Alabar News

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 1

August 2011

Mister Big

Mach Three

Art Official

We welcome aboard the Stallion Station and the Muscara Family

Page 2 - Alabar News - August 2011

Welcome

As a result of our arrangement with the Stallion Station we are thrilled to welcome aboard Mach Three, Mister Big, Art Official, Courage Under Fire, Major In Art and Safari.

These wonderful new additions compliment our existing stallions to form what must be the strongest line up of stallions in the world.

With strength comes responsibility. This is something we take very seriously.

As you will see on this page, many of our service fees have been adjusted and our entire stallion line up is now fully included in the Alabar loyalty scheme. This makes these world class stallions even greater value than ever before.

Gauging by the interest we have already had, it appears that the books for Art Major, Courage Under Fire and Mach Three will all be full and closed before the start of the breeding season.

We strongly encourage you to book early if you wish to send a mare to one of these stallions.

As always at this time of year, we are looking ahead with great excitement towards the first two year olds by our new stallions to hit the racetracks – this year it is Jereme’s Jet, Great Success and Sutter Hanover.

After several years of his over achieving in New Zealand with just a handful of frozen semen foals, we also can’t wait for Art Major’s first fresh semen crop to arrive in numbers (95 rising two year olds) onto the racetracks of New Zealand.

Please note that we will be handling all approved free returns for the stallions that were formerly with the Stallion Station and are now standing at Alabar. For any matters relating to former Stallion Station stallions not now standing at Alabar please direct your enquiries to kyliec@stallionstation.com.au.

2011/12 Service Fees

Aust Fee (AUS$) (incl GST)

NZ Fee (NZ$) (plus GST)

Allamerican Ingot

2,750

Not Available in NZ

Armbro Operative

3,750

Not Available in NZ

Art Major

12,000

12,500

Art Official

4,125

3,750

Courage Under Fire

5,500

5,000

Elsu

3,850

4,000

Federal Flex (frozen)

4,400

Not Available in NZ

Gotta Go Cullect

2,500

2,500

Great Success

2,750

3,000

Grinfromeartoear

5,500

5,000

Jereme’s Jet

6,000

6,000

Mach Three

10,450

9,500

Majestic Son (frozen) Not Available in Aust

5,000

Major In Art

4,400

Not Available in NZ

Mister Big

4,950

4,500

Real Desire

5,500

5,500

Safari

1,760

Not Available in NZ

Santanna Blue Chip

4,400

4,000

John Coffey – Alabar Bloodstock, Australia

Shadow Play

5,500

5,000

Graeme Henley – Alabar (NZ) Ltd

Sutter Hanover

2,200

Not Available in NZ

Tiz A Masterpiece

1,980

Not Available in NZ

Village Jasper

3,750

Not Available in NZ

All the very best for your breeding endeavours.

Please give us a call if we can be of any assistance.

Best regards

Important Contact Details Alabar Australia Phone Numbers (+61): Office (Sally Burgess & Liz Birnie) Fax John Coffey (General Manager) Dr Kath McIntosh (Ass’t to the GM) Tom Galloway (Farm Manager) Brent Cochrane (Farm Foreman) Brett Coffey (Marketing & Pedigrees) Joanne Andersen (NSW Rep)

03 5859 2201 (8am-4pm) 03 5859 2206 03 5859 2100, 0418 500 211 0427 497 429 0408 505 416 0400 862 846 03 5859 2100 0414 936 663

Email Addresses: General Enquiries Sally Burgess Liz Birnie John Coffey Brett Coffey Joanne Andersen Dr Kath McIntosh

alabar@alabar.com.au accounts@alabar.com.au liz@alabar.com.au patricianpark@bigpond.com brett@alabar.com.au joanne@alabar.com.au kath@nrequine.com.au

Alabar New Zealand Phone Numbers (+64): Office (Hayley McNamara) Fax Graeme Henley (General Manager) Wayne McNamara (Studmaster) Carla Robertson-Holmes (South Island Rep)

09 232 1800 09 232 1799 09 232 1800, 0274 870 901 09 232 1800 03 312 9314, 021 713 317

Email Addresses: General Enquiries Graeme Henley Hayley McNamara Carla Robertson-Holmes

alabar@alabar.co.nz graeme@alabar.co.nz hayley@alabar.co.nz carla@alabar.co.nz

 Discounts apply to any combination of service fees payable to the above sires.  Semen available at approved locations throughout Australasia.

