After a long pause in this blog, I have decided to bring it up to date and perhaps add a few new blogs.
For those who may be interested, I am still breeding, but no longer selling at yearling sales. This frees me up to focus on breeding matches and mares that I like and can afford rather than trying to anticipate buyer trends and investing in yearling preparation. I continue to love the challenge of finding compatible matches that may enhance what I have – which nowadays is often mares that others may overlook, but for me they are exactly what I want.
I have also reduced outlay and increased enjoyment by sometimes sharing with one or two others.
Previously my main broodmare was Zenterfold (In The Pocket x Zenola Star) and her daughter The Blue Lotus (Grinfromeartoear x Zenterfold). Zenterfold died in 2019 very shortly after giving birth to her last (12th) foal, a lovely colt by the Australasian sire Vincent. That yearling belongs to Kym Kearns and is paddock mate with my yearling Turnpike Joe (see below).
That same year I sold The Blue Lotus in foal to Captaintreacherous to the Australian stud Yirribee. That foal has subsequently sold well at a yearling sale, and the mare is due to foal this season to Lazarus.
Yirribee is also the stud where Zenterfold’s very good son Tintin In America stands as a stallion. Tintin In America is now the sire of many young horses in Australia, as well as the NZ-bred mare Shartin 1:46.8 ($2.2 million),who went on to become the fastest pacing mare in the world and the USA 4YO Mare of the Year in 2018 and USA Harness Horse of the Year in 2019. Shartin was bred by Grant Crabbe.
My other older broodmares Nostalgic Franco and Dreamy Romance have also died, but I have an interest in some of their progeny (see below).
My current list of owned or co-owned mares and progeny as at August 2021
Mares
- Be A Legend (Tilly) – 25% (alternate breeding)
Tintin In America x A Legend (Safely Kept) - Maravu Excuse – 50%
Rob Roy Mattgregor x Nice Bromac (Live Or Die) - April Rose – 50%
Mach Three x Hanover Glory (Badlands Hanover) - Saoirse – 100%
Shadow Play x Sweet Shelby (Presidential Ball)
Initially being tried as a racehorse (with trainer Amber Hoffman), then breeding.
Young / potential racing stock
- Rhyme N Reason – 50%
Sweet Lou x Be A Legend
2yo filly in training with Arna Donnelly at Cambridge. - My Rocky Romance – 50%
Rock N Roll Heaven x Dreamy Romance.
1yo. Dreamy Romance’s last foal. In preparation with trainer Kirstin Barclay, who is co-owner. - Cheer Me On – 50%
He’s Watching x Maravu Excuse
1yo in preparation with trainer Amber Hoffman. - Turnpike Joe (Pikey)
Raging Bull x Nostalgic Franco
1yo breaking in with Rodney Framption, for training with Kym Kearns, and buddy to Red Rackham (Zenny) who is Zenterfold’s last foal.
Breeding
I have no mares due to foal this season, but have two booked on my own account for breeding this season if all goes well:
- Maravu Excuse is booked to Bettor’s Wish
- April Rose is booked to Downbytheseaside
b4breeding 