Kiwi trotter Taylad for success

Former North Island trotter Taylad To Use delivered the biggest thrill of their racing lives to a pair of Auckland breeders when he led throughout to win the $54,080 Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship Final at Albion Park.

They are semi-retired businessman Wayne Portland and his wife Carol Baker, who race the Used To Me gelding with Pukekohe trainer Clare McGowan and Albion Park Harness Racing Club chairman Greg Mitchell and his wife Sharon.

Taylad To Use is only the fourth horse Portland and Baker have ever bred.

The third they bred was Euphoria, an American Ideal gelding who won 13 races at Gloucester Park for Gary Hall Snr before being sold to North America, where he continues to race competitively.

“It was a pretty big thing for a couple of mug breeders like us to breed a really nice trotter and a really nice pacer,” Wayne said.

“It is sensational to think that Taylad To Use could win a Group 2.”

Taylad To Use hails from the same family as Gwen’s Invasion, an Armbro Invasion mare bred and owned by Portland’s late uncle, Barry.

She left only two foals: Earl Of Shebar, who won twice, and the lightly raced Jewel Of Shebar.

“When Gwen’s Invasion and her foal died, we had a return service to Majestic Son. Only three months later I saw the mare Taylamade Dee advertised for lease by John Dickie as a broodmare in the Harness Racing Weekly,” Wayne said.

Taylamade Dee won six races with 12 placings from 51 starts for $42,164 and was a handy race mare in her own right.

The result of the free service to Majestic Son was Ruby Ridge, who won 12 races, earned $148,796, reached Cup class, and is now safely in foal to Volstead.

Her next foal was Taylad To Use, a gelding by the French-bred stallion Used To Me.

“Dave McGowan has always been a great supporter of Yabby Dam Farms and we wanted something a little bit different, so we sent her to Used To Me. He sired the quinella in the Darrell Alexander,” Wayne said.

“Taylad To Use was the most magnificent-looking fella as a young horse — and he had the personality to match.”

Taylad To Use began racing as a three-year-old with the McGowans, winning once in his initial campaign and again at four. At five he added five more victories — four at Alexandra Park and one at Cambridge Raceway.

The gelding was transferred to leading Brisbane horseman Grant Dixon in May and has hardly run a bad race since arriving in Queensland. He has won twice at Albion Park, placed a further three times from 10 Australian starts, and boosted his stake earnings to a healthy $152,610.

Taylamade Dee was retired after foaling Taylad To Use and is now living out her days at the McGowans’ property alongside Scusi Boyz, the dam of Group-winning trotter Adelle.

Meanwhile, Portland and Baker are breeding from the Monarchy mare Jewel Of Sheba.

“We’ve got four foals out of her, including the four-year-old Pirayas, who is a really nice horse,” Wayne said.

Before moving into breeding, Wayne and Carol were involved with well-known racing identity Greg O’Connor in several syndicates in the South Island in the early 2000s.

“Our great friend and mentor Jim Major had David Garrison, Kurahaupo Lord, Lord Lenny and many more,” he said.