DATES TO REMEMBER Australasian Breeders Crown Sunday 21 August Tabcorp Park, Melton, Victoria

Australian Breeding Seminars Ballarat, Victoria – Thursday 11 August Bendigo, Victoria – Tuesday 16 August Bathurst, NSW – Friday 9 September

NZ Breeding Seminars Invercargill – Monday 5 September Christchurch – Tuesday 6 September

National Blue Ribbon Broodmare Sale and Stallion Parade Sunday 25 September Alabar Bloodstock, Echuca, Victoria

Alabar First Days of Collection Australia – Monday 3 October New Zealand – Monday 19 September (earlier by arrangement)

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 3

It’s Not Every Day You Welcome Three World Champions The Muscara Stallions Come On Board After over 22 hours of travelling, John Coffey and I (Graeme Henley) flew into Philadelphia airport at midnight on the 7th of June this year – minus our luggage which missed the connection in Denver.

The next morning we made the one hour drive north to the Huntingdon Valley home of Joe Muscara senior to meet with Joe and his sons Joe junior, Robert and Mark.

The Muscara Family own three of the “jewels in the crown” of our arrangement with the Stallion Station in which we merged their operations into ours.

Year won by Mister Big – a culmination of two of the greatest seasons ever by a free-for-all pacer.

The framed photos of the great Billy Haughton awarded each year to the winner of the WR Haughton Memorial – the first of which represented Mister Big’s arrival in the elite company as a four year old when he out-sprinted one of the greatest fields of free-forall pacers assembled in recent times.

The impressive glass trophy won by Mister Big when he sprinted past Won The West to win the 2008 Canadian Pacing Derby.

Mach Three, Art Official and Mister Big were all absolute champion racehorses earning over $8.5 million between them.

Obviously, Mach Three is now a hugely influential sire in both North America and the Southern Hemisphere.

And two US Pacing Championship trophies – both won by Mister Big, the first when flying home in 25.6 to set his 1:47.8 lifetime mark, the second another powerhouse finish to run down Artistic Fella.

Our visit was important in that Joe and his sons needed to be happy with what we had planned in relation to their stallions. We needed to maximise the books of mares to the stallions and they also wanted to play their part in helping breeders in this part of the world.

And nestled in amongst them all, the Interdominion Trotting Championship won by the Joe Muscara owned Delft – commemorating his victory in the 2006 edition of the series at Moonee Valley where he held off the challenge from the Australian champion A Touch Of Flair.

Joe Muscara is well known throughout the harness racing world as the leviathan owner who raced great champions like Mach Three and Mister Big and also for being North America’s biggest purchaser of downunder racehorses.

Now in his late eighties, Joe Muscara made a fortune in construction and real estate. Driving to his home we were expecting to arrive at a palatial mansion. To our pleasant surprise, the home was a relatively modest one he had built in 1969 for his family and had lived in ever since. It was still very much decorated in the style of the era in which it had been built.

The lounge was full of glorious trophies – a reminder of some of his, and harness racings, greatest memories…

Mach Three’s 2002 Meadowlands Pace trophy – representing a career defining victory against one of the best crops of three year olds of the modern era.

The 2007 and 2008 Dan Patch Awards for the US Aged Horse of the

Jim Dalgety A Mister Big Fan

Respected New Zealand breeder Jim Dalgety knows the Muscara family and was in North America when Mister Big was dominating the free-for-all ranks. He had this to say about Mister Big: “He hardly touched the ground when he paced, he just floated over the ground like a swallow in flight.

“I watched him in a couple of those big races – he had a tremendous will to win. You just knew he was going to get up and win.

“He's as nice a specimen of a horse as you'll ever see – a beautiful individual, magnificent really.

“An intriguing factor is he's got a couple of dashes of Dan Patch – on both sides of his pedigree. Dan Patch was a horse before his time and I wouldn't be surprised if that's got something to do with why Mister Big’s such a great horse.”

