‘Sentimental’ Winner for Top Southland Breeder

A mare who was the top-priced filly at the Christchurch Yearling Sales more than 40 years ago continues to leave a profound mark on racing and breeding across both New Zealand and Australia.

It is the Lumber Dream mare Sentimental Belle, purchased by Invercargill wheat and sheep grazier Brendan Fahy for $10,000 as the foundation broodmare for his fledgling breeding enterprise.

“I bought her off Dudley Moore, who bred and part-owned Caduceus and stood Lumber Dream,” Fahy recalled. “She wasn’t very big. She didn’t win a race, but she ran quite a few placings.”

At stud, Sentimental Belle produced 13 foals, eight of whom were winners — including four that took records under 2:00. Yet her greatest influence has unfolded over the decades through the deeds of her daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

One such branch is the family of Raksbet, a Bettor’s Delight mare three generations removed from Sentimental Belle, who recently produced winners on both sides of the Tasman within five days — Raklou (Gloucester Park) and Rakamick (Gore).

The four-year-old Raklou (by Sweet Lou) impressed in just her second Australian start, toying with a handy Gloucester Park field despite being pressured in front several times, and rating a career-best 1:57 over 2130 metres.

A tough customer, she is being trained by premier Perth horseman Gary Hall Snr, who rates her highly.

“I raced Rakarebel with Gary and we won quite a few races at Gloucester Park and contested the Inter Dominions,” Fahy said.

Raklou won three of her eight starts as a two-year-old for Ryal Bush trainer Peter Hunter, including the Group 3 Helen Pope Fillies Classic at Ashburton, and was among the best of her age, gait, and sex.

However, a series of setbacks — including a stone bruise and a bad cold — prevented her from showing her best during her sophomore campaign.

“She just really didn’t come back,” Fahy said.

Raklou and Rakamick are the first and second foals, respectively, from Raksbet.

“Raksbet won four races including a heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series in 1:55,” Fahy explained. “She had a bit of ability, but she didn’t always put it out there.”

Since producing Rakamick in 2021, Raksbet has left the two-year-old filly Rakstreat (by Captaintreacherous), who qualified in 1:59 in February and is now spelling; a Downbytheseaside yearling colt named Rakapardi, who has had a couple of preparations with Clark Barron; and a weanling colt by Sweet Lou.

“She’s carrying a positive test to Confederate and is going back to Sweet Lou,” Fahy said. “I’m going to send all my mares to Sweet Lou this season.”

In the same year that Fahy bought Sentimental Belle, he also purchased her full sister Sentimental Reason, the dam of 1990 NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Final winner Stands To Reason.

Another notable descendant of Sentimental Reason is Frame Game, winner of the 2006 Hobart Pacing Cup and 2004 NSW Spring Gift — continuing the enduring legacy of a mare whose influence spans generations and hemispheres.