Prolific Family Back in the Limelight

Last week’s results at Auckland must have brought a smile to the dial of Woodlands Stud principal Andrew Grierson, when his Bettor’s Delight mare Mockingjay left not one, but two winners on the same programme at the Park.

First, the 2YO filly Opa’s Girl finished over the top of her six rivals in a very respectable 1:57.3 MR to record her maiden win at just her third start for the David Butcher / Arna Donnelly combination. Six races later, 4YO Double Parked got his nose in front when it mattered most for trainer-driver Tony Herlihy.

Both winners are by Downbytheseaside, and are the first and third foals respectively of their dam. In fact, Grierson has bred Mockingjay to the same sire in each of the past four seasons (two colts and two fillies), and she is due to Downbytheseaside again for a fifth time this season.

Mockingjay (Bettor’s Delight – Humminbird) won four races as a 5YO but was a non-winner at four when Grierson purchased her from the stable of Michael House as a potential broodmare. At five, three of her four wins came at Manawatu, with the other a 1:54.4 MR success at Wyndham for House. After one placing in her 12-start 4YO campaign, Mockingjay retired with 28 starts and $31,000 in earnings.

Her dam Humminbird won one race in six local starts before being exported to America, where she won another 19 races, paced 1:51, and banked more than $280,000.

Brought back to New Zealand for her broodmare career by the late Bob McArdle and close friend Richard Sissons, Humminbird made an immediate impact in the breeding barn. Her first foal Hurricane Bromac (by Christian Cullen) won 14 races on both sides of the Tasman, taking a best MR of 1:53. Her next two foals, Hawkeye Bromac (10 wins) and Hunter Bromac (6 wins), were also handy performers before Mockingjay was produced. A later foal, Sandpiper (by Somebeachsomewhere), qualified locally before being sold to the USA, where he paced 1:51.6.

Humminbird herself was a product of Nevele R Stud, being by Caprock from Tenisha (2 wins). While Tenisha had only nine race starts, her legacy as a broodmare was long and successful, with several daughters breeding on to good effect.

Alongside Humminbird, Tenisha also left Rider On The Storm (13 wins, $188,000) and Irak Attack (8 wins, 1:50.4 US), while daughter Tuula Franco (also by Caprock) produced Tidal Franco (9 wins, $180,000).

Nevele R co-founder, the late Wayne Francis, bred Tenisha (Nero’s BB – Tiawana). Tiawana won four races for Jim Dalgety in the early 1970s, and once acquired by Francis, established another long and fruitful stint as a broodmare — also helping promote many of Nevele R’s early stallions.

Sires such as Holmes Hanover and Live Or Die feature prominently in this enduring family. The best of Tiawana’s fillies was arguably Tammera (5 wins), whose daughters continued to extend the family’s success.

Tentative left Unrehearsed (3 wins), who in turn left Lizzie Maguire (12 wins, $477,000), winner of the Group 1 Northern Oaks and a 2YO Harness Jewels event. Twelve of Unrehearsed’s 14 foals made the races, and many of her “Maguire” daughters have bred on. One exception, Zagami (lightly raced, placed), left Fabrizio (8 NZ wins, 1:49.6 US). Another branch produced Barchetta (29 wins, 1:50.8 US, $248,000).

The First Lady (qualified only) left Tarantella (1 win), who in turn left Lady Toddy (13 wins, $176,000), herself a prolific producer with 10 foals to race.

Many members of this family have been keenly sought after at the National Yearling Sales over the years, and with the progeny of Mockingjay now performing so well, there’s every chance this celebrated Moor Chimes family will once again attract renewed attention.