Breeding Matters | December Special by New Zealand Standardbred Breeders' Association

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Standardbred Marketing

Published by the NZ Standardbred Breeders Assn Inc. December, 2017.

INDEX

Standardbred Marketing Published by the NZ Standardbred Breeders Assn Inc. December, 2017.

WINNERS

NATURE & NURTURE

THE CELEBRATION

THE TRAINERS

SUMMER FUN

THE OWNERS

Hustle Hill and Matty Williamson, Cromwell, January 2017 THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

BUYING NEW ZEALAND “Racing is a bug. It bites you. Deep. Whatever the little critter releases into your blood stream it causes a chemical reaction. Endorphins gallop about your body. What looks mundane from a distance has an excitement, charm and a thrill that makes the smallest function something fantastic.” Paul Smith, SMH Chasing this dream in New Zealand harness racing is made easier with massive contributions from • nature - our quality environment, soils and pastures • nurture - our excellent animal husbandry, knowledgeable breeders, skilled preparers, farriers, vets, trainers and drivers; and • quality - our proven history of strong female families and depth in broodmares accessing the highest quality proven North American, French and New Zealand siring bloodlines. Once nature has played its part our sport values our community of professionals and volunteers. A common theme among the best is hard work and dedication. The dominant theme is respect for the horse. In February we will welcome buyers to the yearling sales at Karaka and Christchurch. Quality horses will be on offer. With a Racing Minister who is seriously interested in racing, the Racing Board having laid the foundations for increased returns and an average stakes increase of 8% last season and a projected 10 percent this one, harness racing has a lot to be positive about.

THE SALES

KARAKA CHRISTCHURCH

Four days of wonderful standardbreds by the best international sires lines and New Zealand’s unparalleled maternal lines presented by proud breeder vendors for you to inspect and buy. Inspect privately, on the group bus tours or at the Sales. Australasian Classic Yearling Sale 15th & 16th January

North Island Yearling Bus Tour (Cathie Shaw: 027 442 6113)

Sunday 11 February, Karaka

2.30 pm Parade of Yearlings

Monday 12 February, Karaka

10.30 am Sale Commences

NZ Premier Yearling Sale Wednesday 31 January Southland Bus Tour (John Stiven 027 468 6919) Monday 5 February

Canterbury Bus Tour (Brian West 027 286 6988)

Tuesday 13 February, Christchurch

11 am Parade of Trotters Noon Parade of Fillies 1 pm Parade of Colts 3 pm Happy Hour 4 pm Sale of Trotters

Wednesday 10 am Pacing Yearling Sale 14 February 4.30 pm Supplementary Pacing Yearling Sale

Enjoy the summer. Take a look at the yearlings on offer. There will be one there for you. Catalogues and information: Rachel Deegan DDI: 03 372 0967 Mobile: 0274 734 946 Email: rdeegan@pggwrightson.co.nz John Mooney Chairman The Breeders’ Auckland Reactor, January 2009 THE BREEDERS’

ENGHIEN

Love You - Another Starlet 2015 $20,000 NZ Premier Sale Career $310,000

Enghien and Ricky May 2017 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

WINNERS

THE HORSE The courage to run, the dragging in of air, the movement and the grace of a clean gait and then the win, or as more often being in the case to bring joy to others, does not happen without the horse. These magnificent animals that become our champions. These champions have reached the top. Some were purchased at The Sales. Many were sold by their breeder or raced by the breeder and then sold on. They represent the very best of the New Zealand standardbred. We celebrate them.

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

LAZARUS

Bettor’s Delight - Bethany 2014 $75,000 NZ Premier Sale Career $3.3 million

Lazarus and Mark Purdon, South Bay, Kaikoura THE BREEDERS’

THE SALES MILLIONARES CLUB 1. 5.

PGGW Sales Graduate Millionaires

Horse Monkey King

Year Sold 2004

Sales Price

Stakes Won

Earnings (NZ) Earnings Overseas

$20,000 $3,455,043

$2,714,005

A$586,150

Lazarus 2014

$75,000 $3,283,946

$2,016,841

A$662,105

Changeover

2005

$28,000 $2,426,765

$1,849,491

A$472,186

Bit Of A Legend

2011

$50,000

Elsu

2001

$32,000 $2,083,352

Washakie 2005

$40,000

$2,354,620

$318,102 A$407,946 US$1,109,170

$1,510,711

$2,079,786

A$520,085

$142,535

A$1,542,838

Yulestar 1996 $9,500 $1,985,266 $678,391 A$737,750 US$443,086 2.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Iraklis Sundons Gift Monkey King Changeover Elsu Il Vicolo

Il Vicolo

1993 $21,000 $1,580,948 $1,253,807 A$327,141

Stunin Cullen

2007

$65,000

$1,493,716

$1,015,257

A$369,606

Have Faith In Me

2013

$55,000

$1,486,470

$805,635

A$680,835

Sundonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gift

2003

$24,000 $1,460,561

$150,854

A$1,047,326 SWE 60000kr

Beaudiene Boaz

2013

$62,000 $1,308,927

$100,749

A$1,147,770

Falcon Strike

1999 $11,000 $1,303,060 $15,889 A$1,121,640

Gold Ace

2009 $27,000 $1,247,053 $812,288 A$368,113

Baileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dream

2003

Smiling Shard

2008 $41,000 $1,178,793 $757,491 A$332,340

One Over Kenny

2003 $23,000 $1,098,007 $811,194 A$249,200

Arden Rooney

2011 $16,000 $1,094,519 $687,422 A$382,812

Bettor Cover Lover

2009 $12,000 $1,061,534 $917,702 A$108,725

Iraklis

1994

$40,000

$88,000

$1,232,731

$1,019,042

$1,095,282

$628,792

A$121,231

A$390,250

The millionaires can come from anywhere. Not a single one cost over $100,000! What champions they all were and are.

15 4.

THE $100,000 PACING CLASS OF 2017

STAKES

THE $50,000 TROTTERS CLASS OF 2017

WINS

STAKES

WINS

Lazarus 762,700 9

Enghien 234,041 9

Spanish Armada 481,055 8

Monbet 197,870 3

Ultimate Machete 337,565 6

Habibti Ivy 114,655 5

Dream About Me 231,050 5

Temporale 107,175 2

Spankem 185,925 4

Quite A Moment 97,105 1

Elle Mac 181,340 4

Eyre I Come 94,702 6

Raukapuka Ruler 178,835 5

Wilma’s Mate 75,335 1

Heaven Rocks 169,315 5

Chevron Express 70,499 6

Dizzy Miss Lizzy

Bordeaux 67,520 2

165,594

The Devils Own 155,896 3

Lazarus and Tiger Tara chase Smolda early in the 2016 NZ Cup

Paramount King 64,982 4 Sunny Ruby 62,890 3

Delightful Memphis 153,603 4 Gentleman Sir

Tiger Tara 151,825 0

Marcoola 60,704 3

Jack’s Legend 148,394 4

Lemond 60,318 3

Vincent(AUS) 142,662 5

President Roydon 57,648 1

Titan Banner 112,325 3

One Muscle Hill

More The Better 110,760 2

Dark Horse 57,200 6

Bonnie Joan 105,970 7

Gentleman Sir 52,456 4

Christen Me 100,485 0

Destiny Jones 50,049 4

57,637

Piccadilly Princess

Ruakapuka Ruler THE BREEDERS’

Dream About Me

Temporale 17

SPANISH ARMADA Bettor’s Delight - Galleon’s Supreme 2015 $75,000 Australasian Classic Sale Career $790,000

The Breeders NZ Oaks win for Spanish Armada, Natalie Rasmussen and owners Jean and Bill Feiss THE BREEDERS’

for $95,000 and $47,500 respectively at the 2012 APG Melbourne Premium Sale.

JEAN AND BILL FEISS FIND SUCCESS IN NZ

At the 2014 sales they shelled out $52,500 for Chase The Dream (Bettor’s Delight-Christian Dreamer) and $80,000 for Mackenzie (Rock N Roll Heaven-Kept For Pleasure), who banked $475,415 and $347,763 respectively. The former notched 13 successes highlighted by the NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Final, Cardigan Bay Stakes and Sapling Stakes, won in 1:49.9 at Menangle and was the 2YO of the Year in 2015, while the latter took out the NSW 3YO Breeders Challenge Blue and the recent $310,600 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at Yonkers in New York.

“We got to know Mark as he used to stay with us when he was campaigning his team in Victoria, so we sent one of our horses Sammy Maguire back with him and he had some success with him,” Jean said.

Vincent, an Art Major half-brother to Mackenzie, and Spanish Armada (Bettor’s Delight-Galleon’s Supreme) were both secured by Jean and Bill at the 2015 sales, with Vincent topping the APG Sydney sale at $130,000 and Spanish Armada realising $75,000 at PGG Wrightson’s Australasian Classic Sale.

“We decided that we were quite happy with our horses racing over there. There’s good stakemoney on offer, good racing and people that are passionate about harness racing.”

They have won 12 Group 1’s and garnered four NZ Horse of the Year titles with top horses such as Vincent, Spanish Armada, Chase The Dream, Elle Mac, Messini, Willow, Mackenzie and Sicario. Prior to teaming up with Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, Jean Feiss enjoyed success as a trainer in her own right. But it pales into insignificance compared to the glory days now being enjoyed with the All Stars Stable! Beckon, who won seven races at Moonee Valley in the 1980’s, Scamp Racer (12 wins) and more recently, Sammy Maguire, who won the Bendigo Pacing Cup and the NSW Hondo Grattan Sprint, and the trotting mares Regal Volo and City Lane were handy performers trained by Jean. “Our son Matthew bought Regal Volo at the Lexington yearling sales in America. She won five races at the Victorian provincials before being retired to the matron’s barn. “We sold her first foal Twentyten to NZ and then we sold Regal Volo herself to Ken Breckon who bred Alannah Hall, High Gait and Regal Love out of her.”

