Breeding Snippets | Enduring Families and Emerging Talent

Another week of racing across New Zealand again reinforced the remarkable depth of the country’s breeding ranks, with proven broodmares continuing to leave durable performers, long-established maternal families returning to prominence, and several emerging horses beginning to shape as future commercial prospects themselves. From elite pacing pedigrees to carefully cultivated trotting lines, the latest results provided further evidence that strong families continue to underpin success throughout the sport.

Topaz reaches milestone in style

Prebbleton horseman John McDermott had every reason to celebrate at Addington last week when his beloved mare Topaz marked her 100th career start with another victory.

The seven-year-old daughter of American Ideal and Supreme Gem responded to the occasion perfectly, recording her 11th success and pushing her earnings beyond $134,000.

A model of consistency for the McDermott stable, Topaz now joins a growing list of horses from the operation to surpass six-figure earnings and appears destined for an eventual broodmare career once her racing days conclude.

Importantly, the pedigree behind her suggests she could become equally valuable in the breeding barn.

Dam Supreme Gem won eight races herself and all four of her live foals have reached the races, headed by Ruby’s Delight, who won 13 races and over $150,000 before joining the McDermott broodmare band.

That mare already has a weanling filly by Downbytheseaside and was recently served by Sweet Lou, ensuring the family continues to expand.

The line traces through quality racemare Flying Sands, another six-figure earner, while further back appear accomplished performers such as Trident and Lento.

With race performance, durability, and pedigree all combining strongly, Topaz looks certain to have plenty more to offer long after retirement from the track.

He’s Not That Into U begins to deliver on promise

After an eventful introduction to racing, Cambridge maiden winner He’s Not That Into U finally delivered on the ability his pedigree has long suggested.

The son of American Ideal overcame early racing misfortune, including a dramatic debut defeat at Auckland after shying near the winning post, before producing a strong finishing effort from a difficult trip to score at just his fifth start.

His dam Settle Petal, by Art Major, was a talented racemare herself, winning three races in limited appearances, and the stable’s confidence in the family has already been reinforced through the qualification of her second foal Lucky Luka, a full brother to the winner.

The family carries considerable depth. Granddam Holly Madison was one of five winners from just six foals, while further back sits Tarena Jay, whose descendants included the high-class Jays Debut.

Tracing deeper into the pedigree reveals some of New Zealand breeding’s old foundation lines through broodmare influences such as Aberfeldy and Black Watch, families that held enormous commercial significance through the 1970s and 1980s.

Given both his pedigree and improving racetrack manners, He’s Not That Into U may quickly become a far more familiar name over the coming months.

Jasinova adds another chapter to Dr Luk Chin legacy

Few figures in New Zealand harness racing command the admiration of Dr Luk Chin, and his wonderful mare Jasinova again added to that remarkable story at Cambridge.

The eight-year-old daughter of Love You and Jasinsky led throughout in the Graduation Final to record her 23rd career victory at start number 201, taking her earnings beyond $320,000.

Still racing at the highest level after debuting as a two-year-old, Jasinova perfectly reflects the durability and toughness synonymous with Dr Chin’s carefully nurtured trotting families.

The origins of the line stretch back decades through the famed Derek Jones stable and the influential Disband family, which produced performers such as Dispense, Beat The Gun, and Disciple.

Over time, Dr Chin developed the family with his now-famous Russian naming theme, inspired by the Chernobyl disaster during the 1980s. Horses such as Chernobyl, Kasparov, Gorbachev, and Spassky all became familiar names in trotting circles.

The maternal line has continued to evolve successfully through mares such as Lovina, Lovinsky, and Jasinsky, while other descendants include the talented Djokovic.

Now into his 80s, Dr Chin continues to breed, race, and develop trotters with enormous passion, and the latest success of Jasinova serves as another fitting tribute to his contribution to the sport.

Iron Brigade boosts appeal of Brigade family

Timing can be everything in breeding, and the victory of Iron Brigade at Addington could hardly have arrived at a better moment for Alabar’s National Weanling Sale draft.

The son of Art Major produced a strong finishing effort to claim his eighth career victory in the Four-Year-Old Uncut Gems Pace, enhancing the appeal of his full sister offered as Lot 16 during the online sale.

Their dam Trigirl Brigade was a high-quality racemare herself, winning seven races and placing at Group One level while earning over $140,000.

From 11 foals, she has already produced six winners, headed by the outstanding Classie Brigade, winner of 21 races including three Kaikoura Cups.

The family continues to produce high-class performers through horses such as Triroyal Brigade, Bruntwood Brigade, and now Iron Brigade himself.

The pedigree gains further strength through second dam Smithie’s Delight, who remarkably left seven winners from seven foals.

With the commercial value of Art Major mares remaining exceptionally strong, the weanling filly appears to possess significant residual value regardless of what she eventually achieves on the racetrack.

Betterwithbling rewards patient handling

There were few more popular victories at Addington than the gritty success of Betterwithbling in the Plains Final for trainer Jesse Wederell.

The 10-year-old gelding by Betterthancheddar produced a determined finish from the trail to secure his eighth victory and lift his earnings beyond $130,000 after beginning his racing career only as a five-year-old.

While not an elite performer, his consistency and durability continue to reflect the quality within his pedigree.

Dam Reincarnation, an embryo transfer daughter of Jessica McFaber, left four winners from five foals, headed comfortably by Betterwithbling.

The broader family is particularly rich in class performers. Jessica McFaber also produced Kliklite, whose daughter Top Tempo became one of Australia’s most influential modern broodmares.

Her descendants have collectively produced more than 100 wins, led by the outstanding Speak No Evil, while multiple daughters are now continuing the family’s influence throughout Australian breeding circles.

Another branch through Philosophy produced former top New Zealand three-year-old The Court Owl, adding even further depth to the pedigree.

For the Wederell stable, the latest success represented a richly deserved reward for years of patience and careful placement.

Penscroft family returns to prominence

The exciting return victory of Seaside Croft at Rangiora again highlighted the outstanding contribution of broodmare Penscroft.

The son of Downbytheseaside resumed with his third win from only five starts, further enhancing a rapidly emerging profile as one of the more promising young pacers in the country.

His dam Penscroft, by In The Pocket, won only four races herself, but has developed into an exceptional producer. From 12 foals of racing age, 10 are already winners.

Remarkably, six of those have recorded sub-1:54 mile rates, while current stars Seaside Bruce and Seaside Croft appear capable of lowering those figures even further.

The maternal line is stacked with winners stretching back generations. Stronechrubie won eight races, while Gentility produced 12 winners despite never winning herself.

Further back sits the influential mare Classiebawn, whose descendants became highly commercial through the Ireland and Stratford breeding operations during the 1970s and 1980s.

With two exciting sons now carrying the family banner, the pedigree appears firmly poised for another period of prominence on the national stage.