b4breeding

There’s relief for me as the breeder as well as for the owners and trainers when a horse I’ve bred qualifies. I really want to produce horses that race well, not just ones that get a good price at the sales.

Thephantomtollbooth qualified at Alexandra Park this morning, and although he was fourth of four, it was all he was required to do. Job done.

Nice qualifying win by Rock N Roll Heaven-Party Girl Becqui 2yo filly Killer Queen, while Thephantomtollbooth sticks on 4th in a 28.3 last quarter. They were all well inside the qualifying time.

He’s a big handsome boy with a lot of condition on him, but Lincoln Farms like him and are prepared to take time.

Sweaty and heading for his hose down.

His effort today follows in the hoofprints of all his other siblings – remarkably all 7 foals of racing age from the mare Zenterfold have now qualified as 2yos (as Zenterfold did herself).

She’ll get an extra carrot or two when I visit her and her Rock N Roll Heaven filly foal at Breckon Farms tomorrow.

Holmes Hanover filly qualifies too

As you know I enjoy noting when a horse pops up from the last crops of our favourite sires.  In the previous qualifying heat for 3yos at Alexandra Park today I was surprised and delighted to see a filly by Holmes Hanover win very nicely. The filly’s name is Wirreanda Piper, trained by Penny Fensom. There are only 5 Holmes Hanover progeny registered in New Zealand who are 2 or 3, and 4 others unregistered. Those were the last crops of the great sire who died in 2006.

Holmes Hanover 3yo filly Wirreanda Piper winning her qualifying trial 20 December 2014.