Tact Teva Continuing a Dynasty

Impressive Addington winner Tact Teva (Lather Up – Tact Hayley Jane) looks every inch a contender for the upcoming 3YO features. That should come as no surprise when one considers the depth of his maternal family.

The “Tact” horses are synonymous with the Dynes family of Southland, a line that has been producing quality performers for close to a century, tracing back to the foundation mare Red Diamond and her daughter First Water. In a recurring pattern, Red Diamond was a 100% producer, with all seven of her foals winning on the track. Her daughter First Water (3 wins) left 14 foals for 12 winners, with the other two contributing by qualifying or producing further winners. Among them, Rocks Ahead (16 wins) stood out as another perfect producer, leaving seven winners from seven foals. Her legacy included the likes of Navigate (12 wins), Barrier Reef (13 wins), and First Lord (10 wins), who was given a chance as a colonial stallion in the 1950s. Another, Nell Gratten (9 wins), carved a special place in New Zealand harness and breeding history. Of her seven foals, six were fillies, with four successful on the track.

Mighty Song (8 wins, by Springfield Globe) left three winners, while Mighty Imp (3 wins, by Dilkon Hall) established her own ‘mini dynasty’ for Southland breeder Colin Baynes through her daughters Donna Charles and Coral Donna. But it was Tactics (11 wins, by Light Brigade) who truly propelled the Red Diamond line into prominence. In successive matings in 1958 and 1959, she left Deft (dam of champion racehorse and sire Noodlum, as well as top filly Olga Korbut) and the fine racehorse Tactile (11 wins in New Zealand before being exported to America). Of Tactics’ 13 foals, 11 made the races. One that didn’t was Tacwyn, a full sister to Tactile by Hal Tryax. Though unraced, Tacwyn produced Exmoot, dam of Just Ella (6 wins), who in turn left Its Ella (16 wins, $292,000) for the Holland family.

The branch also continued through Tacten (by Hundred Proof), who managed one win in a short career but bred on, leaving Tact Boyden (7 wins from just 19 starts) and the unraced Tact Rein (by Lordship). During the 1980s, Derek Dynes became a strong supporter of National Bloodstock and their stallions, and Tact Rein went to the likes of Apollo’s Way and F Troop before producing Tact Hayley (by New York Motoring). Though placed only five times from 11 starts, Tact Hayley brought the family back into modern relevance by leaving 10 racehorses from 12 foals.

Her Christian Cullen offspring Tact Lizzie and Spectactular each won 10 races, with Tact Lizzie becoming yet another 100% producing mare from the family (seven foals for seven winners). She left the standout Tact Tate (29 wins, $512,000, 1:51.3) and the talented Tact Maggie (12 wins, $100,000, 1:51.3). Another daughter, Tact Hayley Jane (10 wins from 26 starts), remains in the ownership of the Dynes estate and is the dam of the latest “Tact” star. By the Abercrombie stallion Albert Albert, she has also proven a 100% producer with seven live foals for seven winners, three of whom, aside from Tact Teva, have recorded sub-1:53 mile rates.

One of the most underrated pacers of recent times, Tact McLeod (9 wins, $327,000 to date), is a half-brother to Tact Teva. Now with two wins and two placings from just five starts, Tact Teva looks poised to carry the family tradition further. Horses can’t talk, but if he could, one suspects he’d be proud to know just how formidable his ancestors were back in the day.