CROWN SALUTES BREEDING FRATERNITY
WolfStride Photo: The Trots, Stuart McCormick
As the name suggests, the Breeders Crown salutes the breeders.
They might not be to the fore on race night, but the breeders should rightly be saluted in this rich Victorian-based carnival.
Always a thrill to breed a winner, but a group winner is something else.
MELTON - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020
GROUP 2 NUTRIEN EQUINE READY TO RUN SALE BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE PACE
Winner: Babyitscold
Rock N Roll Heaven US-Tilly Leon (Modern Art US)
5yo mare
Bred by FRANK and SUE O’SULLIVAN, NSW
She is the second foal to race out Tilly Leon (4 wins), which is part of a great family for the O’Sullivans going back to foundation mare Polo One.
Polo One (Monarch Hanover 1986) produced four winners for the O’Suillivans and another three for other breeders.
One of the four was Pretty Inpink (Stature US) – the dam of Tilly Leon and nine other winners.
GROUP 2 HYLAND FULL SUITS BREEDERS CROWN 4YO TROTTING MARES CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner: Keayang Livana
Imperial Count US-Poignant (Sundon US)
4yo mare
Bred by KJ NEWBOUND FAMILY TRUST
Newbound is one of the most recognizable names in Australian standard breeding circles/
Leo Newbound began the Goulburn Valley-based empire in the 1950s and operated it with his sons Kevin and Leo.
Poignant was unraced, but a full and half-sister six winners.
She has produced two winners, with the other being Augustine (2 wins).
GROUP 2 HYLAND FULL SUITS BREEDERS CROWN 4YO TROTTING COLTS/GELDINGS CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner: Always Ready
Ready Cash Fra-Class Of Her Own (Yankee Paco US)
4yo entire
Bred by Yabby Dam Farms (Pat Driscoll)
Class Of Her Own was bred by RJ and P Matthews and won eight races.
The Matthews bred Classy Lola (Muscle Hill US) 7 wins, out of her.
As well as Always Ready, she has left Rohaan, a 2yo winner this season.
Class Of Her Own is out of NZ-bred Invasions Pride (Armbro Invasion US), which is the dam of an impressive array of talent – including multiple group 1 winner Let Me Thru (19 wins, $453,000) and Lord Liam (32 wins, $281,000).
GROUP 2 ULTIMATE MACHETE BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE PACERS FREE-FOR-ALL
Winner: Wolf Stride
Rock N Roll Heaven US-Lilac Stride (Art Major US)
4yo gelding
Bred by E and M Stride (Emilio and Mary Rosati)
Wolf Stride provided his sire Rock N Roll Heaven with a group 2 double for the night.
Lilac Stride was a smart race mare, winning 17 races for $276,000, being a group 1 winner in the Breeders Crown series as a 4yo in 2011.
Sadly no longer with us, Lilac Stride has left three winners, including Cherry Stride (Rocknroll Hanover) 9 wins.
Lilac Stride was the most successful of six-winning foals out of NZ-bred Falcon Seelter US mare Labretta Franco.
GROUP 2 SPORTSWRITER BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE CUP
Winner: Bulletproof Boy
Art Official Ca-My Riviera Girl NZ (Red River Hanover US)
5yo gelding
Bred by CP Okmasich, MN Smith and J Radomi
My Riviera Girl raced throughout her career in South Australia and won 18 times
Bulletproof Boy is her only foal to have raced, chalking up 25 victories.
My Riviera Girl was one of four foals out of NZ-bred mare Dance Trix (Holmes Hanover US), with all being winners. – Freestyler NZ (McArdle US) 6 wins, Usher NZ (McArdle US) 14 wins, and The Matrix NZ (Mach Three Ca) 11 wins.
GROUP 2 SCHWEPPES BREEDERS CROWN GRADUATE TROTTERS FREE-FOR-ALL
Winner: Gus An Maori
Angus Hall US-Sumthingaboutmaori (Pine Chip US)
8yo gelding
Bred by Bryan Healy
Gus An Maori is by one of the world’s pre-eminent trotting stallions and out of a champion mare from one of Australia’s most influential squaregaiting bloodlines.
Sumthingaboutmaori was outstanding on the racetrack, winning 31 races for $461,000 in the early 2000s – winning the group 1 2003 Australian Trotting Grand Prix and 2004 Inter Dominion.
It has been a tougher battle for her in the breeding barn, leaving just four winners, with Gus An Maori (16 wins) being the most prolific.
Her first foal to race, Justanothermaori (Muscles Yankee) won 13 times.
Sumthingaboutmaori also has two starters in group 1 Breeders Crown finals at Melton on Saturday night - 3yo filly Imamaorijet and 2yo colt Central Otago – each bred by Yabby Dam Farms.
She is the grand dam of six winners.