Messini’s major successes with the All Stars team were the Kindergarten Stakes, Victoria Sires Stakes 3YO and 4YO Finals and the NZ Junior Free-for-all. Now seven years of age, the entire is still competing with real distinction and boasts a stake tally of $612,819. Willow won 13 races including the NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Championship and $314,043 in stakes and took a mile record of 1:51.4.

A friendship forged between Melbourne owners Jean and Bill Feiss and premier New Zealand horseman Mark Purdon five years ago has produced one of the most amazing success stories in harness racing.

Since 2012 the Feiss’s have chalked up countless frequent flyer points in bringing back to Victoria a healthy chunk of the huge prizemoney on offer across the ditch.

“We raced Messini with Mark and sold him as a fouryear-old,” Jean said.

Vincent bankrolled $418,316 from 12 wins as a threeyear-old headed up by the NZ and NSW Derbies and the NSW Breeders Challenge and was the unanimous choice as Australian 3YO of the Year, while Spanish Armada

was named the NZ 2YO and 3YO Filly of the Year after winning the Sires Stakes finals at 2 and 3, the NZ Oaks, Harness Jewels and Caduceus Club Classic. She earned a whopping $787,470 before being sold as a broodmare. In 2016 the Feiss’s topped the Sydney APG sale at $120,000 with Sicario (SomebeachsomewhereBettorthanyou) and outlaid $51,000 for Elle Mac (Bettor’s Delight-Goodlookinggirl) at Karaka. Sicario, who campaigned both in Australia and NZ, earned $114,760 in his debut year, while Elle Mac was the dominant filly of her crop winning $192,340 including the Sires Stakes 2YO Championship and Caduceus Club Classic. She was subsequently named 2YO Filly of the Year. “Our biggest thrill was Spanish Armada winning the Oaks. She was just unbelievable the way she won,” Jean stated. “Obviously Vincent winning two derbies was pretty special.” Not content to rest on their laurels, Bill and Jean outlaid $452,000 for two colts and two fillies – all by Bettor’s Delight - at the 2017 round of sales. The couple topped the Karaka sale at $220,000 for Jesse Duke (ex Daisy Dundee), $110,000 for Self Assured (ex Star Of Venus), $92,000 for Ruby Rose (ex Maid In Splendour) and $30,000 for Winter (ex Pocketfulofposies). Jean said that a lot of time and effort is spent on selecting the yearlings. “We look very closely at the pedigrees and then compile a short list. We then inspect all the yearlings that have been short-listed on sale day,” she said.

Jean Feiss with Brad Reid and NZ Oaks trophies

Twentyten won 16 races and $261,373 in stakes including the NZ Sires Stakes 3YO Final, the NSW Trotters Derby and the Breeders Crown twice, while High Gait won 16 races and earned $342,474 from successes in the NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Final, Breeders Crown, Victoria Oaks and The Redwood. While City Lane, a Lindy Lane mare which the Feiss’s bred out of Exotic Charm, a mare they bought in NZ, won seven times and, after producing Saratoga (12 wins and $101,706), was also sold to NZ interests. She later became the dam of this year’s Breeders Crown 2YO Trotting champion Renezmae. “We didn’t want to continue our breeding program, so we sold all our breeding stock,” Jean said. Bill and Jean then turned their attention to the yearling sale market. The first of their purchases were Messini, an Art Major colt out of the $179,000 winning Our Sir Vancelot mare Mesmerizing, and Willow, a Bettor’s Delight filly out of Listen To The Rhythm 1:57.9 ($132,852), which they secured

Jean Feiss with John Magness

Jean with Andrew Grierson of Woodlands Stud after the Northern Oaks win THE BREEDERS’

BEAUDIENE BOAZ Badlands Hanover - Beaudiene Babe 2016 $62,000 NZ Premier Sale Career A$1.26 million

2017 Western Australian Derby, Gloucester Park THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

NO WIN: NO PAY For almost three decades John and Lynne Street have enjoyed the thrills of harness racing. They have owned and bred hundreds of winners and for several years now the Streets have been giving new and long-term owners the chance to get that same winning feeling.

“Our partnerships and syndicates were set up to get people hooked on our sport and to give them that same thrill of victory. We guarantee winners. If you don’t get a win you get your money back,” said Street the owner/director of Lincoln Farms.

John Street and Dawn Kennedy

Killer Queen

Sales manager, Ian Middleton, explained the Lincoln Farms Partnerships were designed to offer small groups of people a chance to experience racing as an owner of well-bred standardbred horses with a guarantee that if their chosen horse does not win a metropolitan race (at Alexandra Park or Addington), then the partner will be offered the chance to change to a similar priced horse or get their money back.

“Sir Lincoln is our flagship horse. His Auckland Cup win in 2012 will stay with me forever. He’s now a very good stallion at stud,” Street said.

Lincoln Farms Bloodstock have had close to 500 combined winners internationally.

‘You get the price of the horse back. For example for a $100,000 horse a 10 per cent owner would be entitled to get their $10k back or offered another horse. It’s their choice,” Middleton explained. “However we do not refund training fees which for 10% would be $200 plus GST monthy,” he added.

Middleton said Lincoln Farms Bloodstock will not partner a horse until it is known that the he or she has the ability to win races.

The Streets have had more than 250 successes, including an Interdominion Trotting Final champion, Auckland, Winter and Franklin Cup winners and other notable Group One races including the Taylor Mile, the Sires Stakes Final and the Jewels.

“This saves unnecessary changing of ownerships and prevents disappointments. “If and when a horse reach its level in New Zealand Lincoln Farms are not opposed to selling a horse that we believe can not earn sustainable stakes money in New Zealand. If an offer is made that is thought to be beneficial for all owners all partners are consulted and if agreement is reached horses are sold to various individuals from Australia and the USA,” said Middleton. He said Ray Green’s training fees at Pukekohe are set at $2000 per month plus GST per horse, which covers all internal costs of training and racing, including nomination and track fees, all veterinarian, farrier and incidental costs. He said the Streets’ passion for horse racing extended to both Thoroughbred and Standardbreds with horses currently racing in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.

“John and Lynne’s business acumen in the Grocery Business allowed them to invest heavily in the racing industry and since retiring they have increased their involvement in the racing industry and have spent the past 3 years encouraging new owners into the sport of Kings. To this extent they offer partnerships as opposed to syndication. The difference to John is that Lincoln Farms always retain a minimum of 50% of the horses we race with partners. “We are not interested in selling our new horses but welcome people who would like to become an owner into our horses, that may not be available to an individual because of cost or the ability to purchase first class animals at sales in Australia and New Zealand”. He said Lincoln Farms has a very impressive track record of selling horses to benefit partners. “These include Beaudiene Boaz (Badlands Hanover - Beaudiene Babe) which cost $80,000 and then won $100,000 in New Zealand before being sold for $250,000 to Western Australia. “Zach Maguire (Bettor’s Delight - Zenola Starbuck) cost $40,000 and then won $60,000 before being sold to Australia where he won $120,000.

“Alta Intrigue (Mach Three - Samantha Q) cost $80,000 and then won $100,000 here before being sold to Australia for $137,500. “Chachingchaching (Mach Three - Affairs Of State) cost $80,000 as well and won $114,000 before being sold to Sydney where he won $200,000,” Middleton said. He said current Partnerships owned Breeders Crown winner and Sire Stakes runner up, King of Swing (3 b c Rocknroll Hanover - Twist And Twirl) who has won seven races and $230,000; Recco Lover (3 br c Bettor’s Delight - Castellina Lover) who has won twice and banked just under $30,000; and Winter Cup winner Northview Hustler, along with Strike the Gold (4 bl h Bettor’s Delight - Northview Desire - six wins & $76,358) and Vasari (4 b g Art Major - Thebestamancanget - five wins and $76,108), who are now competing in Australia. Trainer Green has had a good start to the season, and as at December 4 he has nailed 12 winners, placed 16 times and banked $157,062 in stakes. Last season was his best since he took out his trainer’s licence in 1988. Green conditioned 35 winners and placed 63 times for a personal best $434,025 in stakes.

Lincoln Farms Bloodstock Ian Middleton Email: ian@lincolnfarms.co.nz Mobile: 021 109 8911

King Of Swing Breeders Crown Series 2YO THE BREEDERS’

NATURE & NURTURE

CHAMPIONS New Zealand is perfect for breeding race horses. Farming is on our bloodstream. The climate and soils are great. Access to the best international pacing and trotting stallions combined with the hardiness and toughness our female lines are famous for, and dedicated and expert horse women and men is producing world class race horses.

Breckon Farms, Ohaupo THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

IT’S THE ENVIRONMENT

New Zealand has a stunning reputation for breeding racehorses. Our thoroughbreds consistently outperform their competition in Australia, just as our standardbreds do. Our farming skills and practices, wonderful soils and climate provide the start young horses need to succeed. Serving some 2,000 pacing mares and 600 trotting mares a year gives us 1,800 registered foals. While these numbers are down from the halcyon days of the 70s and 80s we lay claim to producing legendary horses in modern times such as Lyell Creek, Bailey’s Dream, Lazarus, Adore Me, Christen Me, A Bit of a Legend, I’m the Mighty Quinn, Christian Cullen, Monbet, Terror To Love and Changeover. Our champion broodmares are the treasures. Their families are deep in courage and are proven. Modern stallions have injected speed and refinement. The last decade or so Broodmares of Excellence includes Corporate Banner, Kahu Del, Vain Franco, Scuse Me, Maureen’s Dream, Landora’s Pride, Look, Coo Doo, Broomfield Ann, Frances Jay Bee, Port Medley, Star Lady, Interchange, Bee Gee’s Dream, Tabella Beth and Aberfeldy. Drop back a little further and up comes Pleasant Franco, Tuapeka Star, Sakuntala and Zenover. These maternal giants grace the pedigree pages of today’s champions. You’ll also find them across the pages of the 2018 Sales catalogue. Our rich breeding history, our proud history as the harness family, the great genetics, the natural environment and the skills of our people produces a young racehorse as good as, if not better, than anywhere in the world.

