February 2009 - Breeding & Futurity News
Memorable Fortnight
IT WAS certainly a fortnight to remember for the Lewis clan from Victoria’s western district last month when their three-year-old fillies Lewisienna Jo and Whodyou Wantmetobe both won feature races.
Lewisienna Jo was first to salute, securing the Group One South Australian Oaks at Adelaide’s Globe Derby Park.
It was not only the horse’s first Group One success, but the initial win at harness racing’s elite level for trainer David Lewis and driver Caleb Lewis.
By the Life Sign stallion Island Fantasy, Lewisienna Jo is out of the Lewis family’s former smart race mare Jolaura.
Before retiring prematurely due to injury, she won six times from only 14 starts including a heat of the Victoria Oaks.
Coincidently, in that race she defeated Golden Forrest who is the dam of Melpark Major.
At stud, Jolaura is the dam of four foals of racing age with Lewisienna Jo her first winner.
Jolaura is out of Frosty Again, which makes her a half sister to six winners including the smart customers Frosty Bulldog and Frosty Lady.
She is by Echelon who, of course, is the sire of former champion Queensland pacer Flashing Red.
As a broodmare sire, Echelon now has 20 winners to his credit including the promising trotter Hi Jinx and the speedy pacer King Of Paradise.
Being a Group One race, the South Australian Oaks carried an $1125 Vicbred Breeders’ Bonus which was added to Lewisienna Jo’s first prize cheque.
A week later, breeders David and Terry Lewis earned an additional $1825 Vicbred Bonus when Whodyou Wantmetobe came with a barnstorming finish to win the $25,000 VSB&SA Gold Chalice at Moonee Valley.
A superbly bred daughter of Armbro Operative and three-time Moonee Valley winner Brilliant Disguise, Whodyou Wantmetobe is a half relation to four winners including Miracle Mile emergency Master Of Disguise.
She is also a full sister to two winners including Dalmont Jo who was successful at Group One level.
Armbro Operative, the sire of Whodyou Wantmetobe, needs little introduction.
He has a magnificent record at stud both here and in New Zealand. His top female progeny include Fleur De Lil, Ashlees Babe and Pullover Brown.
By winning the $25,000 VSB&SA Gold Chalice, Whodyou Wantmetobe joins an illustrious honour roll, featuring horses the calibre of Jasmarilla, Hyperstat, Provocative, Newbold Penny, Mother Courage, Tupelo Rose, Indigenous, Petousa, Lady Waratah and Amongst Royalty.
Living On Fire Atones
THE 2008 Australasian Breeders Crown Super Sunday meeting at Bendigo delivered a huge disappointment for Rockbank trainer Bill Galea.
His star two-year-old, Living On Fire, finished tailed off in the $301,000 Group One juvenile classic after starting a short-priced favourite.
He atoned somewhat for that defeat with a narrow but stylish victory in the $30,000 South Australian Derby early last month.
Living On Fire now boasts multiple Group One successes after triumphing in the $100,000 Vicbred Super Series Final in the 2007/08 season.
The smart youngster is by Nevele R Stud’s perennial success story Live Or Die who continues to churn out winner after winner, many of which are high class performers.
His progeny include juvenile and Grand Circuit winners such as Breeders Crown and Miracle Mile champion Divisive, dual NZ Cup winner Just An Excuse, super filly Elect To Live, recent Grand Circuit winners Bold Cruiser and Power Of Tara and last year’s Victoria Derby champ Tanabi Bromac.
Living On Fire is the fifth foal from the Even Odds mare Under Wraps.
Her only other winner was her maiden foal, Wrap Atak, who is one of only six trotting winners by super sire Fake Left.
Bred by Graeme Cochran’s Borambola Stud, he was sold privately as a yearling to Charles Sciberras.
The SA Derby win was Living On Fire’s eighth victory from only ten starts and stretched his stake earnings to $122,874.
In addition, he has earned $5500 in Vicbred Win Bonuses, and $13,575 in Vicbred Breeder Bonuses.
Vicbred Trophy Races
EACH Victorian Country Club will host one $6000 Vicbred trophy race during the 2008/09 season.
Races are conducted for both trotters and pacers across a variety of classes.
Following are the results of recent Vicbred trophy races:-
St Arnaud @ Charlton – November 23
3A0 to 3A1. PBD/3A. Mobile Start.
Winner: INDIGO BAY – Presidentiall Ball x Boom Boom Birdie (Sokys Atom)
Owner: S.B. Cleave & P.E. Ward
Trainer: Stephen Cleave
Driver: Stephen Cleave
Breeder: L.J., I.G., G.R. & S.J. Johnson
Wedderburn @ Maryborough – December 7
C1 only. RBD. Mobile Start.
Winner: MADDY SHEFFIELD – Aces N Sevens x Kellyarmbro (Armbro Operative)
Owner: Carole Jury
Trainer: Graham Jury
Driver: Tiff Murray
Breeder: Staffordshire Park
Cobram – December 15
C0 only. PBD/$L6. Mobile Start.
Winner: AND MAY I SAY – Troublemaker x Joan (Jeremy Lobell)
Owner: Dudley Hagar
Trainer: Mark Hagar
Driver: Mark Hagar
Breeder: Dudley Hagar
Stallion Nominator: Karamea Farm Pty Ltd
Charlton – December 24
C0 only. RBD. Mobile Start.
Winner: GO GIRLFRIEND – Notso Cheap x Major Girl (Major Force)
Owner: M.W. & W.A. Walker
Trainer: Kevin Brough
Driver: Kevin Brough
Breeder: M.W. & W.A. Walker
Vicbred Bonuses (to January 13)
Vicbred Breeder Bonuses
2YO $3000
3YO $59,062
4YO $1200
Vicbred Win Bonuses
2YO $22,000
3YO $198,000
4YO $211,750
Yearling Sales
POTENTIAL owners take a lot of factors into account before selecting their yearling purchase.
Sire, dam, sire of the dam, cross, conformation, second foal of the dam, age of the dam, whether it was born on a full moon, the amount of white on its legs, and so on and so on - the list is endless.
However, the most important consideration is something many purchasers fail to notice printed at the bottom of the pedigree page in the catalogue - futurity scheme eligibility.
If it does not say “Vicbred” then that yearling cannot take part in the $5.4 million Vicbred program.
Remember, with the enhancements to the Vicbred program beginning with the 2008/2009 yearling crop, a Vicbred horse will receive a $5000 Vicbred Win Bonus for its first Victorian victory as 2YO, 3YO or 4YO.
Likewise, if it does not say “Australian Breeders Crown” then that yearling cannot take part in the $2.1 million Australasian Breeders Crown Series.
To get full value for money, ensure your next champion is eligible for both Vicbred and the Australasian Breeders Crown.
