Twilight Rascal doing a job for Chapman

Senior Amberley trainer and breeder Kevin Chapman was quick to remind this writer that I hadn’t mentioned his good horse and now colonial stallion Locharburn (Christian Cullen – Suzy’s Delight) as part of NZ Cup winner Kingman’s family in last week’s article… Suzy’s Delight being a daughter of Ruling Delight, who in turn was a granddaughter of NZ Oaks winner Ruling Lobell.

Chapman, now in his seventies, has sold down much of his North Canterbury farm and, in the “winding-down” phase of life, was expecting just one foal this spring from his good mare Twilight Rascal (9 wins). Although overdue, she successfully delivered a beautiful filly by Bettor’s Wish.

Well known as a true “breeding buff,” Chapman has been a successful owner, trainer, and breeder for several decades with more than his share of good horses. A then-much-younger writer can remember Freightman, who won six races as a 3YO (13 in total) and graduated to Cup-class company. Four Starzz Flash won 14 races and contested the 2014 NZ Cup won by Adore Me. And of course, Locharburn was the outstanding 3YO of his year, winning the Derby and 14 races in total from only 38 starts.

Chapman has also enjoyed success with his trotters, breeding from Belle Galleon (11 wins), the dam of millionaire trotter Stent. He is currently breeding from one of her daughters, Daisy Hill (by Muscle Hill). The four-win mare, who raced only 18 times, has a 2YO colt on the ground by French sire Bold Eagle and a weanling filly by Volstead.

But it is the 17-year-old Presidential Ball mare Twilight Rascal who has kept Chapman in the winner’s circle most recently. It was nearly double delight at Oamaru last week when her foal No. 4, Bannockburn, strode clear to register his second win from seven starts. As the name suggests, he is by Locharburn and is currently leased to Leeston trainer Aaron Swain and a large group of enthusiastic owners he has assembled.

Just prior, foal No. 5, Molly Maeve Estelle (Chapman’s got grandkids), ran a very good second behind a resurgent Take The Miki in a slick 1:56.5 MR. The daughter of Art Major was a winner at start No. 3 and, with only seven starts to her name, looks a horse worth following in the coming weeks.

Both youngsters are half-siblings to Chapman’s very good pacer Beach Ball (11 NZ wins), foal No. 3, who placed in a NZ Cup behind Aussie raider Swayzee when prepared by Swannanoa horseman Benny Hill.

Ironically, Hill and a high-profile syndicate have also invested in the Captaintreacherous – Twilight Rascal colt, foal No. 6, named Scoundrel, purchasing him from Chapman earlier this year.

The foal who might have really put the mare’s name in lights was foal No. 2, Heroes Square. The son of Art Major had only four starts for Team Dunn but won three of them in impressive fashion, including a 1:55.3 MR victory, before sadly going amiss. In that final win he defeated Minstrel, who has since gone on to win 29 races and $1.7M in stakes, primarily in Western Australia.

The only other progeny of Twilight Rascal, Rock Me Gently (by Rocknroll Hanover), qualified but was unraced. Of her developing stock, Lochdarragh (also by Locharburn) has won one to date, also for the Swain stable. Chapman holds real hope for her Captaintreacherous colt, aptly named Captainmycaptain, who is a rising 3YO.

“They say you have to have had a good horse to know you’ve got another — and I think he could be the real deal if we can keep him sound, as he has had a few setbacks,” Chapman said.

The record clearly shows the Amberley horseman understands that concept better than most — and those listening would be wise to take notice.

Rock Me Gently is hopefully in foal this season to the well-credentialled American stallion Tattoo Artist (by He’s Watching).

For those who are also “breeding buffs,” Twilight Rascal traces directly back to Night Beam, who left six very good winners of 36 races in the 1950s. Her only unraced foal, Nancy Lee (by U Scott), became one of the great broodmares in New Zealand history, establishing a prolific family for the Brosnan clan of Fernside.