“The temperate New Zealand climate allowed a mostly pasturebased production system for breeding and growing horses. This offers several advantages for the growth and development of the equine athlete, as this system permits free exercise during essential developmental periods. The temperate climate also permits management of horses at pasture year round, which is proposed to stimulate development of the musculoskeletal system.” Massey University, 2017

THE BREEDERS’

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PARTYON

Bettor’s Delight - Beach Parade Career $562,145

Partyon with Mark Purdon 2017 Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks, Auckland THE BREEDERS’

to a fabulous start. They leased eight and seven fillies respectively. All eight from The Good Sports Syndicate raced, with six winning. The syndicate had 34 wins & 42 placings for $441,976 in stake earnings – a strike rate of 48.4% of runners in the money (1st, 2nd or 3rd) of all career starts.

RACING FILLIES FOR FUN

The star performer for this syndicate was Linda Lovegrace who had 14 wins & 12 placings for $265,433, including the Group 1 2YO Caduceus Club Fillies Classic.

High Gait

When Ken and Karen Breckon purchased Yarndley Farms off Sandy and Jan Yarndley on 1 August 2007, they had a vision of being at the forefront of breeding and ownership in Australasia.

Ken has been passionate about harness racing almost all of his life and has been actively involved since 1995. His father, George, and grandfather Joe Bowyer were racing men.

Fast forward a decade and the state-of-the-art facilities at Breckon Farms are now world renowned and a large majority of the horses that have been raised at the picturesque Ohaupo property have become quality racehorses and the fairer sex gone on to be quality broodmares.

Karen is also deeply passionate about harness racing and has been involved on the committee of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association (North Island Branch).

Their former flagship horse and former champion trotter I Can Doosit, who won multiple Group races, was named ‘2012-2013 North Island Trotter Of The Year’.

“I have raced horses in America and in future I see more Northern Hemisphere horses racing down here. I think one day soon there will be an even closer association between the two and possibly more world-wide harness races and competitions.”

A season earlier the Breckons were named New Zealand Harness Racing Owners Of The Year after their horses dominated the New Zealand harness racing scene in no uncertain terms. In that dream season the eight horses they raced as a family, and 11 they raced in syndicates, won 34 races and more than $1 million in stakes.

‘We are still living the dream but there is still a lot more to achieve. We want to be the best at breeding, owning and selling horses,” Ken Breckon said.

Five fillies from the Super Seven Syndicate raced for 25 wins & 19 placings and $408,700 – a strike rate of 56.4% of runners in the money (1st, 2nd or 3rd) of all career starts. The star performer for this syndicate was High Gait with 16 wins & 12 placings for $342,474 and four Group 1 wins that were all in Australia in the Redwood Classic, 2YO Breeders Crown Final, Need For Speed Final and Victoria Trotters Oaks.

Others in that syndicate have been Regal Love with 3 wins & 6 placings for $58,192, including a Group 1 placing in the 3YO Harness Jewels, Moving Money with 2 wins & 5 placings for $25,826, Double Twist with 3 wins & 3 placings for $19,641 and Loveonthelawn with 2 wins & 1 placing for $16,333. The Breckon Farms - Six of the Best Syndicate is the current 3-year-old crop with two racing as 2YOs and winning, being Luby Lou and Spandau Ballet. The Breckon Farms - The Perfect Ten Syndicate fillies are just 2-year-olds now and with almost all receiving excellent reports to date, they will be looking to step out onto the racetrack soon. They are: Bubbled Up: Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen Lovemelikeyoudo: Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Her husband believes one of the reasons harness racing is thriving was because technology and advancement has meant the world has become a smaller place.

Gimme Hope: Mark Jones Sassy Tart: Ken & Tony Barron Tickle Me Pink: Tony Herlihy Gladamare: Brent Mangos Starski: Barry Purdon Reachforthetill: Brian Hughes Mermaid Explorer: Mike Berger

Breckon Farms planned to set the benchmark in terms of communications with owners and this has been illustrated through its first foray into racing syndication through the development of The Good Sports Syndicate which comprised eight fillies.

“We supply syndicate members with a constant flow of information through emails, newsletters and our cutting-edge Facebook page, as well as other social media platforms,” said Ken.

The Breckon Farms - The Top Ten Syndicate has raced some lovely bloodstock, with eight having raced for 26 wins & 18 placings for $692,740 in stakes – a strike rate of 52.4% of runners in the money (1st, 2nd or 3rd) of all career starts. The star performer for this syndicate has been and remains Partyon with 14 wins & 2 placings for $562,145 to date, including four Group 1 wins in the 2YO Harness Jewels, 2YO Breeders Crown Final, NSW Oaks and the Northern Oaks.

Taylor Bromac: Michael House.

Rob Carr Breckon Farms 021 2276444 Ken & Karen Breckon

“We want to be number one in the field of communication with owners in the New Zealand harness racing industry,” Ken says. “Owners thirst for information and knowledge and that is what we will provide them with.” Meanwhile Breckon Farms Marketing / Promotions Manager and Syndicate Liaison person, Rob Carr said the three Syndicates currently in operation were shaping up well. He said they raced six to 10 horses during their two, three, and four-year-old careers. The first two Breckon Farms syndicates, The Good Sports Syndicate and the Super Seven Syndicate, got off Linda Lovegrace THE BREEDERS’

Katy Perry (p, 1:51.1, 23 wins, 14 placings, $517,733) bred by Breckon Bloodstock & sold at the 2013 Yearling Sales for $17,500 35

SPEEDING SPUR Pegasus Spur - Della’s Speed

2013 $10,000 (res) Australasian Classic Sale Career $694,291

Speeding Spur and Joshua Dickie winning at Alexandra Park THE BREEDERS’

Sea of Gold Madam Spur

Bettor Babe

FILLIES ON TOP: Our siblings are not too bad you know! Syndication is the future for harness racing ownership, it is a way of giving people the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of owning a racehorse at a fraction of the cost. Woodlands Stud has had a vast part to play in the implementation of syndication across New Zealand. They now have three syndicates with a minimum of five well-bred horses in each. A small monthly payment guarantees members a spot in the ownership of these horses who are put in top stables where they will have the best possible chance to be successful on the race track.

THE BREEDERS’

The syndicates lease well-bred young fillies to race that have been retained by Woodlands Stud as breeding prospects in the future. Early on Andrew Grierson and Charles Roberts decided they wanted to give more people a chance to experience horse ownership and therefore decided to syndicate them out for their racing careers. The original syndicate which includes rugby players Andy Ellis and Kieran Read has tasted plenty of success with their horses, including trotting sensation Speeding Spur. The winner of 18 races from 33 starts and $694,291 in stakes, he has provided his syndicate with many great memories and plenty of success. His major wins have included the Group 1 Great Southern Star Final, Group 1 3YO Breeders Crown and both the New Zealand and Northern Trotting Derby’s at Group 1 level. The ride with him isn’t over yet however, with the 6-yearold stallion getting set to make another race track return shortly. Trainers John and Josh Dickie have given him

Speeding Spur

Just Dance

a long, slow build up after suffering a set-back due to injury. He is progressing well, and we should see him back at the track over summer.

Dream Offer who is a sister of Bettor Dream and Can’t Refuse trained by Barry Purdon and another Pegasus Spur filly out of the eight-win mare Featherflight who will be under the training of Gavin Smith in North Canterbury.

The Woodlands Stud Partnership No.2 Syndicate has had plenty of success recently as well, with five of their seven horses racing across the country. In the last two months they have tasted success with four of these in the last six weeks. The first was with Madam Spur, a Pegasus Spur mare out of the 19-win mare Merinai, who won at Cambridge Raceway for trainers John and Josh Dickie. Just Dance continued the success 10 days later at the picturesque track of Kaikoura when she won in the hands of Cameron Jones for Cran Dalgety. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight seems to have come back tougher this time in, so it shouldn’t be long until she is in the winner’s circle again. Next was Bettor Babe, who was a recent winner at Manawatu for Tony Herlihy and the Strike Won team. She is a full-sister to top filly Spanish Armada. She has now had four starts for a win and a second. The Ray Green trained filly Sea Of Gold was the most recent winner. She won at Alexandra Park at the end of November after showing ability with minimal luck in her starts prior to that. She is a full-sister to New Zealand Free-For-All winner Gold Ace. The third syndicate has five well bred 2-year-old fillies amongst it who are all showing plenty of promise early on. These fillies include a full-sister to Speeding Spur who is with Phil Williamson in Oamaru, the first filly from

In the next few months Woodlands Stud is likely to establish more Partnership syndicates established as they have no shortage of quality youngsters who will be kept for breeding purposes later on. More information on shares for these syndicates will become available soon. All syndicate members are sent regular emails with updates on all of the horses as well as photos and videos of their progress. They are also looking at some new incentives for the members to introduce next year to enhance the ownership experience. “Woodlands Stud does their best to give back to the industry by providing these opportunities for owners, giving the horses to trainers to earn an income and also through their many sponsorship endeavours throughout harness racing in Australasia.” “We love the industry and we want to do our bit to keep it progressing. We welcome anyone who has a passion for horses and wants to experience the thrill and excitement of owning standardbreds at a prominent level. Partner with the best, nothing less.” Stacey Markham Woodlands Stud NZ Mobile: 021 595 492 Email: stacey@woodlandsstud.co.nz

CHASE AUCKLAND Auckland Reactor - Delicata 2016 $45,000 Australasian Sale Career $108,500

Chase Auckland showing off after his NRM Sires Stakes 3YO win THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

SUCCESS, THRILLS, SHARING The Alabar Syndicate is a very diverse and wide ranging group - a great bunch really. I find it incredible where these people are from, what their backgrounds are, what their connection to harness racing is, why they bought their shares etc - and even more so, the thrill they are getting out of it and how this thrill is spreading to their family and friends. I’ve had so many people tell me they know someone in the syndicate and they were cheering Chase home. A very cool experience on so many levels.

