Breeding Notes: Established Families Continue to Fire

The latest round of racing once again highlighted the strength and depth of New Zealand’s established breeding families, with performers on both sides of the Tasman continuing to enhance already proven pedigrees.

The Janitor continues Pearson success story

The Janitor continues to underline the strength of a family developed by prominent breeder Graham Pearson, best known for producing Under Cover Lover.

Originally bred in New Zealand, the Australian-based performer is from Weka Lass (by Badlands Hanover), a six win mare who is one of seven winners from her dam Oaxaca Lass.

Many of her progeny have found success in Australia, with six winners recording sub two minute mile rates.

Second dam Oaxaca Lass was an outstanding racemare, winning 19 races across New Zealand and Australia and earning $456,000. At stud she produced 10 winners and a qualifier from 12 foals, with several daughters continuing the line with success.

Kusadasi has produced Miki Cohen, a seven win performer with a 1:51.3 mile rate, while Verde Lima has left four foals for four winners, three of them running sub 1:52.

The family traces back to Catarina (by Smooth Fella), a Pearson-bred mare from Cedar Myth, a daughter of NZ Cup winner True Averil.

With The Janitor continuing to improve, the family may yet produce its first millionaire performer.

Bold Eagle makes his mark in New Zealand

Champion trotter Bold Eagle has sired his first New Zealand bred winner, with Apollo Eleven scoring at Cambridge.

The victory was expected in a small field, but the manner of the win confirmed the three-year-old’s ability.

Bold Eagle, a son of Ready Cash, was a global superstar on the track, earning $7.56 million and ranking among the highest earning trotters of all time. He is already a Group 1 producing sire in Europe.

Apollo Eleven is the second foal and second winner from Tickle Me Pink (by Muscle Hill), a nine win mare who earned $160,000 from just 16 starts.

Bred and owned by Breckon Farms, Tickle Me Pink has a weanling filly by King Of The North and is in foal to Volstead.

Her dam Luby Ann won four races and her first four foals have all been winners, while another daughter Luby Lou has already produced outstanding young trotter Meant To Be, a 10 win performer with earnings exceeding $500,000.

This is a family in strong form, and Apollo Eleven looks set to add further to its record.

Save A Prayer adds to strong Breckon family

Another Cambridge winner was Save A Prayer (by Pastor Stephen from Girls On Film), further strengthening a pedigree closely associated with Breckon Farms.

Girls On Film (by Muscle Hill) won three races and is now part of the Todd Anderson broodmare band.

Her first foal Lucky Mum (by Father Patrick) has won 12 races and earned $248,000 before heading to North America.

Full brothers Pastor Stephen and Father Patrick continue to influence the pedigree, while younger stock include fillies by Bold Eagle and Volstead.

Second dam Regal Volo (five wins) has been a highly successful broodmare, producing seven winners including High Gait, a 16 win performer who earned $342,000 and is now breeding on successfully.

Save A Prayer has now won twice and his Cambridge time suggests there is more to come.

Rugg bred pair strike at Addington

North Canterbury breeder Graeme Rugg produced the first two winners at Addington on Easter Saturday.

My Wingman recorded his fourth win for trainer Baz Borcoskie, while Spiritinthesky followed up with a tough victory after racing wide for much of the journey.

Spiritinthesky (by Father Patrick from Rosedorae) was initially trained by Rugg before transferring south, where she has continued to improve.

Her dam Rosedorae (by Muscles Yankee) won a race and has produced 10 foals to race, six of them winners. The best of these was BD Yasothan, a seven win performer.

The family continues through younger mares Speakeasy (by Volstead) and Kayleebelle (by Marcoola).

Further back, Geena Hest left Anreca Hest, the dam of The Fiery Ginga, a 28 win performer with earnings of $415,000.

This is a family with a long history of success, tracing back to Moccasin, the dam of top trotters Le Chant and Stylish Major.

Cath adds to Birchbrook family

Cath (by Sweet Lou from Fancy) continues to impress, now with three wins and four placings from eight starts for trainer Brendon Hill.

She is the first foal from her dam and represents a family developed over many years by Davey Butt’s Birchbrook Breeding operation.

Second dam Regret (by In The Pocket) won five races and left 10 foals to reach the track, all of them performers.

Going Royce, the next dam, produced cup class pacer Tribute, a 16 win performer who earned $610,000.

Another daughter Corbell left two 1:50 performers in Mickey Gee and Don’t Bother Me None, both by Bettor’s Delight.

Further back, the pedigree includes cup class pacer Regal Light and leading Australian performer Jay Bee’s Fella.

Spicey family remains red hot

The family of Spicey continues to produce high class performers and remains one of the more active and successful lines in recent times.

The daughter of Christian Cullen from Sly Soky won nine races and is a half sister to Sly Flyin (29 wins, $912,000) and Sly Shard, who became an outstanding broodmare.

Sly Shard produced Smiling Shard (17 wins, $1.17 million), Mach Shard (20 wins) and Pemberton Shard (11 wins).

Of Spicey’s progeny, daughters Spicey Delight (by Bettor’s Delight) and Spicey Lady (by Mach Three) are now driving the family forward.

Spicey Delight has produced promising performers including Crimson Tide (three wins from five starts) and Caught The Eye, while she has a yearling colt by Pebble Beach and is in foal to Confederate.

Spicey Lady has produced Spicey Crunch, who notably defeated Captains Mistress at his most recent start, and the unbeaten Spicey Lou, who has won both of his starts to date.

With further young stock coming through, the family looks set to remain in the spotlight.