Amongst this wonderful memorabilia, the meeting with the Muscara family went extremely well. They own three outstanding stallions and have a genuine empathy for harness racing in this part of the world.

They appreciate many of our industry participants are going through tough times and are prepared to do their part to help.

Mach Three – a champion as a racehorse and a sire

As a result, they are offering their three stallions at reduced fees for this season. Now more than ever they represent outstanding value.

Page 4 - Alabar News - August 2011

Mister Big

The Richest Pacing Stallion In History They say that when Mister Big paraded before a race his body language – much like that of an Olympic sprinter – seemed to intimidate the opposition.

When you look at Mister Big’s record, you can see that the others had every right to feel second best.

As a five year old, Mister Big won the WR Haughton Memorial, the US Pacing Championship, the Canadian Pacing Derby and the Breeders Crown.

He is the first horse in history to win all four of the blue-ribbon events for the free-for-all pacers in the one year.

Some great horses had come close to achieving this clean sweep – but until Mister Big, none had.

“He loves to mow Boulder Creek in 2005, Art Major horses down … in 2003 and Real Desire in 2002 all won three but missed the Haughton. he’s a tremendous Western Ideal won three but missed pleasure to drive the US Pacing Championship in 2000. and a tremendous As a four year old, Mister Big had athlete.” also won the Haughton and the US – Brian Sears Pacing Championship – giving him victory in six of the eight major freefor-all races over a two year period.

No pacer had ever done anything like that before.

His earnings as a four year old ($1,345,840) and as a five year old ($1,570,067) were the two greatest stake-earning seasons in history by a free-for-aller.

Buoyed on by the love of watching the horse race and the desire to secure Mister Big’s place in history by taking his earnings over $4 million, the Muscara family turned their back on lucrative stud offers and raced on as a six year old.

Mister Big winning the US Pacing Championship in 1:47.8

Mister Big won a further $789,000 as a six year old and retired the richest pacing stallion of all time with earnings of $4,143,492.

Driver Brian Sears said of Mister Big, “He loves to mow horses down … he’s a tremendous pleasure to drive and a tremendous athlete.”

In the eyes of his trainer Virgil Morgan, Mister Big’s greatest performance was his win in the Aquarius Series Final as a four year old, “He had post eight and closed from ninth with a 25.4 final quarter … you don’t win at the Meadowlands off a 57.4 half sitting ninth. He paced a 52.2 back half!!”

Mister Big stood his first season at stud at Tara Hills in Ontario in 2010 serving a full book of mares at CAN$7,500.

That he is standing in the Southern Hemisphere at $4,500 plus GST is one of life’s great opportunities.

Art Official

The Horse That Beat The Beach And So Much More Art Official will forever be remembered as the only horse ever to defeat Somebeachsomewhere.

It was in the 2008 Meadowlands Pace – a race many North American harness followers regard as one of the greatest races they’ve ever seen.

Art Official worked to an early lead while Somebeachsomewhere continued to press forward, getting to the lead after a half mile in 51.8.

Somebeachsomewhere was clear at the three-quarters in a blistering 1:19.2. As he had in every other start in his career, he looked to have the race at his mercy.

However, Art Official was far from finished. Ron Pearce moved him to “I don’t know the outside and he closed on the great champion.

Somebeachsomewhere if I’ve driven a gave everything but Art Official had horse with more more, putting his neck in front to win in 1:47 – a new world record for a three wicked speed year old. There was distance back to than Art Official” the third runner.

– Ron Pearce The two great horses never met again.

This race was the North American harness racing equivalent of the epic Bonecrusher / Waverley Star 1986 Cox Plate – a race many believe to be the greatest race ever run.

Only this time Waverley Star won – and then went on to win another $1 million afterwards.

While this was Art Official’s greatest moment, it was by no means his only great moment. He was one of the best horses of his generation.

With earnings of $2,085,185, Art Official is the richest – and fastest – son of his great sire, Art Major.

He is the only horse ever to win in under 1:48 at both three and four.

Driver Ron Pearce said of Art Official, “I don’t know if I’ve driven a

Art Official winning the Bluegrass Stakes in 1:48.6 (Photo by nigelsoultphoto.com)

horse with more wicked speed than Art Official. He has the ability to leave the gate faster than any horse that I have sat behind (25.4) and still have enough in the tank to pace home in an amazing 25.6.”