When we approached Mark Purdon and asked him to select what he thought was the best Auckland Reactor available at the Yearling Sales, this was exactly the kind of result we were dreaming of. Hats off to Mark’s ability to select him, Mark and Natalie’s genius as trainers and to Natalie for looking after Chase on the racetrack. They’ve both also been great in communicating with the syndicate on racenights - which has been as big a thrill as winning the race for some of the syndicate members.

Auckland Reactor has laid a great platform as a sire with excellent numbers of qualifiers and early winners - especially considering that he himself didn’t step on to a racetrack until September as a three-year-old. What he needed to kick on from this start was for a top level three-year-old to step up - and Chase Auckland has certainly done that. That he is so much like Reactor in type and in his record to date - and that he races in the Alabar colours makes it even more special. There’s no doubt that he is bringing Auckland Reactor to the attention of breeders. There’s also other very nice Reactor’s waiting to step out, so the future is looking really good for him as a sire. I was most thrilled for the syndicate and for Auckland Reactor when Chase Auckland won the NZ Sires Stakes final on Cup day but to be able to make the presentation to him as NZSS Chairman was a wonderful way to finish off my twenty-some years on the NZSS Board. I didn’t think I could be that lucky!

Chase Auckland as Lot 7 at the 2016 Australasian Sale

I had my eldest son Ethan with me on the day and to be able to share it with him, when he knows how hard it is to kick a goal with new stallions and how often I’ve had to smile and make presentations when a different result would have been huge for me and Alabar. It was one of the great father-son moments we’ll always cherish. Graeme Henley Alabar NZ

Chase Auckland warming up THE BREEDERS’

Chase Auckland owners after the NRM 3YO Sires Stakes Final win 43

“It’s a wonderfully positive group to be a part of. Everyone has grown together.”

Democrat Party

Galatic Star

Ardens Choice

SOUTHERN BRED SOUTHERN REARED ON A HIGH Southern Bred Southern Reared (SBSR) yearlings have a history of topping the Premier Sales and there is no reason for that trend not to continue. In 2013 and 2015 the progeny of Asabella; Titanium $170,000 and Bollinger $200,000 sat at the top while in 2014 Beaudiene Babe’s colt Beaudiene Beaufighta was the top seller at $140,000. 2016 Mach Shard topped with $200,000 and in 2017 Arden Roanoke (Rocknroll Arden) was the second highest lot at $155,000.

“The results have catapulted the brand,” said committee member John Stiven. At the administration level John is also the current President of the Southland Breeders’ Association. “It’s been going for a long time and there’s a handful of us that are second generation. It’s good to be a part of. We raise money to put into fillies races and support the breeders with stallion seminars.” The SBSR brand is only successful because of the product behind it - the many top racehorses the region consistently produces.

SBSR was a concept that was initially talked about by the late Doug Stiven of Tapanui and Dave Kennedy of Bayswater and it was in 2002 that Dave Kennedy, Mark O’Connor, Debbie Smith and John Stiven formed the inaugural committee. “The reason why we got SBSR going was to get Southerners working together to raise the profile of the product at the sales.” Stiven said.

Fight For Glory

SBSR is open to all southern breeders in Otago and Southland at a cost of $120 if the yearlings are outside of the region or $200 for yearlings that are prepared in Southland and therefore able to be paraded on the group’s annual presales bus tour. Stiven says the bus tour for trainers and buyers is one of reasons SBSR has been successful. “We get about 22 to 25 buyers each year now and it is very beneficial for those buyers to be able to come, and some of all our vendors, Ken Barron, Greg Payne and Michael House have never missed one.” SBSR also promotes substantially through a variety of magazines and websites and employs local television production company CUE TV to film and market their stock.

Renezmae

“It’s a terrific draft this year. Normally you get one or two standouts but this year we have up to twenty nice yearlings.” Stiven says the SBSR brand is being recognised in Australian and with I’m Themightyquinn (58 races and $5,520,0550) Beaudiene Boaz, I’m Victorious, Fight For Glory, Chicago Bull and Arden Rooney flying the flag it’s only going to get stronger. “When Our Blackbird ran in the Interdominion Final his owner referred to him as another SBSR product. We certainly punch above our weight.”

Chicago Bull

Pemberton Shard THE BREEDERS’

to the Australian racing industry, and beyond. It all started with trail blazers like Cardigan Bay, Robin Dundee, Stella Frost and Young Quinn. Stiven said “Southland has long been regarded as the Kentucky of New Zealand. The SBSR group has managed to work together for the betterment of the Southern region as a platform to show unity in the sale of yearlings from this special part of the world. It also shows the group is more than yearlings with the sponsorship of the Two Year Old Diamond Classic.” Dave Kennedy is one of the founding members of Southern Bred Southern Reared and says the tour run for buyers is key to influencing the selling bench at the sales. Bonnie Joan

Outside of the yearlings sales SBSR is also the group behind a new two year old race - The Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Ascot Park Invercargill on Diamonds Day. The 2018 race will have a stake of $45,000 with a $2,000 bonus for the first SBSR horse home that went through the 2017 PGG sale.

“The SBSR tour is the best thing we’ve ever done there’s no doubt about that. You get the main buyers arriving on your doorstep. They see your place and see what you’ve done and what your horses look like.”

For decades Southern Breed Southern Reared horses have been proving the importance of the southern region

Emily Morgan (The Digital Birdcage)

Chanelle Lawson (Chanelle Lawson Photography)

I grew up in a small town in Tasmania called Carrick, which is ‘famous’ for 2 things – the speedway and the racecourse! Growing up I didn’t have much involvement with horses. My nan and pop lived behind the speedway/ racecourse and were hobby breeders and trainers of thoroughbreds so I remember going to the gallops with them a couple of times, but can’t remember ever going to harness racing. A local harness trainer used their farm as a training base though and I remember seeing the sulkies in the shed.

I remember going to the Alexandra Park races as a kid and if I wasn’t there I would more often than not be watching on TV. My first big thrill came in 2007 when I won my Kidz Kartz graduation race on Ruff Rufus at Alexandra Park. Not long after my Mum’s partner started working a couple of racehorses. These days I’m working for Tony Herlihy. I jumped at the chance just over two years ago and I haven’t wanted to leave!

About six years ago my husband came home and said he wanted to join the Griffins syndicate. At the time I wasn’t really interested as I was involved in running half marathons so my weekends were spent either doing events or training runs. Beudiene Boaz

So what type of stallion does Kennedy see as being a possible a dominant player in the New Zealand market? “I think son of Somebeachsomewhere is going to take over. He’s got all the daughters of Bettor’s Delight and Art Major (to serve). The only mares he can’t serve are the Mach Three mares.” The unique and successful Southern Bred Southern Reared brand continues to put Southland on the map. Mach Shard

THE PICTURE TAKERS

Following an injury I started to go to the races more to see Monty Python and Father Christmas with Phil Williamson and Sarah Palin with Margo Nyhan and Peter Davis who are all lovely people. I fell in love with the horses. We are currently in five syndicates with 22 horses. I love all the grass track meetings where you can throw up a gazebo along the rails, have a picnic and be close to the action. Methven and Motukarara being the main ones. Omakau is fun as well, although you can’t get close to the action. For the big days you can’t go past the Jewels. I really feel like that’s a day for owners to enjoy, as opposed to something like Cup Day which is more for the general public.

I have always had a love for photography. There is something special about being able to capture a moment in time and getting to relive it years down the track when you stumble across that box of old photos. I can be found taking photos of almost anything but going along to the races with my camera is always a highlight. Being able to get up close and personal with the horses on and off the track makes for great photo opportunities. It’s not as easy as it looks and I’m still learning, trying to find a way to master those race night photos. Any race meeting with my camera in hand is enjoyable. However New Zealand Cup Day stands out. I first went in 2014 when Terror To Love was looking to create history, that was the big drawcard for me. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be but I haven’t wanted to miss a Cup Week since. The atmosphere is amazing and the action on the track is too. What’s not to love!?

I spent 2 years doing photography courses in college. I took photos on my phone but one day I used dad’s camera and I was hooked. From there it’s just grown. I joined a local camera club and did some courses to get better. I’m now onto my third camera and am saving up for the next model! I started sharing the photos I was taking of our horses with the other syndicate members and they really liked them and produced a syndicate calendar featuring the syndicate. I started thinking that maybe other owners would like to see photos of their horses as well. Colin and AJ do a fantastic job, but not everyone owns horses that win a lot of the time so many don’t get to have photos. So I set up The Digital Birdcage and started sharing my photos. I now really enjoy doing the more arty photos – the black and whites especially. Doing equine photography really lets me combine my 2 passions – the horses and photography.

Emily

Chanelle

Arden Rooney THE BREEDERS’

THE CELEBRATION

WINNING DOES COUNT There is one Cup every harness racing person in New Zealand wants to win. “The Cup.” Since 14yo Monte Carlo won the first NZ Trotting Cup Handicap (£310) in 1904 before a crowd of 10,000 The Cup generates passion and excitement as the centrepiece of New Zealand biggest racing day out.”

