Big plan reaps rewards for Invercargill vet

A plan hatched eight years ago by Invercargill veterinarian Sean Daly and his father Emmet to buy the Mister Big mare Miss Big is starting to pay dividends.

Her second foal, Manuka Bay, has won twice at Gloucester Park from only three attempts and is being touted as a strong candidate for the $150,000 Western Australian Oaks in October.

Oaks prospect makes her mark

The Downbytheseaside filly gave a good sample of her class when she led from end-to-end and comfortably defeated a handy three-year-old field at Gloucester Park last Friday, carving out her last 800 metres in 56.4 seconds.

Manuka Bay is part-owned and trained by leading Perth conditioners Greg and Skye Bond and driven by Deni Roberts, who rates the filly highly.

“She is a very strong filly, not particularly tall but she is a bit of a tank,” Roberts said. “I think that the 2536 metre Oaks will suit her down to the ground.”

A family Sean always wanted

Sean Daly said the story began when he took a liking to Miss Big during her racing career.

“I punted on Miss Big in 2018 when she won a race at Rangiora and I always followed her. She was owned by an old family friend, the late John Crosbie from North Canterbury,” Daly said.

Miss Big tallied four wins and three placings from 21 starts, banking $26,100 in stakes.

“She came up for sale in foal to Vincent on Gavelhouse. She didn’t make her reserve and we ended up being the last bidder on her. John rang us and we purchased her for $3,000,” Sean said.

“We liked her because she goes back to Burgundy Lass and the Black Watch family. It’s a family that I’ve always wanted.

“Her first foal was Big Vinnie. He got to the races but ended up doing a tendon.”

From Cheviot to Western Australia

The next foal was Manuka Bay, who was bred and raised at Emmet’s property at Cheviot in North Canterbury before being sent to Sean’s wife, Kirstin Green, to be prepared for a racing campaign.

“Kirstin got her running along and qualified her and then we sold her as an unraced three-year-old to WA,” Sean said.

“We’ve got a Cannibal colt out of her that will probably be going to the sales next year.

“Since acquiring Miss Big we bought her half-sister Reflectionsofmylife while she was still racing. We got her in foal a week before she won a race for us.

“She’s got an Always B Miki two-year-old filly who may race next year and she’s in foal to Terror To Love.”

Daly breeding record continues to build

Sean and his father have been breeding Standardbreds in partnership for more than 20 years.

Among their most successful performers are the Group 2 Southern Supremacy and Gloucester Park free-for-all winner Ragazzo Mach, the Vicbred Super Series champion Punk Rocker and the smart racemare RR Sand Dollar.

Since producing Punk Rocker in 2019, RR Sand Dollar has left a three-year-old filly named Luna Dolce and a two-year-old filly named Something Sand Dollar, both by Sweet Lou. Both are in work with respected Burnham horseman Jamie Gameson.

Sadly, RR Sand Dollar died foaling Something Sand Dollar.