“His world record performance in the Meadowlands Pace to give Somebeachsomewhere his only career defeat may be the greatest race ever and one that will be always remembered. It has been an honour to drive such a great athlete.”

The Muscara family purchased Art Official for US$2.75 million as a sire at the end of his racing career.

He stands in North America at Walnridge Farm in Pennsylvania at a fee of US$6,000. Once again we are grateful to the Muscara family for making him available in the Southern Hemisphere at $3,750 plus GST.

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 5

Courage, Lanercost And The Boy From Fernvale There haven’t been many more appropriately named horses over the past fifty years than the Christchurch born and raised champion Courage Under Fire.

The diminutive colt and stallion overcame his physical limitations to write one of the truly great stories of harness racing. The highlights filled page after page of newspapers, magazines and television screens and included the likes of: • Undefeated in his first 24 career starts • Winner of six Derbies (the only horse ever to achieve such a feat) • NZ Two, Three and Four Year old Pacer of the Year • Winner of 41 of 56 lifetime starts To so many of his devout followers, his crowning achievement was on the night of 10th July 1999 at Moonee Valley – the race, the Express Post Australian Derby over 2540 metres.

This has still got to be one of the most amazing performances by a three year old in this part of the world. Such was his dominance that he beat the second placegetter by 11 metres, with the rest of the field coming in at intervals of up to 147 metres. His mile rate on a cold Melbourne winter night, an astonishing 1:56.5 – a time that equalled the then fastest clocking by any horse of any age in the Southern Hemisphere over 2500 metres.

To date, Lanercost has a record of 34 starts for 25 wins, eight placings and a best mile rate of 1:52.5 - that taken when he smashed a talented field in the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire earlier this year.

Courageous Annie on the other hand was a high priced purchase (six figures) and has shown in just her 14 start career that she is a very talented and special filly. Those 14 starts have resulted in ten wins including a commanding victory in the 2011 NSW Oaks, when she ran her last half in 55.1 seconds.

Her prize money of $156,213 is just a start to a huge future.

Darrell Graham was a keen rugby player when younger, but an inherited love of horses from his father meant that by age 18, Darrell had taken out a trainers licence and was based at the now deceased Rocklea track.

Over the past 24 years many talented pacers have passed through the Graham stables including Rollon Bigred (1:55.3 $343,903), Holm For Xmas (1:55.1 $228,865) and Scott McLeod (1:57.7).

However, the bar has risen several centimetres now with these two outstanding progeny of Courage Under Fire. Recently we spoke to Darrell about the stable stars.

A New Career Begins – September 2002 Being a son of In The Pocket and with this amazing race record there was always going to be a stud career for the little champion. Nevele R Stud, close to his original home, became his first stop on what is now a highly successful career as a stallion.

He has now sired in excess of 300 individual winners including the Derby winners Lanercost, Courage To Rule and Sleepy Tripp.

In this year’s Inter Dominion final at Alexandra Park, three of his sons were represented showing that his progeny not only race as youngsters, but develop into Cup Class horses later in their careers.

Courage Under Fire probably stepped through the door of his final home, when he arrived at Alabar’s Echuca property in June 2011. He is now jointly owned by the Stallion Station and Alabar Bloodstock and will serve a full book of mares in the coming season.

Courage Under Fire’s service fee this season will be $5,000 plus GST in both Australia and New Zealand.

Lanercost – A Star On The Rise

Lanercost (by Courage Under Fire)

The four year old stallion Lanercost, the three year old filly Courageous Annie and the Queensland (Fernvale) based trainer, Darrell Graham have done more than most to keep Courage Under Fire’s name in lights in Australia.

Both Lanercost and Courageous Annie are products of the Christchurch Ready To Run Sale, purchased from there by Darrell Graham on behalf of prominent Queensland owner, Dean Shannon.

Lanercost, from the New York Motoring mare Lanoch has turned into one of the bargains of the 21st Century thus far.

The $18,000 investment at the Ready To Run has now turned into $460,799 with the promise of a lot more to come.

Courageous Annie (by Courage Under Fire)

What impressed you about Lanercost at the Ready To Run Sale?