THE BREEDERS’

NZ Trotting Cup Celebrations

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The Breeders Cup Eve Awards

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Paramount King

Ashley Locaz

Piccadilly Princess

Family Day Out: The Jewels

Enghien

Jack’s Legend

Dizzy Miss Lizzy THE BREEDERS’

Heaven Rocks

Wilma’s Mate 55

THE TRAINERS THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

EXPERT HORSEMEN AND WOMEN STRIVING TO WIN Summer, winter, spring and autumn thousands in our sport care for our horses. Professionals, young and old, male and female are dedicated to finding the right horse, feeding it well, training it ompetently and driving it to win. 57

Q&A

1/8

Q&A

with

JEREMY YOUNG

LYNN NEAL

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse? I remember a comment from Derek Jones, who once told me: ‘Don’t worry about the horse, find the person with the biggest wallet. You need a bit of money to get a good one. I never forgot that.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales?

What was the last book you read? Bart Cummings story. (The Master - A Personal Portrait of Bart Cummings, Les Carlyon) Awesome read.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? I’m from Christchurch and always bunked Cup Day when I was at Lincoln High School. Cup day by a mile.

Owners like Hazel van Opzeeland, Paul Curran and Ivan Bridge who put money up for me and thus providing income for me to make purchases.

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time?

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

You need to work to a budget and make sure you do a lot of homework at parades and before the sales. Ask people that know. When I was working for Mark Purdon he did a lot of study. He took a look, and then another look. No guess work with Mark.

I hammered and hammered my vet, Ivan Bridge to go in on one with me. He finally relented when there were only about 10 lots left. We got a Bettor’s Delight filly. He surrendered through the sufferance of me.”

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse? Close the book and look at the horse.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales? Ruthless Red after being passed in we obtained him for 3 chests of drawers when we owned our importing furniture business.

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

2/8

What was the last book you read? Life on the Edge by JJ Harvey.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? Methven

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time? Seek the best advice you can.

Buying Ruthless Red.

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales? Beyond The Silence (In NZ $129,000 nine wins, 18 places)

Three words that best describe you?

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

Passionate, articulate and Relentless.

I was at the right place at the right time when Andrew Grierson offered me a Bettors Delight Queen Camille 2-year-old named Kolovos. He’s a three quarter brother to Elios and is about to trial.

Three words that best describe you? Honest, competitive, and loyal.

JEREMY YOUNG Public Trainer and Open Driver

THE BREEDERS’

LYNN NEAL Public Trainer and Open Driver

Q&A

3/8

Q&A

4/8

with

KIRK LARSEN

JACK HARRINGTON

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse? Have a good look around and study the book.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales? Getting the horse you really want.

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

What was the last book you read? Bart Cummings – The Master.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? NZ Cup and Interdoms.

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time? Do your homework and seek advice.

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse? Study their temperament. Have a look at how calm the horse is in the box. Handle him or her if you can. Get a good feel for the animal.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales? The first horse I bought – a 2-year-old Bettor’s Delight - Phoebe Lindenny colt.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? Being a big trotting fan – that would have to be Show Day at Addington.

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time? Don’t go overboard and work to your budget. Don’t ever buy anything you can’t afford. The last thing you want is to dig a hole for yourself.

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

At the end of the day and hopefully going home with some new stock.

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

It is still to happen. My Breeders Crown winner, Renezmae, was passed in at the 2016 New Zealand Premier Sale in Christchurch.

Breenys Fella

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

Three words that best describe you?

Renezmae (The Pres - City Lane) who won this year’s Breeder’s Crown 2-year-old Fillies Trot Final in Australia.

Determined, resilient, quiet achiever.

Three words that best describe you? Out-going, enthusiastic, and easy-going.

What was the last book you read? Bart Cummings – The Master. I read it from front to cover and loved every bit of it.

KIRK LARSEN Public Trainer and Open Driver

THE BREEDERS’

JACK HARRINGTON Public Trainer and Open Driver

Q&A

5/8

Q&A

with

GAVIN SMITH

JOSH DICKIE

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse?

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time?

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse?

Use your head not your heart.

Ask for advice if you are not sure. Ask a senior trainer who has been there and done that. Lots of people enjoy helping out. If you seek advice you will get better each year.

Don’t get carried away looking at bloodlines. Sometimes it’s best to close the book and judge the horse on your own gut feeling.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales? When you can get a cheap one and then it goes on to do a really good job.

My first year with Dad and we bought two highpriced yearlings – Bettor Think Quick ($105,000) and Motown ($87,500).

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

Great Things Happen.

What was the last book you read? Pumper – The book about jockey Jim Cassidy.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? NZ Cup Day.

I think we would all say New Zealand Cup Day, but for me the Jewels is right up there too.

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time? Don’t get carried away with the top lots. Instead seek advice, especially from the trainer.

The first one I put will through myself - Giuliana Rancic (American Ideal - Finiamo). She won her only race here and then I sold her to Australia.

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

Honest, hard working, genuine.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ?

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

All Shook Up. I paid $5,500 for her at the 2010 Yearling Sales in Christchurch. She then went on to win almost $60,000 here.

Three words that best describe you?

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales?

6/8

GAVIN SMITH Public Trainer and Open Driver

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales? Speeding Spur was a buy-back, so if not him Paramount King and Motown.

Three words that best describe you? Hard-working, modest, likeable.

What was the last book you read? Bart Cummings – The Master. I read it from front to cover and loved every bit of it.

JOSH DICKIE Public Trainer and Open Driver

THE BREEDERS’

Q&A

7/8

Q&A

with

KATIE COX

BRENT MANGOS

8/8

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse?

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time?

What was the best piece of advice you were given about buying a horse?

What is your advice for those going to the sales for the first time?

Look at movement and try and look for cleangaited good-stepping animal.

Try and find someone knowledgeable who you can trust. Take their advice and also take them to the sales with you.

Pick the right one. I go on type and then pedigree after that.

Don’t buy out of your comfort zone re money, and stick with what you want, not what you are left with.

What is your favourite buying experience at the sales?

The first horse I bought – a Real Desire filly named Birds Desire. We bred a Stunin Cullen filly from her who is now two.

When we bought Bettor Cover Lover (Bettor’s Delight - Front Cover Lover) at the 2009 Sales for $12,000.

What is your most memorable moment at the sales?

When I was working for Natalie and Jamie Gameson and watching how they put their horses through sales prep. They were so thorough and left no stone un-turned.

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

I go with a figure in mind and when I get the horse I want for that price it can be very satisfying. KATIE COX Public Trainer and Open Driver

What is the best horse you have trained from the sales?

It is still to come.

Bettor Cover Lover, who won multiple Group One races.

Three words that best describe you?

Hard-working, integrity and honest.

What was the last book you read? Training a Trotter and Pacer - the classic from US Trotting.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? Motukarara has always been a good track to me and I also enjoy Methven. I like grass track meetings and the whole atmosphere they bring.

THE BREEDERS’

BRENT MANGOS Public Trainer and Open Driver

Hard-working, honest, and loyal.

What was the last book you read? I don’t read much.

What is your favourite meeting in NZ? Auckland Cup Day.

SUMMER FUN

IT’S IN OUR DNA GRASS TRACK RACING Country clubs, volunteers, holidays, camping and grass track racing are in the fabric of our sport from spring to autumn.

Sam Ottley and Maninthemirror, October 2016 winners THE BREEDERS’

The Kaikoura Cup won by Lazarus serves as a prequel to one of the biggest sporting spring events in the country - the New Zealand Cup and Show Week in Christchurch - on November 11. And we know what happened there. Lazarus followed his Kaikōura Cup win with another masterclass in the NZ Trotting Cup.

“The Kaikōura meet is something that people really look forward to. Its kind of the opening of cup week, it’s so unique here and that’s probably the attraction for a lot of people.”

“You have the ocean meeting the mountains and the snow on the mountains, the race track is right on the ocean with the mountains in the background,” she said. Repairs to infrastructure around the region continue, including Kaikōura’s main State Highway 1, north of the town, that has been buried in slips since the quakes. The road to Picton will be open by Christmas.

Trainer Robbie Holmes Kaikōura’s reputation as a great day out and weekend of racing preceded the event. People came from all over, including Australia. Robin and Geoff Stanfield and Peter McKay from the small country town of Marburg in Queensland had been planning the trip for a year, after being tipped off by a friend.

Bordeaux and Dexter Dunn lead the trot field down the back

WHERE THE RACE TRACK MEETS THE SEA: A Beautiful Day Out Thousands flocked to one of Kaikōura‘s biggest days on the social calendar, nearly one year after the devastating earthquakes that tore the north Canterbury region apart. The Kaikōura Weekend of Racing got off to a foggy start on Sunday, but the cloud soon cleared for Kaikōura Family Day. After a quieter day on Sunday the crowds rolled in for the Alabar Kaikōura Cup Day on Monday to see some great harness racing under beautiful clear skies.

“They said if there’s anything you must do once in your life time if you’re a trotting person you must go to Kaikōura. “And then we watched the races on television last year and from that day we started planning and saving,” said Robin. Robin thought Kaikōura’s beauty was unique with the way the snow-capped mountains met the sea. “I don’t think I’ve been anywhere more beautiful. Kaikoura Races

“It took a huge effort to get the races back on track, given the destruction left behind by last year’s November 14 shake.” “There’s been a hell of [a lot of] hard work behind the scenes with the volunteers to make sure this day does happen and it’s great for the actual Kaikoura community,” he says. “They’ve had a rough 11 months, and this was the chance for them to have a day [out] and enjoy it.” Edward Rennell, Harness Racing New Zealand

Tutu, semi-permanent resident sperm whale. Whale Watch, New Zealand’s ultimate marine experience. THE BREEDERS’

The Kaikōura Peninsular, South Bay and the race track to the left, the Pacific Ocean to the north and the glorious Seaward Kaikōura mountains 69

IT’S JUST A GOOD DAY IN THE COUNTRY WITH LOVELY FOLKS Based at the foot of the Southern Alps, and about an hours drive from Christchurch, Mt Harding racecourse, Methven to most, features one of the most iconic New Zealand grass track harness racing venues. The location winter and summer provides a memorable spectacle for all.

