse this season.

The other horse that’s on the radar is the Grinfromeartoear 3yo

What is your opinion of the health and direction of the breeding industry and Harness Racing in general?

I think the increase to the Vicbred scheme and the Vicbred Bonus are great, but we just need to get more people involved in breeding.

I just hear so many people say “I can’t wait for three years to get a mare in foal and then rear it.” We’ve just got to get more people involved, because there’s nothing more rewarding for me than breeding a foal, seeing it grow and develop, handling it and then seeing it race and then win. There’s a real sense of achievement and satisfaction in that.

If we don’t get more people involved we just won’t have the product going around on the racetrack.

The other thing that concerns me is we somehow need to get more people involved in racing and breeding. The younger generation are probably still watching the racing and punting on it, but they’re not at the track and they’re not engaged in the ownership and racing aspect of it.

It would be nice to have more people at the track, but I appreciate that there are so many other forms of entertainment. It concerns me where the next generation of owners and breeders will come from.

Somehow we just need to provide more incentive for breeders to get more people involved.

There’s no silver bullet unfortunately.

ON THE RECORD Ray Green – Chachingchaching (colt, Mach Three – Affairs Of State by Presidential Ball) “A very nice colt I bought from Greg Payne that I hope will make a Young Guns prospect.”

Geoff Dunn - Fromtheshadows (colt, Shadow Play – Erinyes by Holmes Hanover) “He is a magnificent type with a strong body and is a lovely horse to work with having excellent manners. He is also a great doer. He has a great heart rate and recovery time and could well make a late two-year-old.”

Nathan Williamson – Stormen Up (filly, Grinfromeartoear - Chiavari by Smooth Fella) “She is a full sister to the good filly On Ice from last season which I drove. She is pretty promising and goes along really nicely. She has a lot of natural ability and good speed. I am setting her for two-year-old racing.”

I

LATE FOALS AT NO DISADVANTAGE

n the early hours of Sunday the 19th of December 2010 a bay American Ideal colt is born at Benstud Standardbreds in Victoria.

Five days later an Art Major colt is born at Alabar New Zealand. Then just three days later a Majestic Son colt takes his first breaths in the South Island of New Zealand.

Three colts, all conceived from January services, all born in late December and all three would claim 2yo of the Year Awards for their efforts last season!

The American Ideal colt is Bling It On who was named Australian 2yo Pacing Colt of the Year after winning the Group One Nursery Pace Final and Australasian Breeders Crown.

The Art Major would be named Sky Major and he would go on to be named New Zealand 2yo Pacing Colt of the Year after claiming the Group One Harness Jewels in New Zealand record time.

While the Majestic Son colt turned out to be One Over Da Moon who was named New Zealand 2yo Trotting Colt of the Year after winning three Group races including the Group One Harness Jewels.

There is a lot of trepidation about breeding into January and February; some don’t even want to breed in December! However the statistics don’t bear this thought pattern out.

The foaling dates of Bling it On, Sky Major and One Over Da Moon clearly didn’t hinder them on the racetrack as 2yos.

Harness Racing Australia was kind enough to provide us with the following statistics which show that there is virtually no difference to the number of starts made between foals born September - November and those born between December and February.

Starts made per season

Top Earning Horses born between December and February (since 2003)