He didn’t run any special time in his trial but it was the way he covered the ground – just beautifully gaited – that impressed me and of course the price of $18,000 was pretty good.

Tell us about his strengths.

Well he is beautifully gaited, but it is his high acceleration that impresses me most. He can go from zero to 100 mph in just two strides. He is just so quick, and tough to go with it.

What has been his standout race so far and what are the plans for the future?

The night he won the Chariots Of Fire he was awesome – showed brilliant gate speed to lead and then ran home in 54.2 and 26.5.

The next target is the Breeders Crown and then Dean and myself are keen to tackle the Inter Doms in Perth, although you need a good draw on that track.

Well he (Lanercost) is beautifully gaited, but it is his high acceleration that impresses me most. He can go from zero to 100 mph in just two strides. He is just so quick, and tough to go with it.

– Darrell Graham

Courageous Annie appears to be very strong.

Yes, the day she went in 1:52.6 at Menangle she sat parked all the way. Then in the Seymour Final here in Brisbane she ran an incredible lead time and still had the strength to find the line first.

The best win of hers to date?

The $100,000 NSW Oaks has been her most important win to date – defeating the likes of Aussie Made Lombo and Vertigal. She showed both strength and raw speed that day.

Page 6 - Alabar News - August 2011

“He Did It On Raw Talent In The Wilson – He Did It On His Manners Tonight” - Driver Brian Sears after winning the $1 million Metro Pace on Major In Art The celebration had everything – tears, cheers, smiles, laughter and a ten gallon hat, courtesy of jovial part owner Ernie Martinez.

This is the description of the winners circle following the running of the 2008 Metro Pace at Canada’s Mohawk racetrack.

The celebration, so fitting for a $1 million race, was honouring the two year old colt Major In Art who had just delivered a 1:51.4 mile to add the worlds richest two year old race to his resume - a resume that included victory in the time honoured Woodrow Wilson Pace just a month earlier.

By year end, Major In Art had a very impressive report card that read ten starts, six wins, three placings and prize money that totalled $896,060.

The report card also impressed all the judges who cast their votes at the end of the season for the Horse of the Year awards – Major In Art winning the USTA Two Year Old Pacing Colt of the Year Award.

When the owners accepted their award in late January 2009 they would have been on top of the world, but as we know the Major In Art – a brilliant racehorse now enjoying wonderful support from breeders horse racing business can be both exhilarating and deflating.

In late May that same year came the cruel news that Major In Art had July, he is on track to break his own Australian two year old earnings suffered a fracture in a hind leg. He was never to see a racetrack again. record set in 2008/09.

When one door closes, often another one opens and in this instance The dam of Major In Art is a sub 1:55 filly by Jate Lobell, whilst her a stud career commenced earlier than would have been planned for the dam, the Big Towner mare Town Tattler, also took a sub 1:55 record at son of Art Major and Miami Spice. three. Town Tattler has an outstanding record as a broodmare with ten winners of over $1.7 million. Her dam Tona Hanover is a full sister to From the breedings in Australia in late 2009 have come some the highly successful Australian based sire Toliver Hanover. stunning foals in 2010, which is no surprise when you take a close look at the athlete himself. Tall, dark and handsome is an apt description.

Now for the cream on the cake for the connoisseurs of breeding. That third dam Tona Hanover is by Tar Heel from Tootsie Rainbow who is a His sire Art Major needs little introduction other than to remind daughter of the immortal mare The Old Maid. breeders he was the supreme sire of two year olds in North America in 2010 and will repeat that achievement in Australia in this current So pedigree, performance and “Hollywood” good looks adds up to season. With 43 individual two year old winners of $1,068,000 to 6th a terrific investment.

On Safari At Alabar There are not many horses who have raced in Australia that have won more money than their sire. It is only an exceptional horse that achieves that.

Safari, a son of Fake Left and Star Chaser is one of those exceptions with his 67 start career returning 28 wins and prize money of $535,445 to his connections.

Fake Left won only $314,410 although one of his wins came in the 1992 Little Brown Jug upsetting the champion colt Western Hanover.

However, you would have to be a brave man to argue that Fake Left has not been one of the greatest sires to have set foot onto an Australian stud farm.

