The mare who built a dynasty

When Perth businessman and hobby breeder Jim Currie bought Arma Antoinette from New Zealand 20 years ago, little did he imagine that she would become one of the most influential broodmares in Western Australian racing.

Two decades later, the influence of that purchase continues to grow. One of Arma Antoinette’s granddaughters, Nevele Arma, downed the best two-year-old fillies in the State in the Group 1 $250,000 Diamond Classic at Gloucester Park last Friday night, making only her fifth appearance.

After enjoying a soft passage in the one-one trail, Nevele Arma unwound a brilliant finishing flourish to prevail in the last bound, rating 1:58 for 2130 metres and covering the final 800 metres in a blistering 56.4 seconds.

Only an ordinary racemare, with one win from 13 attempts, Arma Antoinette had produced just one winner from her first four foals before being sold to Western Australia.

“She was in foal to Live Or Die and had a foal at foot at the time. I wanted a Holmes Hanover mare and she traced back to the family of Armalight,” Currie said.

The package deal was arranged in 2007 by Christchurch identity Peter O’Rourke, the former manager of Nevele R Stud and Spreydon Lodge, and the author.

The foal Arma Antoinette was carrying was Arma Xceptional.

“She was a pretty handy little mare who was only lightly raced due to a suspensory,” Currie said.

Retired to stud, Arma Xceptional left the unraced Arma Fifty Five, by Bettor’s Delight, as her first foal.

Arma Fifty Five became the dam of three winners from four foals, all by the Art Major horse Renaissance Man. They were headed by Group 3 WA 4&5YO Championship winner Arma Einstein ($365,693) and Listed Kerrie Clarke Classic winner Fifty Five Reborn ($263,298).

Arma Antoinette’s mating with Artiscape produced Arma Xpress, who firmly established the family.

As a two-year-old, Arma Xpress was in the top echelon, winning seven of her eight starts and $255,470 in stakes. She was the unanimous choice as Australian 2YO Filly of the Year in 2012.

Her successes included the Group 1 WA Golden Slipper, Group 1 Westbred Classic, Group 2 Champagne Classic, Group 2 Sales Classic, Group 3 Gold Bracelet and Listed Western Crown.

“She only had 18 starts as she had an arthritic knee. She was a beautiful mare whose career got cut short, but she just keeps producing,” Currie said.

From five live foals, Arma Xpress has a 100 percent record, with five winners, all inside 1:58, four $100,000 earners and three Group winners.

Her first foal was Arma Veyron, by Western Terror.

“She was very small, but she won 11 races in WA, Victoria and Queensland. She’s had a couple of foals,” Currie said.

Next, by American Ideal, Arma Xpress produced American Arma, who won 11 races, including the Group 2 APG 4YO Consolation, and $191,613.

“She’s thrown a yearling colt by Bettor’s Delight and is now in foal to Pebble Beach,” Currie said.

The following year, again to American Ideal, Arma Xpress left Arma Xfactor, the winner of 16 races and $221,794.

“I’ve registered him as a stallion and I’ll breed a couple of mares to him this season,” Currie said.

In 2020, Arma Xpress left the bonny racemare Xceptional Arma, by American Ideal. She won $320,000 at two and three, including the Group 1 Westbred Classic and Listed APG Gold Bullion. She has been retired and booked to Downbytheseaside this year.

After failing to get in foal in the next two seasons, Arma Xpress produced the horse of the moment, Nevele Arma, by Huntsville.

“She’s a big, strong filly who you could see early on had the ability. I named her Nevele Arma as I have still got a very close relationship with Spreydon Lodge and Nevele R. I am still breeding a few horses with them,” Currie said.

Arma Xpress has since produced a yearling colt by King Of Swing.

“He may be better than Nevele Arma. He is an absolute ripper. He’s already had two preps,” Currie said.

“She’s now in foal to Pebble Beach.”

Besides Arma Xpress, several other daughters of Arma Antoinette bred on with marked success. Trigg Beach left Gloucester Park winner Arma O’Rourke; Arma Xcellent left two winners, including Sans Le Sou (eight wins); Arma Rich Girl produced Gloucester Park winner and Group placegetter Arma Believer ($108,998) and three-year-old winner Arma Mushu; and Armarockin is the dam of Perth winner Paster Tedesco.