Homebred Success Continues for Van Opzeeland with Gottagoodfeeling

Prominent Canterbury breeder-owner Hazel Van Opzeeland is starting to see the rewards of patience, perseverance, and a bold shift in philosophy, with her homebred juvenile filly Gottagoodfeeling emerging as one of the more exciting young prospects in the south.

The Ken Barron trained filly has gone from an overlooked debutante to a Group Three winner in the space of a fortnight, giving Van Opzeeland a result that feels years in the making.

The Barron-trained juvenile was backing up from a debut victory on the same Winton track a fortnight earlier, where she saluted in a sharp 1:55.2 mile rate at odds of $16.90, immediately announcing herself as a filly worth following.

Even so, expectations were tempered heading back to Southland.

“Quite honestly, we were just hoping for another good run,” Van Opzeeland admitted. “I did think the Cullen horses might be too good, I’m The Boss and that sort of class. I didn’t have high expectations, no.”

In the Miki’s Deal Southern 2YO Classic (G3), she was again overlooked in the market, installed as fourth favourite, while regular pilot Blair Orange opted for the Cullen-trained punters elect.

With Carter Dalgety stepping in, Gottagoodfeeling (Vincent) showed her gate speed to burn across from barrier four, taking control early before handing up with just over 1200 metres to run. When the Winton passing lane presented, she charged through late to score by half a length, stamping herself as a genuine filly with upside.

The result is the latest chapter in a breeding and racing journey that has evolved significantly in recent seasons.

That journey traces back to Van Opzeeland’s early involvement with outstanding pacer Highview Tommy (Bettor’s Delight), a horse who would go on to earn over a million dollars and compete at the highest level on both sides of the Tasman before standing at stud. His success proved to be a defining moment.

Through Highview Tommy, Van Opzeeland became more deeply immersed in the industry, not only through ownership but also in an administrative capacity working alongside Woodlands Stud. That exposure provided both the confidence and the foundation to expand her involvement, eventually leading her into breeding her own stock and building the operation she now manages.

Not long ago, Van Opzeeland made a conscious decision to change tack with her operation, opting to race more of her own stock rather than relying solely on the sale ring.

“Absolutely. In fact, all stock,” she said. “I wasn’t getting bids on fillies and things, so I thought I’d bring them through and see. Maybe race them, maybe sell them later. I hadn’t really thought right through to the end of it to be fair.”

It has not come without pressure.

“It happened to be a year I got six foals, didn’t I. So the financial burden has been quite a bit,” she laughed.

But the early signs are encouraging, even if not in the way she first expected.

“Ken said to me, ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news?’ The bad news was there were none you could sack at breaking in. So they all had to be brought through,” she said.

That shift in mindset is now beginning to pay dividends.

Gottagoodfeeling is the fifth live foal from Renske B (Mach Three), a mare that carries both strong pedigree and deep personal meaning.

Van Opzeeland raced Renske B in partnership with Raymond and Jennifer Love, long-time family friends dating back to her childhood on the West Coast.

“They were neighbours of ours when I was a child, so we’ve come and gone over the years,” she said. “When I got Renske, I didn’t realise how much interest they had in horses, so I asked if they wanted to race her with me and we had some fun times.”

Those memories remain central to the story.

“We went to Auckland, Kaikoura, they loved it. We had some great times,” she said.

But the mare’s career was cruelly cut short.

“She injured herself at Cup trials, just when we thought she’d be going into a big race. She crossfired and cut her front leg and never really came back from that.”

The breeding journey that followed has been far from straightforward.

“The honest thing is that’s why I wasn’t rushing to breed again, because I thought, well we haven’t really had anything, have we?” she said.

Her first foal did not make the grade, eventually leaving racing altogether. The next, Toby Tom B (Highview Tommy), proved honest rather than elite.

“He’s just a toiler, but I love him to bits,” she said with a smile.

There were also setbacks that tested patience and resolve, including injuries and lost opportunities within the family.

Yet through it all, she persisted.

Interestingly, Gottagoodfeeling was not the standout early.

“No, she wasn’t the best of them,” Van Opzeeland said. “She always showed a bit, but there was another one that was more forward early.”

In fact, she was nearly sent for a spell.

“We were almost at the stage of tipping her out, but she’s just come on in leaps and bounds,” she said.

That natural progression, rather than early brilliance, may prove to be her greatest asset.

There is also a sense of symmetry heading into Sunday’s assignment in the Group Three Leonard Memorial at Addington, a race her dam contested nearly a decade ago.

“That’s pretty cool actually. I hadn’t really thought about that,” Van Opzeeland admitted when reminded.

Drawn ideally in barrier two, Gottagoodfeeling looks set to enjoy another economical run, with the added intrigue of a third different driver in as many starts.

Sam Thornley takes the reins, a decision that reflects both stable loyalty and Van Opzeeland’s pragmatic approach.

“It’s really Sam’s drive, isn’t it,” she said. “He’s just presumed he’d get turfed off, but it’s only fair. It’s a Toliman Lodge horse, so that’s his.”

Remarkably, she will not be the only Van Opzeeland-bred runner in the race.

Debutante Starlight Crunch (Captain Crunch) lines up alongside her, further underlining the scale and depth of the operation.

The filly carries her own layer of sentiment, tracing back through a Highview Tommy daughter to the famed Braeside Star family, one closely associated with the Whitelock breeding dynasty.

“It’s really rewarding to see that line come through,” Van Opzeeland said.

While expectations for the newcomer are measured, there is quiet optimism.

“She’s pretty green still, but if she just does everything right and runs on, I’ll be happy,” she said.

For Van Opzeeland, the real win lies deeper than any single raceday result.

“Nobody’s interested when you’re just paying bills, are they,” she laughed. “But it’s pretty cool. I’ve been lucky. It’s pretty cool to have a wee horse that people are talking about.”

And for someone who has already enjoyed success at the very top level, Gottagoodfeeling shapes as the latest reminder that the foundations she has built continue to deliver.