From 1330 foals have come 805 winners (an incredible percentage for Australian conditions of 60%), whilst every starter he has sired has won an average of $53,520.

Safari is not the richest of Fake Left’s progeny, but the best judges of harness racing in Australia would probably rate him the best and toughest after the mighty Blacks A Fake.

Now speaking of Blacks A Fake, most of us will remember the 2008 Ballarat Cup when Safari sat at his girth for most of the 2710 metre trip and gave him a beating, rating a remarkable 1:58.3 – the last four quarters all run in sub thirty seconds.

Four weeks prior, Safari was equally as impressive in winning the Group Two Bendigo Cup in a 1:55.7 mile rate over 2600 metres. He then won a heat of the 2008 Interdominion at Moonee Valley rating 1:56.3 for the 2575 metres.

As a two year old, Safari was an instant success, winning six of his first seven starts including the Vic Youthful Stakes and Premiere Stakes, both at Moonee Valley.

Later in the season he collected the runners up cheque in the QBred Triad Final and then finished third to Bella’s Boy in the Breeders Crown Final at Bendigo.

Safari winning the Breeders Crown FFA in 1:56.8 in his last career start

Safari’s career closed out on 17 August 2008 when he won the Breeders Crown free-for-all, also at Bendigo, in 1:56.8.

Shortly after this, Safari was bred to three or four of Clayton Tonkin and Emma Stewart’s mares which have now resulted in three rising two year olds. The colt from the brilliant racemare Manwarra Hatrick is described as a standout and is already causing a rush of adrenalin through Clayton and Emma’s bloodstream.

Safari has subsequently served large books of mares in his first two full seasons at stud, giving him every chance to continue the Fake Left legacy.

Safari will have a service fee of $1,760 (incl GST) this season and is included in the Alabar discount scheme.

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 7

Jereme’s Jet Full Speed Ahead

There’s a real buzz about the first Southern Hemisphere crop of rising two year olds by Jereme’s Jet. Here’s what a few trainers have had to say about the Jereme’s Jet’s in their stable.

Greg Payne …

“I have broken in two Jereme’s Jets ( a colt and filly), I really like them both – in fact I liked them so much I bought another Jereme’s Jet at the weanling sale.

“They feel like they have the X factor – I couldn’t fault them. They are both heading to the Ready To Run Sale.”

Cran Dalgety …

“The Jereme’s Jet - Take Her Easy Tiger colt is due back in early July for his next prep. He was a natural pacer, sprinted up well in his first prep and at this stage I’m hoping he’ll make a two-year-old.”

Maurice Kerr …

“The Jereme’s Jet filly I broke in out of OK Pussy was a very nice filly, I was very impressed with her actually. She was well mannered and paced first day in the cart.”

Sam Ballantyne …

“For The Ladies, the Jereme’s Jet filly out of For The Don, has bowled along a half in five in her second prep, I am really impressed with her.

Quite a thoroughbred type, she has a beautiful head, a natural pacer – altogether a very likeable filly.”

Sean McCaffrey …

“The Jereme’s Jet gelding out of Shontrouse is a really nice pacer, will never wear a boot. He has a great attitude too.”

Kirk Larsen …

“George Jetson (Jereme’s Jet – Classy Return) is quite a nice type, he has a good way of going. I’ve had him bowling up a slow mile and sprinting up the straight, nothing has been a problem so far. He paced from day one.”

Brent Mangos …

“I’ve got three Jereme’s Jets and I like them all. The most forward is Alison’s Jet (a filly out of Sudden Success), she does go good. A filly out of the mare raced as a two year old last season but this filly feels quite a bit stronger. She’s got a bit of speed as well … good gaited, no knee boots. She should make a two year old.”

Aimee Edmonds (for Tim Butt) …

“Both the Jereme’s Jet yearling fillies ran a quarter in 30 in their first preparation after being broken in.

They both possess the right attitude, gait and size to make nice twoyear-olds.”

Colin De Filippi …

“The Jereme’s Jet – Fiery Spirit colt broke in really well, but we did geld him midway through the process. He’s turned into a good sized, nice natured gelding, who’s a lovely pacer.

I hope to have him back into work early August – I definitely like what I’ve seen of him so far.”

