Nelson winners full of staunch bloodlines

Breeding can be a calculated risk, but in the end, strong bloodlines are rarely far removed from the success that keeps breeders motivated to persevere. Day One at Nelson provided a timely reminder of that simple truth.

The day began in positive fashion when Carrera Kahu (Sweet Lou – Flying Anvil) recorded her third career victory for local trainer Tim Fensom, stopping the clock at a tidy 1:58.7MR. Flying Anvil, owned by Paul Bielby, is by Art Major from the four-win mare Dontdrinkthendrive (In The Pocket – We Love To Party). To date, her first five foals have all gone on to become winners, while her sixth foal — a three-year-old filly by Captain Crunch — is currently in work with Southland trainer Kirsten Green for Bielby and associates. As her name suggests, We Love To Party is closely related to the current New Zealand pacing standout Republican Party, while Gone Surfin, also successful later on the programme, hails from this same prolific family.

Miki Brown (Always B Miki – Paddy Brown) followed shortly after with an impressive 4.5-length victory for trainer and part-owner Kimberley Butt. Bred by the Whitelock family, Paddy Brown won five races for the Purdon–Payne training partnership and has since developed into a reliable broodmare, leaving five winners to date, including Remy Brown (17 wins, $152,000, 1:51 in the USA). She is a daughter of Braeside Star (Soky’s Atom – Tuapeka Star), herself a six-time winner and the dam of high-class mare Kayla Marie (five wins, $201,000). This is the immediate family of New Zealand Cup winner Iraklis, tracing back to the exceptional broodmare Sakuntala.

One race later, One Over Da Line (Majestic Son – One Over Kenny) secured her fourth career success for the Dunn training partnership. Her dam was a millionaire trotter who won 32 races and multiple Group events. At stud, One Over Kenny has been equally influential for breeder Lex Williams and his family, producing nine winners including One Over Da Moon (22 wins and now a successful sire), Ultimate Stride (11 wins, 1:57.5) and One Over All (25 wins, $462,000). By Sundon from Frances Jay Bee (six wins), this branch of the famed ‘Kenny’ family has been a long-term source of elite trotting talent.

Adding further depth to that story, the grand-dam of the Non-Winners Trot Playoffs was the Vance Hanover mare Fair Play, whose influence continues to resonate. She left Inter Dominion Trot winner Play On (14 wins, $290,000) and Another Player (nine wins) among her eight winning progeny. Fair Play in turn produced the outstanding Australian performer Majestic Player (Majestic Son), who amassed 39 wins, $544,000 and a career-best 1:51.2, along with Keyang Lavita, a seven-time winner from just 18 starts to date.

Rakero John (Bettor’s Wish – Roxolana) was another to impress, coming from the rear of the field to score a deserved maiden victory. This family has been carefully developed over many years by respected North Canterbury breeder John McKenzie. Although unraced, Roxolana (by Rocknroll Hanover) is a half-sister to Delightful Lana (10 wins, $151,000) and leading Australian pacer Rock N Roll Doo (14 wins, $655,000). Delightful Lana has bred on effectively, leaving smart mare Our Shangri Lana (six wins, $126,000 to date), with the maternal line tracing back to another influential broodmare, Coo Doo.

Trotting mare Nellie Doyle (Majestic Son – Perfect For Now) collected her sixth win from just 22 starts, and her future in the broodmare paddock already looks assured. Her dam won five races and is by Sundon from the Bill Doyle-bred Look, herself a nine-time winner who went on to leave Now Another Look (six wins), Total Perception (seven wins), Speculate (nine wins) and Some Direction (25 wins, $307,000). This trotting family ranks among the most productive and consistent lines in the New Zealand Stud Book over the past 75 years.

Promising mare Candy Cane continued her upward trajectory, recording her third win from just seven starts. By Sweet Lou from Cmeerock (three wins), she is only the second foal from Vceemee (eight wins, $99,000). This is the famed ‘Mee’ family, developed by the late Eric Mee in the 1970s. Standouts include Mighty Me (11 wins including two Derbies), Coringa It’ll Be Me (nine wins) and Vee Mee (four wins, $174,000). Another key mare from the family, Nanoose, went on to become a highly influential broodmare, producing six winners including Talk About Me (10 wins) and Pocket Me (13 wins, $272,000). Race 7 winner The Coalman is from Jungle Jane (nine wins), a great-granddaughter of Nanoose.

In total, nine Nelson winners have been referenced here. Others such as Captain Tyron (from the Hot Shoe Shuffle / Black Watch family) and Its Tough (from the Chloe Hanover / Sally Belwin family) could easily have been included, but there were only 11 races on the card.

The point remains clear: these horses had plenty working in their favour long before they ever stepped onto a racetrack. When depth of pedigree and proven maternal strength underpin a breeding decision, the odds of success must surely improve.