b4breeding

What a great day of harness racing at Alexander Park, Auckland yesterday – Summer Cup, 3yo boys’ sales series final, 3yo fillies sires stakes final and silver, and a group 1 trot, and one of the best supporting cards I’ve seen for a long time.

But what caught my breeder’s eye was a filly at the other race meeting yesterday, a low key affair at Rangiora – and a 3yo fillies maiden race to boot!  It was won by Sara Holley, a daughter by one of our greatest sires, In The Pocket, from his last crop of just 5 live foals in 2009.  In The Pocket died in 2010, the year after Sara Holley was born.  None of the other 4 foals from that crop have made it to the races – yet (all are registered).

In The Pocket, sire of 3yo Sara Holley

Sara Holley is no slouch! For only two goes at the races she has chalked up a second and a first, and looks to have plenty of potential. She won in very good style. The filly was bred and is owned by M D Pierson, Mrs M W Pierson, Mrs J R Pierson, and trained and driven by Robbie Holmes. Her half sister is the Falcon Seelster mare Eleanor Roosevelt, who has 6 wins and $35,000 to date. The maternal line goes back to Sakantula.

Interestingly, In The Pocket  had only one representative at the Auckland Trotting Club meeting, although his siring sons and his broodmare daughters were plentiful. The 4yo black gelding Orl Black, an In The Pocket son of Cracker Kate (who is half sister to Christian Cullen) bookend the day for In The Pocket by coming last in his race, although the whole field was within 4 lengths of the winner. As a 2yo, Orl Black was the winner of the Welcome Stakes.

That 2009 and second-to-last crop of 22 foals by In The Pocket also includes the very nice Buy Chevron Direct (7 wins) and Hot Shot Anvil as winners. To date, 10 of the 22 have started in a race.

While some may believe that older stallions have lost their potency, history shows that class will prevail. It is probably more the case that better mares will move on to newer and more currently commercial sires. But given the right mares and continuing fertility, there is no reason why success can’t continue.

Congratulations to the Piersons. And a big tip o’ the hat to the incredible influence of In The Pocket, right to his very last crop.