Paul Court …

“We really like all of our Jereme’s Jets, they broke in really well and are lovely pacers. They are all a nice size too, you would think they would make two year olds at this stage.”

North American Update Jereme’s Jet is off to a great start with his first two year olds in North America.

Remarkably, in the first five weeks of the season, he’s already had 46 two year olds line up in qualifying trials, 28 have raced to date of which nine are credited as winners.

In the eliminations of the Ontario Sires Stakes for the two year old fillies run on 11 July, Jereme’s Jet qualified four fillies for the $130,000 Gold Final – no other sire has more than one filly in the final.

Jereme’s Jet also has had two Ontario Sires Stakes elimination winners in the colts.

A great start indeed.

Page 8 - Alabar News - August 2011

A Pearl Of A Day

At The 2011 NZ Harness Jewels

Lancome

Cowgirls N Indians

In a fitting finale to a great race career, Lancome was too classy in winning the Diamond for four year old mares in 1:56.3. This was a well deserved victory as she had run second in the Jewels as both a two and a three year old. Purchased by Brian West’s Studholme Bloodstock Ltd as a yearling for $40,000, she retired with earnings of $461,277.

What will no doubt be a wonderful new career as a broodmare now awaits her.

Speed wins races and brilliant speed wins major races – and that’s what Cowgirls N Indians undoubtedly has. In the Diamond for the two year old fillies, the first crop daughter of Real Desire stormed home and scored a deserved victory. The Breeders Crown and a mouthwatering three year old campaign now await Cowgirls N Indians who – as a January foal – has already achieved far more than what could be expected from a filly so young.

Fly Like An Eagle

Vulcan

In impressively winning the Emerald for the two year old colts, Fly Like An Eagle became the fifth Jewels winner for his sire, Mach Three.

The win – where he did a lot of work early to finally find the lead at the half and then sprinted away to win by over three lengths – showed Fly Like An Eagle is the complete package. Purchased at the Melbourne APG Sale for $32,000, he has Derby horse written all over him.

Rated by most as the performance of the day, Vulcan was incredible in winning the Ruby for the four year old trotters. He made light of the fact that he had been caught wide the entire journey by kicking away at the top of the straight to win comfortably. This was back-to-back Jewels wins for the son of Earl who’ll be a very worthy addition to the ranks of the Grand Circuit trotters in the new season.

(by Courage Under Fire)

(by Mach Three)

(by Real Desire)

(by Earl)

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 9

Breeders Challenge Up To The Challenge

Sushi And Sunshine At Menangle The weather on a late June day in Sydney can be anywhere between glorious and disastrous.

Well thankfully for Harness Racing NSW, for Alabar’s Breeders Challenge day and for the thousands in attendance, Sunday 26th June arrived bathed in warm sunshine.

If there was warmth in the winter air, there was some white heat on the racetrack.

The much anticipated clash of the undefeated this season Art Major gelding Sushi Sushi and the Elizabeth Heath trained Excel Stride gave everything that it had promised. At the end of a gruelling 2300 metre trip, Greg Sugars sat quietly in the sulky as Sushi Sushi held off a gallant Excel Stride in a new Australian record time of 1:54.1.

This was a new lifetime mark for the Freddy Taiba trained three year old and the win, his tenth for the season, took his earnings for the season past the $500,000 mark.

Sushi Sushi has now the Breeders Crown in August to add to the Victorian Derby, Great Northern Derby and Breeders Challenge trophies.

The cross of Art Major over No Nukes line mares has certainly been the most successful blend for Art Major in this part of the world, with nine of his leading 30 performers being bred this way.

Sushi Sushi, Major Mark and Renaissance Man head that list, whilst the two year old filly Louvre is another who could rocket up that list.

Sushi Sushi (by Art Major) – the win and the presentation for another successful Group One mission

Alabar Domination Of Two Year Old Fillies The $125,000 final for the two year old fillies provided a whitewash for the Alabar sires Art Major and Armbro Operative.

Louvre and driver Josh Willick made a sweeping run from the rear in the Menangle back straight to put themselves in the winners circle in a smart time of 1:55.6. This talented daughter of Art Major beat home another Art Major lass Lettucereason (full sister to For A Reason) whilst Oh I See (by Armbro Operative) and Dance For Madi (by Art Major) filled the third and fourth placings.