Methven’s unique appeal is as a destination that caters for all visitors - whether a passionate supporter of harness racing or visiting the region and enjoying activities such as skiing, snowboarding, jet boating, golf and fishing. The first race meeting ever to be held at the course was on January 1 1907. The race meeting featured trots, gallops and hurdle races but also included races for humankind. There were running races for married men and single men, first prize being one pound ($2). As well, boys raced for a prize of 5 shillings (50c) and girls raced for a box of tea. At the first harness meeting in 1920 280 horses were nominated for eight races and the bright future of the Club was set in motion. The inaugural Methven Trotting Club president was Sam Holmes, who did a ten year stint. Over the years the presidents have proved great stayers. Indeed over the first 28 years there were only seven presidents.

The Methven field turns for home

In that same 2010 year the last race of the October meeting descended into a snowstorm. The drivers all agreed to hold the race and that snowy blur was featured on television news clips throughout the world!

Currently, four Sunday meetings are held each year. The Club’s calendar opens in spring, in the first week of September.

In December each year the Club’s feature events are mile races. December 2017 saw exceptional racing and race records in both the pacing and trotting Green Miles with A G’s White Socks and Everybody Knows, trained by Greg and Nina Hope, and driven by immediate past president Ricky May, winning respectively.

In 2010, the Club raced its September meeting the day after the historic 7.1 earthquake. Buildings were inspected, passed all clear and the meeting proceeded. It was a sombre affair and there were stories aplenty, but the racing took place and the on course turnover was strong.

The final meeting of the season is held in late March where the feature race sees the 2yo trotters compete over the mile distance. To date, the winner of this race has earned enough stake money to then gain a start in the Group 1 2yo Trotters Harness Jewels.

Greg Hope and Craig Edmonds enjoying a joke! THE BREEDERS’

Refreshments 71

Nathan Williamson and Astral Ruler at Cromwell, January 2017

SUMMER IN CENTRAL What chance a sixth member of Oamaru’s famous Williamson family making her case driving debut during the festive season? It’s possible, says patriarch Phil, who with wife Bev and the growing Williamson clan has spent a period from before Christmas Day to after New Years Day, based in Central Otago and in semi-holiday mode since sometime in the 1990s. Between Christmas and New Year, they attend the Hawea Flat Picnic Racing Club’s annual fixture at the local racecourse, equidistant between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea.

“We’ve got a lot of history at the Hawea Flat gymkhana,” Phil said. “Matt had his first drive there, he was about 16, before he got his licence, he won the Hawea Cup. The same day he drove a horse for Barry Gooch. They went out to a five or six length lead from the start, we all thought he’d gone too fast but he maintained the gap, got a roaring reception.” THE BREEDERS’

Clearly a case of Matt starting out as he planned to go on, good to see he hasn’t lost his aggression. “Bev has also driven there, Nathan not so much, and Brad. Jasmyn’s keen to have a go now.” Phil and Bev’s only daughter Jasmyn is a qualified accountant and until deciding recently to move back south, was practicing in Christchurch. Jasmyn had a pony, Phil said, and progressed later to driving racehorses in work, but he deliberately didn’t steer her towards a career in harness racing. “She has a good handle on how it is done and is back working with me at the moment,” Phil explained. “She’s got natural ability and since she’s been back has been getting experience driving fast work. She’ll be given every chance to drive at Hawea Flat and if she does she’ll make a good job of it.” Another Hawea Flat occasion recalled by Phil was when Dexter Dunn was in town and took a drive. Betting was available only on the one dollar equalisator so no short divvie; the horse he drove was paying the same as all the others. Phil describes Dexter’s run as unlucky, going for a rails run but locked up by the Williamson brothers. The family’s annual migration begins just before Christmas Day and the Cromwell racecourse is their base. In the beginning, their float carried six horses and that was the size of their team. It’s different now. “The float we’ve got now holds 10, I used to do two trips in a day, more often now I take two days. Someone took a trailer float one year, we had 21 horses, that’s the most.

Visiting Swedish teacher and Hamley Bear with Phil Williamson

Matty, Jasmine and Brad Williamson at Omakau, January 2017

The horses stay in paddocks, it would be too hot in boxes, some years there isn’t a wet day. And if it does rain it’s never for all day, we take it in our stride. Others come, there can be up to 60 horses stay there.

Nathan drove her in the trial and three days later Phil took the reins to win the 3200 metre trot at Omakau by seven and a half lengths. The hugely popular Omakau meeting is the highlight of the trip. Phil’s not sure if he’s won every trot on the programme the same day but is confident he’s won them all at some stage and can’t remember a day at Omakau where he hasn’t won at least one.

“We’re not always first to arrive but usually last to leave. Sometimes Bev goes over a day early. When we first went we all stayed in tents, Bev and I changed recently to a caravan, age decided it was the best thing to do.” Race dates change from year to year and a New Year’s day equalisator meeting at Alexandra has gone. Since 2008, the Wyndham Club has held an early January meeting at Cromwell. Now, the start of the circuit is marked by trials at Roxburgh, just before Christmas. While the Alexandra fixture no longer exists, Phil’s memories of it do. He had a drive there one day and the owner of the horse had clearly enjoyed New Year’s Eve. When Phil went to take the reins, he found the owner had geared up the wrong horse, someone elses in the next stall. “And they had a clerk of the course, one of his things was to jump in and out of the birdcage.” From the mid-90s, Phil remembers Dick Caskey’s good trotter Tornese. “He had seven runs in nine days and ended winning a two mile trot at Omakau in a track record. Dick was a great old fellow, he’d play his squeeze box late into the night.” Gore in Southland, formerly on Boxing Day but since 1992 on 27 December, is where the Williamson team kicks off. “I’ve won the maiden trot at Gore more often than most races,” Phil said. Winton follows, four days later this year. A day before, there are trials at Cromwell. “Dance On By qualified at Cromwell (New Year’s Eve 1998) and won a pacing race first up at the Omakau gallops (5 January, 1999). Jasmyn’s Gift won a trial there, she was a good mare. (17 wins, $192,000).”

In 2016, Springbank Sam won the 2600 metre mobile trotting feature in 3:12.8.

“It was a New Zealand record, they had to re-measure the track before confirming. Last year, Monty Python won, that was a thrill because he beat Master Lavros who was a champion horse.” Before the Wyndham Club moved a date to Cromwell, the central circuit finished at Roxburgh. The extension didn’t worry Phil. “It gave us a reason to stay another week,” he said. Then in 2016, his home meeting at Oamaru was scheduled for the next day. No worries mate. “It’s only a three hour trip from Cromwell, leave at seven, Oamaru at ten, in time for first race at 12.” As well as travel to race meetings, the Williamsons had an extra away-trip with the arrival in Invercargill at 12:15am on 2 January, 2016 of Nathan and wife Katie’s first born, Milly May. Then it was back to business, Nathan driving Astral Ruler to win at Cromwell to give his father Phil a milestone 500th training win with squaregaiters. The Williamsons certainly know how to bring true the saying Christmas is for family.

THE OWNERS Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased

Purchased at the Sales

Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased at the Sales Purchased

THE JOY OF WINNING Ask anybody who owns a racehorse and they will tell you that having a winning racehorse is one of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest thrills.

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

the years, there have been a host of people who have shared in the fun and excitement.

SHARING IT AROUND Harness Racing Owners of the Year Glenys Kennard had a bucket list of horse things she wanted to achieve. She has ticked off just about everything that was possible to have on the list. Then the crowning glory came in August when her star pacer, Lazarus, was named New Zealand ‘Harness Horse of the Year.’

One shareholder needs a special mention: Trevor Casey, owner of Lone Star Riccarton was also named owner of the year himself in the 2014/15 season. Trevor has a huge passion for the straight-out trotter and breeds a number himself. But just like the Kennards and so many others, he loves the involvement and friendships made in shared ownerships. Trevor has also had great success in ownerships with the other Purdon brother, Barry, who trains out of Clevedon.

The Kennards seldom own a horse outright. Every horse they buy at the yearling sales each February gets split amongst friends and colleagues in thirds or quarters.

On Harness Racing Awards night not only was Lazarus honoured but Glenys and Phil were also named ‘Owners of the Year.’ An incredible achievement that the Christchurch couple should own shares in four horses recognised on the night as the winners of their respective age group categories. Lazarus, Smolda (Aged Pacing Horse), Ultimate Machete

Glenys and Phillip Kennard, Harness Racing Owners of the Year

(3 year old Pacing Colt) and Spankem (2 year old Pacing Colt). During the season, Lazarus had won the $765,000 NZ Cup and has since won his second NZ Cup while Smolda won the A$1,000,000 Inter-Dominion Grand Final in Perth, West Australia. The common denominators in the four horses, apart from the Kennards’ share in each ownership, was they were all purchased at the yearling sales and the four are trained from the all-conquering All Stars Stable at Rolleston run by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. Phil Kennard is quick to point out that they rely on the judgement of trainers, Mark and Natalie, in their purchases. But he openly admits, it was Glenys who fell in love with Lazarus first (at that time he was named Bettor Than the Best). She had lots of ticks next to him in the sales book.