2012/13 season: 2yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

5.17

Changeover

4/12/2003

$2,426,765

2yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

5.00

Stunin Cullen

3/12/2005

$1,493,716

3yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

9.13

I Can Doosit

10/12/2005

$1,426,202

3yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

8.72

Mysta Magical Mach

13/12/2004

$1,238,941

4yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

12.28

Smiling Shard

3/12/2006

$1,178,804

4yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

12.57

Gotta Go Cullen

23/12/2003

$1,173,343

Gold Ace

7/12/2007

$970,717

2011/12 season: 2yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

5.03

Power Of Tara

3/2/2003

$876,888

2yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

4.99

Foreclosure

1/1/2008

$791,508

3yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

9.20

Carabella

1/1/2008

$693,615

3yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

9.22

De Lovely

1/1/2007

$656,113

4yo born Sept - Nov average starts per starter

11.81

Pembrook Benny

11/1/2005

$647,394

4yo born Dec - Feb average starts per starter

10.91

Dasher VC

12/12/2006

$627,342

ON THE RECORD Terry Chmiel - Big Boys Club (colt, Grinfromeartoear - Harper Road by Christian Cullen) “He is a really nice horse who will make a two-year-old. He is great gaited with a lovely nature, is good winded and a good doer.”

Greg Payne - has two Gotta Go Cullect two-year-old fillies he thinks a lot of and expects both to be racing this season.

1. Gotta Glow (from Glowable by Equitable) “She will definitely make a two-year-old. She shows early speed, good gait and ability.”

2. Unnamed (from Russian Rocket by Pacific Rocket) “She is the best of the two fillies at this stage and is a possible Young Guns prospect. She has terrific gait, has real speed and ability. There is already a lot of interest in her.”

Chris Garlick - Ashton K (colt, Grinfromeartoear -Spicey by Christian Cullen) “He is the most forward of our youngsters being a natural two-year-old. He is both strong and stocky and is a really nice mover. We are aiming him at the Young Guns Series at this stage.

smiling 1:53.7

shard

At 2 he became NZ’s fastest ever male pacer courtesy of a 1:53.7 win in the Harness Jewels.

1

Smiling Shard is the only pacing colt to ever complete the Harness Jewels / Breeders Crown double at two.

“He was special. Of all the horses I’ve driven he’d have the biggest heart.”

“He was the most natural 2yo I’ve driven. Beautifully gaited and a beautiful horse to drive.”

“He had an amazing attitude and always gave 120% every time he went out on the track.”

“You need horses that will fight for you and not lie down. It all comes down to attitude and he had it.”

2012/13 NZ’s Leading Trainer Cran Dalgety.

2012/13 NZ’s Leading Driver Dexter Dunn

3x3 A truly exciting pedigree being bred 3x3 to Abercrombie and 3x3 to Blue Horizon. Carries 3 strains of the great “Golden Miss” siring family.

18 Throughout his illustrious career Smiling Shard defeated 18 Group One winners including: STUNIN CULLEN, HIGHVIEW TOMMY, BONDY, SLEEPY TRIPP, DAVID HERCULES, SIR LINCOLN, LANERCOST, CROMBIE, DEVIL DODGER, CHARIOT KING, COURAGE TO RULE, NEAREA FRANCO etc.

grinfromeartoear Artsplace - Smile Upon - Storm Damage

1:50.2, $1,746,009

A SIRE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING The sire of the winners of $60 million worldwide.

One of only two sires ever to sire two $3 million winners.

The sire of 14 sub 1:50 pacers, 141 $100,000 winners

In Australasia already the sire of: SMILING SHARD ($1,178,804, NZ 2yo of the Year) MAKE ME SMILE ($517,518, NSW Derby) PURE POWER (1:51, $275,627, 3rd Miracle Mile) PASS THEM BY (1:57.3, 2nd NZ Jewels, 8 wins) SMILING STAR (1:55.5, 8 wins)

SERVICE FEE AUS$4,000 (incl GST) NZ$4,000 (plus GST)

ALABAR AUSTRALIA Cnr Fraser Road & Murray Valley HWY, Koyuga, Vic PO Box 129, Tongala, Victoria, Australia, 3621 Tel: (03) 5859 2201 Fax: (03) 5859 2206 www.alabar.com.au

ALABAR NEW ZEALAND 480 Seagrove Road, RD4, Pukekohe, 2679, New Zealand Tel: (09) 232 1800 Fax: (09) 232 1799 alabar@alabar.co.nz www.alabar.co.nz