Awesome Broodmare Leads to 1:48 Menangle Star

When Christchurch enthusiast Richard Cornelius bought the Soky’s Atom mare Awesome Dream at a mixed sale at Addington 25 years ago, little could he have imagined she would one day become the ancestress of one of Australasia’s fastest ever racemares in Tokyo Rose.

At the time of her purchase, Awesome Dream had a filly foal at foot by Live Or Die, later named Gail Devers in honour of the dual Olympic 100 metre gold medallist.

“She only had 19 starts and she won 10 of them,” Cornelius, a retired meat processor, said.

Among Gail Devers’ successes were both a heat and final of the Southern Belle Speed Series at Invercargill, along with four wins at Addington.

Cornelius also noted the early strength of the family.

“Before I bought Awesome Dream she had left Inspiring Dash, who later proved a very successful broodmare,” he said.

Owned by Adelaide businessman David Shammall, Inspiring Dash became the dam of seven individual winners, headed by New Zealand Two and Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year Venus Serena, a former national mares mile record holder. The line has continued to flourish, producing New Zealand Derby winner Sheriff and South Australian Pacing Cup winner Wrangler.

Like her half-sister, Gail Devers also made her mark at stud, leaving Australian metropolitan winners The Kingston Flyer, Captain Kirk and Mach Scooter.

An unraced daughter of Gail Devers, the Rocknroll Hanover mare Evelyn Ashford, would take the family to another level. Named after the 1984 Olympic sprint champion, she produced Tokyo Rose as her second foal.

Sold by Cornelius for $22,500 at the 2021 NZB National Yearling Sale at Christchurch, the daughter of Captaintreacherous began her career with Burnham trainer Mark Jones.

After a modest start, winning once from 10 starts as a three-year-old, Tokyo Rose began to build momentum, adding three wins at four and a further four victories at five, including the Oamaru Cup and the Fruit Bowl on the grass at Cromwell.

Last November she was exported to New South Wales, where her rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

From five starts in Australia, she has recorded four wins, including three miles inside 1:50, quickly establishing herself among the elite racemares in the country. Her breathtaking 1:48.7 mile at Menangle on December 20 stands as the fifth fastest ever recorded by an Australasian-bred mare.

Cornelius, who has raced a number of outstanding performers including Wilma’s Mate, winner of the Victoria Trotters Derby, New Zealand Trotting Oaks and Breeders Crown, along with Oscar Wild, is understandably excited by what lies ahead.

“If she keeps going the way she is at present, she’s going to be something special. She’s right up there with the best ones I’ve owned,” he said.