Lazarus with co-trainer and driver Mark Purdon and the owners after his first NZ Cup Day win at Addington, November 2016

THE BREEDERS’

“Selecting quality individuals at the sales, giving them to a good trainer and setting the horse on a path with goals has proven a winning formula,” says Peter. Every share owner comes with their own story, like Jim and Ann Gibbs of Matamata. Jim is retired but was one of our leading thoroughbred trainers. Or like the Lancasters, a Canterbury rural couple who took the last remaining share that turned out to be Isaiah, who went on to win 13 races and be placed 16 times from only 38 starts for earnings of $589,667.

Not only have Glenys and her husband, Phil, ticked off all the things you could ever wish for in racing, but they have taken so many others along for the wonderful ride in shares with their horses.

Phil Kennard says, “It’s as much about the camaraderie as it is about the racing and we have made lifetime friends from our involvement with horses.”

PGG Wrightson Standardbred consultant, Peter Lagan has 40 years of credibility behind him in the auctioning of horses. “The success of our yearling sales is very much built on repeat business.

Fifteen individual people shared in the ownership of their four award winners plus members of the Breckon Racing Syndicate that was formed by great friends of the Kennards, Karen and Ken Breckon of Auckland. Over

A bucket list moment - Phil Kennard hoists the 2016 NZ Cup aloft

“I love the thrill of it all, from when the sales book arrives – it’s a great thing to be a part of. We’ll be at Karaka and Christchurch again next year, catalogue in hand.” STOP PRESS!!! Lazarus wins 2017 $1.1 million Interdominions, Perth, 8 Dec ‘17

Shared ownership is definitely the greatest change to be experienced in the harness racing ownership model in recent times. The governing body, Harness Racing NZ, now allows up to 10 individuals to be named in the ownership of a horse. Any number from two to 50 may form a syndicate. Undoubtedly, the most prolific syndicate in harness racing would be the Auckland Trotting Club’s “ATC” syndicates. They buy three yearlings at PGG Wrightson sales most years and have had an 85% success rate of winners to starters. It’s an absolutely low-cost investment, usually around $2,000 upfront a share, and $160 a month for training, etc to be in all three. They had the absolute joy of owning the double millionaire pacer, Changeover, who won them 29 races on both sides of the Tasman. Cup Day this year saw the Alabar Racing Syndicate win the $170,000 NZ Sires’ Stakes Final with Chase Auckland. Everyone involved in a group or syndicate says the same thing. It’s still an incredibly exciting experience if you only own a hair of the tail or more likely the whisker of the winning nostril. Travelling is the other part of the fun factor, be it inter-island or trans-Tasman, especially with friends. Kiwi-owned horses have a great record in Australia, and because the horses can be flown across, it is just like an extension of our own industry and widens the opportunities to race for very good stakes. Pukekohebased Lincoln Farms ownership group headed by John Street took out the premier event recently at the Australian Breeders Crown in Melbourne with another yearling sales purchase in King Of Swing.

always means better racing. What’s more lifting our stakes makes horse ownership and participation more viable.” “The Auckland Trotting Club wants to make ownership and getting involved in this great sport of ours as easy as possible, and this is a great step to achieving that. We’d like to thank everyone who was involved, in particular some trainers and licensed syndicators, ensuring we developed what is now the most comprehensive ownership portal in the industry,” says Mr Cotter. With 246 high-end apartments selling for $295 million in record time and a whole new ‘urban village’ due to open from late 2018, Alexandra Park is set to become the newest entertainment destination in Auckland, showcasing a unique mix of high quality eateries with some outstanding outdoor areas for alfresco dining. “The ongoing development of Green Lane West will ensure the club can keep revitalising both its venues and products going forward. For example, by 2018/19 the club will be receiving additional revenue via the likes of its new retail leases,” says Ms Dominque Dowding, Auckland Trotting Club CEO.

RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP MADE EASIER AND STAKES ARE RISING!! “It’s a great time to own a racehorse as the stakes have recently gone up at Alexandra Park. Regardless of any financial returns, there’s nothing better than the thrill of seeing your very own racehorse take to the track and experiencing the journey alongside friends and family,” says Regan Cotter, Racing Manager at Alexandra Park.

The Auckland Trotting Club has launched a dedicated racehorse ownership portal on its website. It contains everything prospective owners need to know about standardbred ownership in New Zealand, including types of ownership on offer, agents’ details, industry advice, costs, as well as the benefits – tangible and intangible.

www.alexandrapark.co.nz/racing/horse-ownership/

For the current 2017/2018 season there’s over $8 million in prize-money up for grabs at Alexandra Park alone across 41 race meetings - up from 37. Every horse that starts gets a cheque!

The new website brings together a lot of information for the first time. It is making it easier for people to get involved in ownership no matter their level of expertise, budget, or interest. “We often get told ‘I’d love to be involved and own a share in a horse, but I just wouldn’t know where to start’. Well that’s now a thing of the past! A click away and before you know it you’ll be off and racing, cheering home your pride and joy.”

The past year was one of continued improvement for the club’s financial position, with a substantial uplift in the valuation of its total assets. This follows recent rezoning approval and subdivision consent for the rest of Alexandra Park’s Green Lane West frontage. It was announced recently that a decision around whether to roll out a further stage of the club’s urban village development would be made in 2018 after a review of market conditions. “Regardless, it’s a great time to get involved. The popularity of the apartments exceeded expectations, with 750 residents set to move in alongside the live trotting. “It’s exciting how the market has responded so positively to our development. It completely reinforces the club’s decision to put a total emphasis on delivering absolute quality,” she says. The club has always been extremely pro-active in creating and managing syndicates. With the residential and commercial developments well underway there will be money for increased stakes and investment in racing. Racing needs horses and horses need owners. Syndication is being rejuvenated with plans to buy three well-bred yearlings at the February Sales. Trainers Brent Mangos, Robert Dunn and Shane Robertson and Logan Hollis lined up to take care of the new purchases.

“Now no race has a total stake less than $12,000, and it goes up from there. It’s a $14,500 minimum for the racewinners’ class and $17,000 for our highest rated trotters and pacers. Again, those are minimums.

Auckland Trotting Club syndicates have the amazing record of 209 wins, 173 seconds, 158 thirds plus stake earnings, bonuses and sales of $9,062,253 since their inception in 1998. Changeover was perhaps the greatest of the syndicate horses with 29 wins, 16 placings and stakes of 2,426,765. Remarkably 44% of syndicate horses were in the money (1st, 2nd or 3rd) in every start over an entire 18 year history!!! When you join an ATC Syndicate, not only do you get to enjoy the thrill of owning and racing harness racehorses, but you can also be very involved in harness racing generally, initially at Alexandra Park and the wider Auckland/Waikato area and then quite possibly venturing further afield in New Zealand and Australia, as some previous ATC Syndicates have. There are many advantages involved with being part of one of the Auckland Trotting Club Syndicates. These include; the comparatively low costs, the opportunity to share in the ownership of well bred horses trained by some of the best trainers in New Zealand, making new friendships with like-minded people, having total involvement in the Harness Racing industry and having the opportunity to participate in social events and possibly travel throughout the year. Every month, syndicate members receive a detailed newsletter documenting each horse’s progress, member news, and other information. Regular updates are placed on a phone-in message service, which can be accessed at anytime from anywhere in New Zealand free of charge. With top trainers purchasing on behalf of the Auckland Trotting Club syndicate our success rate has been nothing short of phenomenal, so if you wish to be involved in our next syndication, please contact our Syndication Manager now. For further information please contact: Andrew Jamieson ATC Syndication Manager Tel: + 64 9 238 9212 Mob: + 64 21 253 8765 Email: a_jamieson@pukekoheint.school.nz www.alexandrapark.co.nz.

“Our stakes are up significantly from what we were offering last season and well above any minimum the gallops offer. The higher stakes are already helping to lift our field numbers for our Friday night meetings which Changeover (29 wins, 16 placings and stakes of 2,426,765) THE BREEDERS’

Geisha Girl and Matt Purvis win at Oamaru, January 2015

COME ALONG FOR THE TRIP: We Have Fun! Westview Racing Syndication was born out of Brenda’s and my love for harness racing and the people in the industry. We have moved on from racing one horse at a time to currently racing four. We love sharing the racing experience with people from all walks of life. In the beginning we concentrated on sourcing our horses through the keen eyes of Robert and John Dunn, Dexter Dunn, Ross Houghton and Gavin Smith. They even made it a bit of a competition to see who could find us the best deal and horse that could win the most races. John is leading both categories with Geisha Girl who won six races for us before we sold her to the States. More recently we have stepped up to buying from the sales. The catalyst behind that was a conversation with John Dunn at Woodend Beach. I’m not sure how the conversation started but it lead to John telling me:

“Westview racing really deserves a good horse and buying someone else’s hand off wasn’t going to lead to it.” We went to the sales and jumped in the deep end. We bought three! They are three year olds now and two have already raced: Tuapeka Trick and Borntobeastar are both very handy types. The third Feel the Money will be looking to make her debut in January at Nelson.

