A Star trotter for Reg Caldow

Retired Wellington businessman and harness breeder Reg Caldow has bred countless winners on both sides of the Tasman over more than four decades in the sport.

Undoubtedly the best horse he ever bred was the 2020 New Zealand Cup champion and 2022 NZ Pacer of the Year Self Assured, the winner of eight Group One races and $2.4 million in stakes.

The octogenarian has also bred or raced Group-winning pacers such as Caviar Star, Star Galleria, Star Of Dionysis and Star Casino, along with trotters in the same class including Golden Blend and Lord Burghley, to name only a few.

Keayang Stuka, another trotter bred by Caldow, has continued to perform at the top level in Australia over the past three seasons.

A member of the all-conquering Margaret and Paddy Lee stable, Keayang Stuka has compiled an imposing record of nine wins and 13 placings from 36 starts for $129,194 in stakes.

Numbered among his successes are five wins at Melton and a Free-for-All at Bendigo last Saturday in a career-best 1:55.7.

The Wishing Stone gelding made his mark earlier in his career when he finished third to The Locomotive and Keayang Chucky in the 2024 Inter Dominion Grand Final at Menangle.

He is now being aimed at this year’s series, which begins at Albion Park on July 4.

Caldow’s association with Keayang Stuka’s family began when he purchased the Pegasus Spur mare Olesya, a half-sister to seven winners headed by the 2008 Inter Dominion trotting champion Galleon’s Sunset and NZ Yearling Sales Series winners Kathy Galleon and The Ultimate Galleon.

“I was doing a bit of work with David Phillips at the time and he talked me into buying one of Galleon’s Dream’s daughters called Olesya,” Caldow recalled. “David told me that I would have a lot of fun with her.”

Olesya, who was unraced, left three winners in Goodman, a four-time winner in the Victorian provincials, the New Zealand winner Moondance, and the Muscle Hill mare Star Of Oleysha, who won three races as a two and three-year-old in New Zealand.

As part of a clearance of Caldow’s breeding stock, Star Of Oleysha was sold in foal to Wishing Stone to breeding giant Alabar Bloodstock, and the result of that union was Keayang Stuka.

He was knocked down for $36,000 at the inaugural Equine Nutrien Melbourne Yearling Sale in 2021.

The family has also been firmly in the spotlight on this side of the Tasman through the deeds of the unbeaten trotting filly Duchess Maria, who has won four Group 3 races from as many starts and was named the NZ 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year in 2025.