John Taylor: Small breeder, big results

Zeus Lightning, who captured the fastest heat of the NSW Derby at Menangle last Saturday night, is another example of a pacer bred by a small-scale breeder achieving success at the highest level.

The Bettor’s Delight gelding, regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Group 1 $200,000 Derby Final this Saturday, was bred by retired Cambridge butcher and dairy and beef farmer John Taylor and his wife Sandra.

The Taylors currently breed from just three mares, yet their modest operation continues to produce performers capable of competing on major stages.

“When I decided to retire from farming I bought a little block and started breeding some horses,” Taylor said. “It’s a hobby for us and we’ve had a bit of fun along the way.”

The Taylors purchased Zeus Lightning’s dam Georgia Brooke for $56,000 at the 2009 Christchurch Yearling Sales from the late Gary Allen, the former chairman of Harness Racing New Zealand.

She boasts an outstanding family, being a sibling to the NZ Oaks and Breeders Crown champion Cheer The Lady, the dual 1:50 producer Galleon’s Honour, Galleon’s Supreme, the dam of NZ 2YO and 3YO Filly of the Year Spanish Armada and Cranbourne Cup winner Supreme Dominator, and Galleon’s Pleasure, the dam of Southland Oaks winner Treacherous Gall.

“We named her after our first little grandchild who died. The farm where we are now living is called Georgia Brooke Lodge,” Taylor said.

Georgia Brooke suffered a stable accident early in her career and was restricted to just three starts.

“She showed a lot of promise,” Taylor said.

The Christian Cullen mare is now making her mark in no uncertain manner in the breeding barn.

Besides Zeus Lightning, her eighth foal, Georgia Brooke has produced Bollinger (1:49.2), a winner of six races in New Zealand and a further 10 in America and almost $230,000 in stakes, the exported Renaldo (1:50), Georgia’s Baron, a two-time winner, and the Western Australian provincial winner Georgia’s Blossom.

Since producing Zeus Lightning in 2022, Georgia Brooke has left a yearling filly by Bettor’s Delight and a weanling colt by Bettor’s Delight, and she is safely back in foal to the champion sire.

John and Sandra are also breeding from one of her daughters, Georgia’s Belle, an unraced Art Major mare whose four foals of racing age are all winners. They include the Victorian country winners Chogi (12 wins to date) and G B Brave, along with last year’s Auckland juvenile winner Georgie Best.

“I recently sold a Lather Up filly foal out of Georgia’s Belle privately. Georgia’s Belle is in foal to Perfect Sting,” Taylor said.

Another member of their broodmare band is the royally bred Majestic Son mare Con Grazia, who they leased from Tamahere horseman Sean McCaffrey. She is the dam of the 2022 Oaks winner and NZ 3YO Trotting Filly of the Year Con Grazia Love and the NZ and Victorian winner Celebration Stride.

HOOFNOTE: Zeus Lightning was one of five NZ bred winners on the opening night of the Carnival of Miracles at Menangle. The others were Captain’s Mistress 1:49.8 (Chariots of Fire), The Janitor 1:49.3 (Bioworma Sprint), the Derby heat winner Showmethetanlines and Kingmaker 1:49.6.