Dynasty could be a Special Rose

Robin and Jackie Butt (grandparents of Bob) should have no regrets about the day they decided to connect with Fernside farmers Ken and Lester Brosnan back in the late 1980s.

The late Brosnan brothers have only ever had one harness stud book family (Moonbeam NZ), and their father Jack had great success with Nancy Lee (U Scott – Night Beam) and her progeny when associated with legendary West Melton horseman Jim Dalgety, with maestro Maurice Holmes usually in the cart doing the driving.

The Brosnans, historically, have leased their fillies with no right of purchase but with the lessees having an option of breeding a foal.

Nancy Lee had nine foals for eight winners and was Broodmare of the Year in 1965. Great Credit and Dwayne both won 10 races each here in New Zealand before departing our shores for America — back when breaking two minutes for a mile was a big deal.

Nancy Lee had only three fillies, and while Nancy Hanover (1 win) and Guess Again (2 wins) didn’t really breed on due to some poor decisions around stallion selections, her only unraced daughter Brenda Lee (by Dalgety’s stallion Out To Win) left Star Lady (5 wins) at her first attempt at stud. Star Lady proved to be a true star at stud, going on to leave 10 winners — including Village Rose, whom Robin Butt leased with the plan of exercising his right to breed a foal from her when the time came.

Village Rose showed real ability as a young horse for Butt, winning three races at two and five in total from just 20 starts before injury curtailed a very promising career. Butt was naturally keen to secure her progeny for his West Melton stable given the impression she had made in such a short time.

Village Rose first left Soky’s Rose who, though unraced, produced nice types in Skylight (6 NZ wins) and B Grudge (10 NZ wins), before leaving a quality filly in Miss Elsie (7 wins, $143k). Miss Elsie has carried the Brosnan breeding programme in recent years, leaving the likes of Raukapuka Ruler and War Dan Delight in her first three seasons as a broodmare. Mr McLaren has done a good job in Australia, and Madam Delight won the Leonard Memorial at her only start before an untimely passing.

Fill The Purse didn’t measure up on the track but has bred on successfully. Her daughter Top Gear (by Falcon Seelster) won six and left Overide, who is the dam of millionaire WA pacer Minstrel — currently holding a nomination for this year’s New Zealand Cup.

Overide is currently in foal to Bettor’s Delight after having colts by King Of Swing (2023) and Sweet Lou (2024) respectively. Another daughter, Magic Marg (by Western Terror), has left Magic Oats (26 wins, $216k) and is still being bred from by Allister Brosnan (grandson of Jack), with a booking to Cattlewash this coming breeding season.

Village Rose hit the jackpot for Robin Butt again with her third foal, City Rogue, who was a top three-year-old winning 14 races in total before heading to America, where he became one of the first New Zealand-bred horses to break 1:50.

Awesome Rose (by Holmes Hanover) could have been anything for ‘RD’ after winning her two-year-old debut, but injury curtailed her career after just five starts. Country Rogue (4 NZ wins, 1:50.8 USA) and City Express (1 win from only start) followed, both showing real promise — but the American market and the money on offer proved too tempting, and both were sold.

Butt exercised his right to breed a foal from Awesome Rose, and her first foal by Live Or Die turned out to be Special Rose (unraced), who in turn has left Butt another quality filly — his latest star Dynasty (by Rocknroll Hanover).

The Butt family have bred and raced a number of horses by Rocknroll Hanover, with Minstrel being a standout, but also Mister Presley (9 wins), who did a grand job for son Davey Butt and wife Catherine before being sold, and Hall Of Fame, who won three in quick succession when trained by grandson Bob.

The aptly named Prophet (by Bettor’s Delight) is the last foal of Special Rose and has had one unplaced start as a two-year-old behind Allamericanplayer in Ashburton’s Sapling Stakes to date.

For Robin and Jackie Butt, the dynasty rolls on.