A Snap Shot of Success for Des Baynes

Few names are held in higher regard in Southland harness racing circles than Des Baynes. Over several decades, the respected Winton horseman has bred, trained, and raced a succession of outstanding performers, and while he has never claimed to be a major commercial breeder, his results suggest he has consistently possessed a keen eye for a good horse.

Among the stars to emerge from Baynes’ operation was Young Quinn, the 1975 Inter Dominion champion and Miracle Mile winner, while Comedy Lad, a former New Zealand Two-Year-Old and Aged Horse of the Year, and cup-class pacer Black Cam also rank among his finest graduates.

“I am not a big-time breeder or trainer. I mainly race and breed my own,” Baynes said.

Black Cam remains one of the more remarkable stories from the Baynes stable.

“Black Cam went from a metropolitan maiden to racing in the Hunter Cup in three months,” he recalled.

While those horses occupy a special place in Baynes’ racing history, his latest success story is proving equally rewarding.

The six-year-old American Ideal mare Snap Shot is carving out an impressive career in New South Wales after beginning her racing life in New Zealand as a four-year-old. The mare has quickly adapted to Australian conditions and is now rewarding the patience shown by her breeder and part-owner.

Baynes admits Snap Shot was never rushed.

“I had too many geldings at the time and we didn’t even bother breaking her in until she was three. We used her mainly as a pacemaker,” he said.

That patient approach paid dividends. Racing predominantly against strong Southland mares, Snap Shot won twice and placed seven times from 16 New Zealand starts, earning $33,235 before a change of scenery beckoned.

“I raced her mainly in the mares’ races here. The mares this year in Southland have been particularly strong,” Baynes said.

In April, the mare was exported to Australia to join the powerful Brad Hewitt stable at Goulburn, with Baynes retaining a half share in her future.

The move has already paid handsome dividends. From just four Australian starts, Snap Shot has won twice and finished runner-up on the other two occasions.

Her latest success was arguably her most impressive, defeating a quality Menangle field that included Group One winners Mac Bon and Soho Americano. Stopping the clock in a slick 1:52.4 mile rate, she demonstrated the turn of foot that has become her trademark.

“She’s suited to sitting and sprinting and you have to drive her accordingly,” Baynes said.

Like many good horses, Snap Shot comes from a family Baynes identified early.

He purchased her unraced dam Jay Bee’s Snap in foal to Badlands Hanover for just $1,200 at the Nevele R Stud dispersal sale in 2013.

That investment quickly proved worthwhile.

The foal she was carrying became Gotta Minute, a four-race winner highlighted by success in the 2018 Wyndham Cup before being sold to North America, where he lowered his mark to 1:52 and lifted his earnings to around $280,000.

The next foal, You Said It (by Well Said), won a maiden at Winton before also heading overseas.

Snap Shot is the seventh and final foal from Jay Bee’s Snap, but she is far from the only quality performer in the family.

By Armbro Operative, Jay Bee’s Snap was a half-sister to seven winners, six of whom recorded mile rates inside two minutes. Among them were American winner Jay Bee’s Trump, who earned almost $500,000 and paced in 1:50, prolific Harold Park and USA performer Jay Bee’s Flush, Victorian Listed winner Jay Bee’s King, and the Elsu mare Bryleigh Jewel.

The latter became a successful broodmare in her own right, producing the NZ Harness 7000 Three-Year-Old Classic winner Eureka and Albion Park winner Going For Gold.

“It’s quite a nice family. It’s got a bit of depth and there’s been some good horses come out of it,” Baynes said.

Given the continued success of Snap Shot and the strength of the family behind her, there appears every chance that Baynes' latest success story still has plenty of chapters left to write.