Breeding Snippets: Winners, Families and New Investment

A strong mix of emerging young talent and pedigree updates headline this week’s breeding snippets, with performances at Cambridge and Addington, alongside continued investment in elite trotting bloodlines.

Off Shore on the rise

Tony Herlihy looks to have a promising 2YO on his hands in the shape of Off Shore (Downbytheseaside – Santa Maria), who scored his maiden win on the ‘Night of Champions’ at Cambridge.

At just his second start, the colt rated 1:56.3 MR over 1700m, controlling the race from in front in a small field, with the tentative plan now to give the upstanding type a spell before targeting bigger races later in the season.

Bred by Woodlands Stud, Off Shore is the second foal of Santa Maria (Bettor’s Delight – Galleon’s Supreme), a two-win mare with strong black type close up in her pedigree.

Full relations include brilliant filly Spanish Armada (14 wins from 19 starts, $787k), along with Supreme Dominator (16 wins, $345k) and Bettor Be Supreme (12 wins, $130k) among her six winners.

This is the immediate family of Group 1 winner Cheer The Lady.

Santa Maria has a weanling filly by Sweet Lou on the ground and is back in foal to that sire.

Our Col sets the standard

Herlihy went to $27,500 to secure Our Col (Father Patrick – Cheeky Babe) at the 2024 Karaka yearling sales.

Now unbeaten in three raceday starts, the latest also at Cambridge, the astute northern horseman makes no secret that this filly is one of the best young trotters he has sat behind.

Part of the Breckon Farms broodmare band, Cheeky Babe has had three foals to date. Illicit Love, a full brother to Our Col, has won three races, while Confession Time, another full brother, is now in the Matty White stable.

Cheeky Babe, by Muscle Hill from Factor The Odds, is a half-sister to open class trotter Bet N Win (15 wins, $562k).

This is the immediate family of Group 1 trotters Stress Factor (16 wins, $250k) and Prince Fearless (8 wins, $186k).

Our Col looks the benchmark 3YO trotting filly at this stage of the season.

Ripples carrying strong Kiwi roots

Classy filly Ripples (Bettor’s Delight – Naiya Franco) might be owned and trained in Australia, but she has strong New Zealand roots.

Now the winner of seven of her 14 starts, with $203k in the bank following her latest success at Cambridge, Ripples is likely to be seen on this side of the Tasman frequently as the season progresses.

Her dam Naiya Franco, part of Mick Harvey’s broodmare band since 2021, won three races and is a daughter of top mare Nearea Franco (11 wins, $441k).

She is also a half-sister to superstar mare Nike Franco (32 wins, 1:48.0, $914k), who in turn produced Bay Of Biscay (Somebeachsomewhere), winner of 28 races and $1.85M.

Harvey has bred three other progeny from Naiya Franco, including full sister Cascade, who has been served by King Of Swing, and Samkerr (Art Major), a four-race winner in Australia. There is also a 2YO by King Of Swing awaiting his opportunity.

Cinderella Franco emerging quickly

When you win at Addington by 12 lengths, the spotlight follows.

Now a winner of three of her four starts, Cinderella Franco (Ultimate Machete – Crystal Slipper) has firmly put herself on the radar.

The four-year-old has been given time and is now rewarding her connections.

Her dam Crystal Slipper (Christian Cullen) has since passed away, with Cinderella Franco her first live foal.

She has a two-year-old half-brother by Stay Hungry, bred by Kevin and Barb Chapman, continuing a long-standing partnership with the Hermans.

Second dam Royal Rascal won five races and left six winners, most notably Twilight Rascal (Presidential Ball), who has excelled at stud producing Beach Ball (11 wins, $319k) and Heroes Square.

Later foals Bannockburn and Molly Maeve Estelle are currently racing with promise.

This is a family that provided significant success to the late Maurice Vermeulen.

Diamonds Are Forever building value

Diamonds Are Forever (Always B Miki – Three Jewels) continues to build her residual value for co-owner and breeder Lyn Neal.

The six-year-old mare has now won 10 races and banked $147k, ensuring her future as a broodmare within a family that has long delivered success.

Her dam Three Jewels (Mach Three – Falcon Jewel) won 11 races and also left Harder Than Diamonds (7 wins, $91k).

Second dam Falcon Jewel, a daughter of Pacific South, is a half-sister to Auckland Cup winner Flight South (12 wins, $293k) and a full sister to Where Eagles Dare (11 wins, 1:51).

This is a family that also produced Pullover Brown and Montecito, both 12-win performers.

Diamonds Are Forever is now helping re-establish that commercial strength.

Whitelock invests in elite trotting blood

The dominance of young trotters consigned by Yabby Dam Farms continued at the Melbourne Nutrien Equine sale, with Manawatu breeder Braeden Whitelock active in the ring.

He secured two trotting fillies, both closely related and from a high-profile New Zealand family.

Lot 257, by Walner from Arboe (Love You), was secured for $140k. A Group 2 winner, Arboe is out of Lough Neagh (Sundon), who produced nine winners from nine to race.

Among them is Le Reveur, winner of 17 races and $240k.

Seven lots later, Whitelock secured Lot 264 for $90k, a filly by E L Titan (Muscle Hill) from Ballyronan, a full sister to Arboe.

Her first foal, Keayang Sadie, is already a 1:56 winning trotter.

This is the dual-gaited ‘Creek’ family developed by the Smith family of Kaikoura.

Later in the day, a Walner filly from Group 1 winner Dance Craze was passed in at $225k, from the highly commercial La Coocaracha family. She was subsequently sold to Mick Harvey for $250,000!

Yabby Dam also offered a Face Time Bourbon colt from Dance Craze at Karaka in 2025, topping the sale at $240k when secured by Barry Purdon.