‘Inspired’ by Bob Sandford

The very congenial Bob Sandford is well into his 80s now, enjoying retired life in good health but still maintaining a strong connection to the harness racing industry that has given him so many highlights. His memory remains sharp, and the attention to detail is still lucid as he recalls the day he purchased Inspiring Dash at the 2001 Christchurch Yearling Sales alongside longtime trainer Geoff Dunn.

Offered by South Australian breeder David Shammall — who enjoyed a close affiliation with Nevele R co-founder Wayne Francis and longtime General Manager Peter O’Rourke — the Falcon Seelster filly was the sixth foal from Awesome Dream (Soky’s Atom – Lochaine). But with only one minor winner from the mare at that stage, the strong filly struggled to attract much attention in the ring. Lochaine had produced a smart juvenile in Corumba (NZ Welcome Stakes, NZ Kindergarten Stakes), while further back in the pedigree sat notable performers such as Trident (14 wins), Bettor’s Strike ($806k), and Lento (15 wins). This was the wider family of Master Musician (34 wins).

“She wasn’t an expensive filly,” recalled Sandford, who had bought her full brother Dreamy Dash the previous year. Trained by Dunn, he won just once in 33 starts before later being purchased by Ian Dobson (of Christian Cullen fame) as a broodmare prospect. Awesome Dream would eventually leave 10 foals, and while Inspiring Dash won five of her 24 starts, her standout foal was the Butt-trained Gail Devers, who won 10 of just 19 outings for Hornby enthusiast Richard Cornelius. Although Gail Devers did not make the same impression in the broodmare barn, her unraced daughter Evelyn Ashford (by Rocknroll Hanover) produced the very handy Tokyo Rose (8 wins, $116k). “Don and Carol Gordon prepared the Shammall yearlings in those days and they always gave the purchaser a bottle of wine,” Bob remembers fondly.

Around the time Inspiring Dash finished her racing career, the Sandfords were selling their Clarkville lifestyle block. Needing a home for their broodmare prospect, they entered a breeding arrangement with good friends Ken and Anne Marie Spicer. The partnership struck immediate success when Rona Lorraine, Inspiring Dash’s first foal by Cullen, became a 2YO Group 1 winner in the Caduceus Club Classic. Full sister Jen Marie (1 win) and a third foal both bred on with significant success, producing eight winners including Wrangler (1:48.8), Sheriff (8 NZ wins, $204k), and General Montana (19 wins, $203k). The Spicers were high-profile yearling preparers during this period, and most of Inspiring Dash’s progeny headed to the Christchurch Sales, typically returning healthy results. Foal No. 4, Cracka Cullen (later renamed Cracka Stride by Australian owner Emilio Stride), was a prime example, going on to win 20 races.

Then came Venus Serena. She too went through the yearling sales but fell just short of her $40,000 reserve. “Trainer Paul Kerr was the underbidder at the time, but with the Auckland sale the very next day — and buying his quota up there — he decided not to pursue her,” Sandford recalled. At the time, Inspiring Dash had a weanling filly by Bettor’s Delight on the ground. A decision was made for the Sandfords to retain Venus Serena, while the Spicers took full ownership of the weanling — later named Bettor Dash — who sold well as a yearling but made little impact on the track.

History shows that Venus Serena became the star filly of her generation, winning 16 of 34 starts and $796,000 for the Sandfords and Geoff Dunn. She made an immediate mark as a broodmare too, with her first foal Laver winning nine races and $158k, including a 1:51.9 mile at Nelson — a track record. With age advancing and a preference for racing over breeding, Sandford accepted an offer from southern breeder John Stiven (Arden Lodge) to purchase the mare in 2017. Recent winners — full sisters Arden’s Memory and Ebony Arden — continue to keep the family in lights.

Beyond Venus Serena, the best of Inspiring Dash’s foals were arguably Tiebreaker (5 wins) and Dashing Major (8 wins). As the mare aged, the Sandfords eventually relinquished their shares around 2018, with the Spicers breeding several Art Major foals in their own name. Her 13th and final foal, Dashing, sold for $52,500 as a yearling. He qualified but never raced. Of her 13 foals, seven raced — all seven were winners — and several daughters and granddaughters continue to breed on, establishing new commercial branches of this family.

Bob recently sold Action Major (4 wins) but still has four horses in work with Dunn, including trotter Nobilo (Southwind Frank – Focus On Me). “I like the trotters and wouldn’t rule out getting another at the next yearling sales,” he quipped — a fitting statement from a lifelong enthusiast who has part-owned both a champion filly and a top colt in Tiger Tara.