Last year a good friend of ours, Ray Hansen went to the sales and bought Flashazz, a Pembrooke Delight/Art Major filly. Ray has been in the majority of the Westview Syndicates and after purchasing her, he approached me to syndicate her. I asked him why he didn’t want to race her by himself and he replied it’s not much fun celebrating a horse’s win by yourself! The aim of Westview syndication has always been to take harness racing ownership to as many people as possible at an affordable price. There are no management fees. We try and make all the syndicates as transparent as possible. We are currently working with HRNZ on a proposal to introduce even larger numbers of people to racing, so watch this space for new innovations. As I’m not a registered public syndicator no individual syndicate is advertised. We have grown by word of mouth among mates. Westview Racing is thoroughly involved in the sport. We sponsor drivers Loren Lester, Matt Purvis, Jacob Dunn, Ross Houghton, Sarah O’Reilly, the good guys out at Methven Trotting Club, Kidz Kartz, Jonty’s Journey and various other initiatives all of which are funded by Brenda and myself. I also enjoy my role as a Steward at the The Met looking after the presentation area and meeting happy winning owners. Feel free to give me a call any time and I’ll add you to my email list and if you are really nice I might let you back off it. Nigel Armstrong Westview Racing 027 328 2206

2018 YEARLING SALE SCHEDULE KARAKA Parading from 2.30pm Sunday Selling from 10.30am Monday CHRISTCHURCH Parading from 11.00am Tuesday & inaugural Trotters Sale at 4.00pm Pacers sell from 10.00am Wednesday & Supplementary Entries from 4.00pm

For a catalogue or the live webcast go to www.standardbred.co.nz www.standardbred.co.nz

THE BREEDERS’

Cash N Flow – Winner of the PGG Wrightson E & G Uncut Gems

PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series

Tiger Thompson – Winner of the PGG Wrightson Harness 5000

Buy a sales horse and be eligible for these exciting races where all starters receive a share of the stake!

Sales Horses Race For Great Stakes

Stakes estimated at over $800,000 with Consolations

Most ‘Sales’ horses are NZ Sires Stakes eligible

Special Conditioned Races – 3 Year old and Aged

Horses purchased at the PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series are eligible for the rich Sales Series. The Sales races are some of the riches age group races in NZ and Australasia. These races are exclusive to ‘ Sales’ horses only.

Depending on numbers sustaining stakes are often increased –

Estimated Over 1 Million.

Sires Stakes has extended its’ racing programme to include conditioned races –of which ‘Sales’ sustained horses will be eligible. The races below give an indication of what they could be although subject to change and reviewed each racing season. Currently we are looking at whether a bonus scheme for ‘Sales’ horses could be attached to the PGG Wrightson Uncut Gems races.

Estimated stakes for race series for horses from the 2018 sales are: 2 Year-Old Open Pace 2 Year-Old Fillies Pace 2 Year-Old Trot

$175,000 $150,000 $65,000

3 Year-Old Open Pace $175,000 3 Year Old Fillies Pace $150,000 3 Year Old Trot $65,000

2016 Sale 3 Year-Old Open Alexandra Park on 31st December 2017 Now $230,000 3 Year Old Fillies NZMTC on 16th February 2018 Now $165,000 3 Year Old Trot NZMTC on 18th May 2018 Now $80,000 2017 Sale 2 Year Old Open Pace NZMTC on 4th May 2018 Now $200,000

(Check the bottom of catalogue page for -NZSS) Heats – Final – Silvers (Consolations) for 2yo & 3yo Colts and Geldings divisions NRM & Garrard series 2yo & 3YO Fillies Divisions Magness Benrow & Alabar series 2YO & 3YO Trotters Division Haras Des Trotteurs Series

Nevele R Southern Mares Classic Magness Benrow Northern Mares Classic PGG Wrightson Harness 5000 – (3yo’s) Garrard’s Sophomore Classic (3yo’s)

Nevele R Fillies Series – Heats - Final – Consolation for 3yo Fillies – (Check the bottom of the catalogue page for – Nevele R) Est $300,000

Rosslands Graduate and Graduette (3yo’s) PGG Wrightson All Age Pace Kaikoura (exclusive to Sales horses only) Haras Des Trotteurs Aged Trotters Classic PGG Wrightson Uncut Gem 4yo & Over Entires & Geldings Pace

2 Year Old Fillies Pace ATC on 11th May 2018 $150,000

N.Z. Sires Stakes Board www.nzsiresstakes.co.nz

2 Year-Old Trot NZMTC on 11th May 2018 Now $70,000

HRNZ Building, 135 Lincoln Road, Christchurch

PGG Wrightson Uncut Gems 4yo & Over Mares Pace PGG Wrightson Uncut Gems – 4yo & Over Trot Estimated Stakes $400,000

Kerryn@nzsiresstakes.co.nz (03) 338 5662 doreen@nzsiresstakes.co.nz 03) 544 8820 (Nelson) THE BREEDERS’

Northen Celebrations

THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

BARRY HOWLETT LIKES THE KIWIS Prominent West Australian horseman Barry Howlett has an affinity with New Zealand-bred pacers and trotters. “We really like the Kiwi horses. They seem to be better stock than we have here. We like the Bettor’s Delight’s, the Art Major’s and the Mach Three’s…they seem to win most of the big races,” Barry said from his Busselton base, three hours south of Perth. Barry, his son, James, and wife, Lyn, have about 30 horses in work, of which 50 percent are former Kiwi’s. Howlett has been a regular buyer at the PGG Wrightson yearling and weanling sales for the past six years. “The first one I bought who turned out a really nice horse was Cielito. She did a really good job. We bought her at Auckland in the year of the earthquake,” Barry said. By Art Major from the Life Sign mare Paris, Cielito won once as a three-year-old at Manawatu in the hands of Pukekohe horseman Brent Mangos before being shipped

to Australia. She won a further seven races in Australia – including three at Gloucester Park - took a mile mark of 1:56 and earned $64,138. Three Blind Mice (Santanna Blue Chip-Time Again Franco), who Howlett shelled out $35,000 at the 2012 Premier Sale, has been his biggest money spinner to date. The gelding has so far banked $279,515 from 15 wins and 19 placings highlighted by the 2014 WA Derby.

“Jack Mac is the best one we’ve bought recently. Brent Mangos selected him at a weanling sale in Auckland,” Barry said. The Mach Three colt had five unplaced starts in NZ before crossing the Tasman last April.

Barry, Lyn, Chris Lewis and James

“He’s undefeated in six starts here including two Group 1’s and has never been extended. He won the 2YO of the Year award in WA and was a bit unlucky not to claim the national award,” he said. Bettor Be Supreme, a full sister to 2YO and 3YO Filly of the Year Spanish Armada; Touch Of Success, a Mach Three gelding out of Millwood Touche (1:56) and Major Stare (Art Major-Nivea Franco) are other members of the current Howlett barn. Bettor Be Supreme, a $23,000 buy at the 2013 Karaka sale, has returned $127,404 from 12 wins, Touch Of Success, who cost $40,000 at the 2014 Premier Sale, has won 10 races and $71,283, while Major Stare, a $66,000 buy at the 2013 Premier, has earned $51,432 to date. Talktomeurmattjesty, a Royal Mattjesty gelding, is probably the best of them all ability-wise, according to Howlett. “He’s got a few issues but he’s very good.” Bought as a going four-year-old, Talktomeurmattjesty has won seven out of 14 on Australian soil – including three at Gloucester Park - and looks capable of going through the classes.

“She had 19 starts for two wins when we bought her as a five-year-old in NZ. She’s won 13 of her 16 starts for us including the 2016 WA Trotters Cup,” Barry said. Culpeka, a smart three-year-old by Mach Three out of Tuapeka Maddy (1:56.9), is the current hope-of-the-side in NZ. The colt, who was secured for $62,000 at the 2016 Premier Sale, has won twice at Alexandra Park from only a few starts and looks classics material. Barry Howlett said his formula for selecting yearlings is quite simple. “We go through the catalogue to look at their breeding. We concentrate on the ones by the top three or four stallions and make sure the mother is from a good strong line and there’s a lot of good winners close up in the family,” he said. “We look at them on type and conformation on the day before the sale and again on sale day.” Barry said the youngsters are then handed over to Brent Mangos. “Brent breaks them in and works them up and those that aren’t the best ones he sends over to me and he keeps the ones that are capable of racing in the classics.” And, the good news for sale vendors in that Barry is planning another trip to NZ in February. “We’ll be coming over again to buy a couple more yearlings,” he said.

Another of Howlett’s NZ purchases was the trotting mare Sunny’s Little Whiz (by Monarchy). Jac Mac 2017 2YO Golden Slipper winner THE BREEDERS’

AMARETTO SUN Sundon - Laurel Creek Proudly Homebred

Sheree Tomlinson and Amaretto Sun salute in the 2017 Haras des Trotteurs Dominion Handicap $300,000 THE BREEDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

THANK YOU We hope you have enjoyed this magazine and join the family in harness where you will be welcome, have fun and be thrilled. We love our horses, the people, the wins, the spills, the travel to see a race, the story-telling and the sport. We share with you Lazarus, I’m Themightyquinn, Terror to Love alongside Adore Me and Spanish Armada. We may inspire you through Cardigan Bay, Lyell Creek, Robin Dundee or I Can Doosit.

We may call our pride and joys Libertybelle, Bolt for Brilliance, Donsmedad or Everybody Knows. We breed our mares to stunning French, Canadian, US and NZ stallions.

A big thank you from The Breeders’ and Standardbred Marketing to all those who have helped bring this publication together.

Alabar NZ

NZ Sires Stakes

Auckland Trotting Club Syndicates

Peter Wharton

We hope our babies will pace or trot, and not gallop a bit here and there!

Breckon Farms

PGG Wrightson Standardbred

Bruce Barlass

Photography by Jodie Hallows

We are very good at this harness racing and getting better.

Chantelle Lawson Photography

Race Images Christchurch

Courtney Clarke

Rebecca Mooney

Duane Ranger

Sarah Clements Photography

Harness Racing New Zealand

Sharlene Mitchell Photography

Inkwise NZ

Southern Breed Southern Reared

Lincoln Farms Bloodstock

The Digital Birdcage (Emily Morgan)

We produce champions that touch you. We are New Zealand.

John Mooney Editor

Mac Henry Matt Sloan Design

Libertybelle Midfrew, A$640,497, 19 wins, 2012 NZ Premier Sale The editor’s pride and joy after a Perth Interdominion heat win THE BREEDERS’

Whale Watch Kaikoura Woodlands Stud NZ