Breeding Snippets | Speed Families, Broodmare Royalty and Emerging Stars

From the family of millionaire trotter Speeding Spur, to the ever-expanding influence of Scuse Me, the resurgence of the Jessie Grace line, and fresh hope emerging from champion mare Spanish Armada, this week's racing again provided breeders with plenty to examine. Add in a pair of outstanding Ashburton performances from promising fillies and several young horses beginning to fulfil the promise of their pedigrees, and the depth of New Zealand's breeding ranks was once again on full display

Amistozo continues rise from Speeding Spur family

There may not be much size about Amistozo, but the lightly raced filly continues to make a big impression.

The daughter of Creatine and Sueno enhanced her growing reputation with another Addington victory, taking her record to two wins and a placing from just three starts. Those who follow the Mid Canterbury trials circuit were hardly surprised, with the filly showing considerable ability long before her raceday debut.

Her dam Sueno, by Dream Vacation, managed just one win from 33 starts, but her breeding credentials run considerably deeper than her racetrack record might suggest.

From six live foals, Sueno has already left multiple winners, headed by Del's Destiny, who won 12 races and almost $100,000. There is also a three-year-old full sister to Amistozo waiting in the wings, while the mare is once again in foal to Creatine.

The family strength becomes even more apparent one generation back. Sueno is a half-sister to millionaire trotter Speeding Spur, while granddam Della's Speed produced 10 performers that reached the races, including five winners from her highly successful mating with Pegasus Spur.

Still early in her career, Amistozo already looks capable of adding another significant chapter to a family synonymous with trotting excellence.

Crunched adds another branch to Scuse Me dynasty

Few pedigrees carry more weight in modern New Zealand harness racing than the descendants of Scuse Me, and exciting three-year-old Crunched looks the latest to emerge from that remarkable family.

The son of Captain Crunch justified heavy support at Addington, remaining unbeaten in his brief career and suggesting bigger targets lie ahead.

His dam Cullen's Bet won just one race before heading to the broodmare paddock, but she has already produced useful performer Elecktra King and now appears to have another highly talented offspring on her hands.

The real strength of the pedigree lies with second dam Imaginary Bet. Unraced herself, she has developed into one of the country's elite broodmares, producing champion pacer Merlin, superstar mare Captains Mistress, and multiple winner Durrant.

That places Crunched squarely within the direct female line descending from Scuse Me, one of the most influential broodmares in New Zealand breeding history.

Given the achievements already associated with the family, expectations will only continue to grow around the unbeaten youngster.

Rahm offers fresh hope for Spanish Armada

Champion racemares do not always become champion broodmares, but Auckland maiden winner Rahm has given connections renewed optimism that Spanish Armada may yet produce a headline performer.

The son of Sweet Lou became the fifth foal from the champion mare to reach the races and looked full of promise when scoring for the Herlihy stable.

Few mares retire with credentials comparable to Spanish Armada. The daughter of Bettor's Delight won 14 of her 19 starts and amassed nearly $800,000 in stakes while representing one of the strongest branches of the famed Nevermore family.

Yet her early broodmare results have been mixed. While Maddys Nino has won races in Australia, several subsequent foals have failed to reach the heights expected from such an elite racemare.

That makes the emergence of Rahm particularly interesting.

There remains plenty of opportunity for the family to flourish, with a yearling filly by Captaintreacherous, a weanling colt by Sweet Lou, and a recent service to Huntsville ensuring the story is far from finished.

Whether Spanish Armada ultimately proves the exception or the rule among great racemares turned broodmares remains to be seen.

Franco Sinatra strengthens proven American family

The brilliant 1:50.8 mile recorded by Franco Sinatra at Ashburton again highlighted both the speed of the Mid Canterbury venue and the quality of the horse himself.

The son of Captaintreacherous secured his 14th career victory and further enhanced his standing among New Zealand's open class pacing ranks.

His pedigree is built on generations of performance.

Dam San Rafaella won 10 races herself and has now left seven winners from nine foals, including full brother Franco Santana, who broke the 1:50 barrier in North America.

Further back sits imported mare San Sophia, who produced performers including Raging Bull and Our Santa Catalina, the latter becoming the dam of talented pacer Our Vinnie.

With both speed and consistency appearing throughout the pedigree, it is little surprise that Franco Sinatra continues to develop into one of the country's leading open class performers.

Mostert continues Jessie Grace momentum

Few families have gathered momentum in recent decades quite like that descending from Jessie Grace, and exciting pacer Mostert appears ready to add further substance to that reputation.

The son of Sweet Lou produced a dominant performance at Addington to record his fourth career victory, continuing a progression that suggests considerably more success lies ahead.

An embryo transfer foal, Mostert is from Heart Of Jessie, herself a five-race winner and the 13th of 14 winners produced by the remarkable Jessie Grace.

The family was already highlighted in last week's column through Welcome Stakes performers Travel Agent and Chiggsy, underlining just how prolific the line has become.

Despite setbacks including foal losses and missed pregnancies, Heart Of Jessie still produced multiple winners before her untimely passing.

With only 13 starts behind him, Mostert appears another capable of carrying the family banner to greater heights.

Nella Keenan announces herself among elite fillies

Ashburton's remarkable weekend concluded with another standout performance, this time from exciting juvenile filly Nella Keenan.

The daughter of Downbytheseaside lowered the New Zealand record for two-year-old fillies over 1700 metres when leading throughout in a slick 1:52.5 mile rate, holding out the fast-finishing debutante Jorja.

Bred and raced by Woodlands Stud, she is the first live foal from Shes No Lady, a Group-winning daughter of Sweet Lou who earned over $100,000 during her own racing career.

The family is packed with quality performers. Granddam Better Be A Lady is a full sister to Wicked Wanda and close relative of Australian star Cantfindabettorman, while further back sits the influential broodmare Coo Doo.

Woodlands has doubled down on the cross, with two full sisters already following through the system and the mare again served by Downbytheseaside.

With only three starts behind her, Nella Keenan has already secured her place among the country's leading juvenile fillies and appears capable of developing into a major player as the season progresses.