EARLY MEMBERSHIP REWARDED

HARNESS BREEDERS VICTORIA IN ASSOCIATION with Niota Bloodstock and Alabar offered free services as prizes in a HBV early bird membership draw for those who paid up before September.

Congratulations to major winners Robert Colquhoun, who won a service to trotting sire Great Success from ROBERT COLQUHOUN HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND horses. With his late grandfather Peter Murrell a harness racing breeder, owner and trainer, there was always a big chance he would also be involved in the sport. It wasn’t his grandfather’s choice for him though. “He tried to steer me away,” Colquhoun said. So when it came to entering the workforce, Colquhoun took up a motor mechanic apprenticeship. However, when you grow up with a close association with Graeme and Dot Lang, and their family, it goes without saying the harness racing bug is going to get you in some form. And with him describing Graeme Lang being like another grandfather, this is exactly the path Colquhoun followed. As well as those early years with the Langs, Colquhoun has either worked with or helped out the likes of trainers Merv Williamson, Ray Pace, Jodi Quinlan and Lance Justice at various times. It has been a matter of learning from the best. While he knows all about the cut and thrust of the industry having spent time at the coal face harness racing and like anyone possesses a strong desire for success, there has also been another side to the time Colquhoun is able to spend with horses. He was involved in a road accident in 2013 - leaving him unable to continue in his trade as a motor mechanic and with some mental scars. Colquhoun having horses provided an important outlet for him in tough times. “It’s great to just be able go out and watch them.” Niota, and Peter Fizgerald, who won a service to firstseason pacing stallion The Storm Inside from Alabar.. Gus Underwood also won a service to trotting stallion Kvintet Avenger from Niota.

We spoke to Robert Colquhoun and Peter Fitzgerald about

LEARNING FROM THE BEST

their background in harness racing.

Robert Colquhoun with Breakmyheart

And he has the perfect setting to do it on 20 acres at Majorca, south-east of Maryborough in Central Victoria.

It is a property originally acquired by his grandparents in the early 1980s as a weekend getaway.

Colquhoun has tried his hand at all aspects of the industry.

He’s been a driver, breeder, owner and trainer.

Colquhoun said he had tried his luck with breeding, but the success he has had as trainer has come with purchases he has picked up at the Echuca horse sales.

Breakmyheart was the first horse he trained and would be his first winner.

A grey mare, she cost him just $150.

The daughter of Jet Laag had previously won four races. Colquhoun was patient and at her 22nd start for him at Bendigo on April 1, 2015, gave him his first win as a trainer.

He didn’t have to wait long for his next win.

Just 15 days later trotter Truscott Sun, another bargain buy, saluted at her first start for him at Maryborough.

Luck has not gone Colquhoun’s way since.

There’s no doubt something he would like to achieve is training a winner he has bred.

While he has not come up trumps so far, he’s hoping his fortunes are about to turn.

He has a Kvintet Avenger two-year-old colt out of Running On Bacardi (by Bacardi Lindy), but what he is excited about is two mares he is sending to stud for the first time this season - Izakatie and Truscott Sun.

Izakatie (Four Starzzz Shark Ca) was given to him by Maree and John Caldow after she failed to make it to the track. FIGHTING FITZ IT IS A COMMON STORY. An interest in harness racing being passed from generation to generation. This is the story for Harrow breeder and owner Peter Fitzgerald. It all started for him through his uncle, Horsham horseman Les Jones. “I’d spend school holidays with him.” While that sowed the seed, it was not until later in life that Fitzgerald, 76, began to get seriously engaged. He found a 1987 Hilarious Way filly. Not only would Hilarious Fitz be a more than handy performer on the track, but also a foundation broodmare for Fitzgerald. She won three races as Fitzgerald and Terang trainerdriver Robert Arundell forged what would be a long lasting association Hilarious Fitz would leave two winners. She will be going to first-season stallion Soho Tribeca.

And thanks to Harness Breeders Victoria, Truscott Sun is off to proven sire Great Success complements of Niota Bloodstock.

Colquhoun won the free service to Great Success in an HBV membership early bird draw.

He said Truscott Sun was retired after one start off a break of more than three years.

Colquhoun said he was just about to finalise a stud booking for her when the prize went his way.

“It was a bit of shock.

“It’s a great opportunity to be able to send a mare to a stallion of the standing of Great Success.”

He said he was extremely grateful to HBV for the

opportunity. Jane Fitz (by Tarzan Blue Chip US) won six races, but it was Hi Ho Fitz (Walton Hanover US) which shone the brightest in Arundell’s and later Peter Manning’s care with 16 wins and 21 placings from 64 starts and $96,000 in stakes.

Then it was Hi Ho Fitz’s turn at stud, producing four winners in Big Mumma Fitz (Armbro Operative US) 5 wins, Ritzy Fitz (Presidential Ball US) 5 wins, Sammy Fitz (Shadow Play US) 2 wins and Blue Vein Fitz (Betterthancheddar US), which is a last-start winner at Terang in May this year.

So who is going to be the next “Fitz” bred by Fitzgerald now that he has a free service to first season stallion The Storm Inside, won in Harness Breeders Victoria’s early bird membership draw?

He is going to use the service with Ritzy Fitz, which already a Western Terror 2yo filly.