McKenzie Back In ‘Heaven’

Breeders often take a liking to certain stallions, and North Canterbury owner/breeder John McKenzie certainly likes the progeny of Rock N Roll Heaven.

At a time when most New Zealand breeders have ‘parked up’ the son of Rocknroll Hanover (with single-digit mare bookings in the past two breeding seasons), McKenzie has kept the faith — and his results have vindicated his passion.

Yes, he has bred a very good one in Rock N Roll Doo (14 wins, $655k) out of his In The Pocket mare Long Live Lana, but more success came his way this week at Rangiora when Rena (Rock N Roll Heaven – Reklaw’s Gem) scored her first win at start number three for the Greg and Ben Hope training partnership.

Rena had been tagged with a fairly hefty reserve at the 2023 yearling sales in Christchurch, and when she didn’t quite make that figure, McKenzie was happy enough to bring her home.

She is very closely related to another star performer by the sire, Rakero Rocket (8 wins to date, $271k), owned by fellow North Canterbury enthusiast Ronnie Dawe.

Dawe himself seems a fan of Rock N Roll Heaven, having bought a filly from Delightful Sheila at the 2024 yearling sales when offered by McKenzie. Now named Rakero Courage, she is a two-year-old with Dawe’s private trainer Tom Bamford.

That filly’s granddam, Shakeilah (also by In The Pocket), left nine foals for nine winners — including the very handy I Will Rock You (11 wins, $80k, 1:52.5), and (you guessed it) bred by John McKenzie.

The Dawe/McKenzie ‘partnership’ has been further extended through the ownership of Rakero John (2c Bettor’s Wish – Roxolana). Passed in at the 2024 yearling sales after not meeting his reserve, he is in the stable of Steven Reid. Roxolana is a Rocknroll Hanover daughter of Long Live Lana.

On the breeding front, McKenzie continues to be active. In recent years, he has been a seller at the yearling sales — but with a strong sense of his horses’ values.

In 2024, he sold a Rock N Roll Heaven – Delightful Lana colt for a good return. That colt, now aptly named Don’t Think Just Doo, has found his way as a progressive two-year-old into the John Morrison stable at Ashburton.

That colt is a half-brother to McKenzie’s Group 1 performer Our Shangri Lana (3 wins, $95k from only 14 starts), now also with the Hopes. The dam is currently in foal to Confederate.

Party Girl Becqui (13 wins, $150k) is in foal to Downbytheseaside, and to date, her best foal has been Killer Queen (9 wins, $155k) — by Rock N Roll Heaven, of course!

Reklaw’s Gem, dam of Rena, hasn’t had a foal for a couple of seasons but is hopefully in foal to Bettor’s Delight.

Long Live Lana, dam of Rock N Roll Doo, now 19, hasn’t had a foal since 2020 but has been served by Rock N Roll Heaven, making the resultant foal a full sibling to that very good Australian pacer.

Historically, many of the McKenzie-bred horses have found their way to Australia, and over time, McKenzie has developed strong personal associations with a number of high-profile harness people there.

The Australians also seem to like the Rock N Roll Heavens. In that part of the world, he has consistently served 100+ mares each season and clearly ranks as a top 10 stallion based on the efforts of his progeny.

Having a horse like Swayzee — now a dual New Zealand Cup winner — flying the flag certainly helps.