Louvre (by Art Major) – too good in the two year old fillies

Louvre, owned and bred by Sloys Company, is a full sister to the brilliant Renaissance Man and is the fourth foal of the Safely Kept mare My Ami Lee.

Stirring Finish By The Juvenile Boys The art of delusion would be the ability to mislead or deceive.

However there was no deception in the ability of the two year old colt with the name of Theartofdelusion, especially with his win in 1:55.7 on Breeders Challenge day.

The ten colts assembled had all shown some serious form throughout the season but it came down to two to fight to the wire for supremacy and the $78,750 first prize.

Theartofdelusion conquered the day narrowly over the game Deemajor Hanover (by Art Major).

With a name carrying the ‘Art’ tag, one could have imagined the winner to have been sired by the dominant Art Major – however the name is misleading as this talented colt is a son of Presidential Ball.

He is the first foal of the outstanding Brett Cotterill trained mare Theartofillusion. A winner of over $306,000 in just 51 lifetime starts.

There is after all some Art Major connection with the colt though, as his dam is by the highly promising sire (before a premature death) in Perfect Art, who was an older full brother to the current champion two year old sire.

Theartofdelusion was having just his fourth start in a race and there is no doubting he has an exciting career ahead of him.

Theartofdelusion (by Presidential Ball) receives the spoils of victory

Page 10 - Alabar News - August 2011

Young At Seventy – That’s What Art Major Can Do For You Derby) and Franco Sequel (Australian Derby) and it would not be a surprise to see Major Catastrophe line up in the WA Derby in 2012.

The success of this juvenile has been a heart warming story for the father and son combination of Ron and David Young of Pinjarra, West Australia.

Ron, a reputable horse breeder, trainer and trackman at Pinjarra has been associated with standardbreds for as long as most of us can remember. The night of Friday 17th June 2011 will be a night to remember for Ron as he steered home his first Group One winner at the tender age of seventy. The winner’s cheque and the trophy for the $100,000 Pearl Final belonged to Major Catastrophe.

David Young, now just twenty five years of age, has driven 126 winners to date but as the owner, breeder and trainer of Major Catastrophe has just experienced the biggest thrill in Harness Racing.

The joy of a Group One victory

There is an outstanding colt racing in WA that is aptly named considering the natural disasters that have struck the East Coast of Australia and the South Island of New Zealand over the past nine or ten months.

That strong and flashy two year old is named Major Catastrophe, whose record at the time of writing is seven starts, five wins and $113,678. He is a homebred son of Art Major from the Parsons Den mare Adda Influence, who in turn is from the Holmes Hanover mare Suzie Holmes.

This family has produced a host of Derby winners including Khmer Jitsu (SA Derby), Mighty Hurricane (SA Derby), DB Bopper (QLD

So what do most twenty one year olds do with a hard earned $6,000? Fair to say that a car, a holiday, a party would be high on the wish list of most blokes at twenty one. Not so David Young – he invested his hard earned $6,000 into a service fee to Art Major for his recently acquired mare Adda Influence – now look at the return on that investment (sure beats a car)!!

When David Young first started his reinsman’s career on WA country tracks, Adda Influence was a mare he drove and after taking a liking to her he was able to purchase her from prominent owner and breeder Harry Capararo. She then gave David his first success as a trainer.

Adda Influence has not produced another foal yet for David, but she is now safely in foal to another Alabar stallion, Real Desire.

When David Young reaches the current age of his father he will look back on things that influenced his life and a mare named Adda Influence will be high on the list.

What a great story – nowhere near a major catastrophe.

A Smile In June Is A Devilish Smile Friday the 3rd of June was a great night for the connections of the Grinfromeartoear colt Devilish Smile, who recorded his eighth win for the 2010/11 season. The win put a bigger than normal smile on the dial as the race was the $100,000 VicBred Final for three year old colts and geldings.

This win, his sixteenth for his career, elevated his earnings to over $235,000 – a pretty decent return on the original $42,500 investment at the 2009 APG Premium Sale.

Devilish Smile has been a model of consistency throughout his 37 start career to date for trainer Peter Tonkin. As a two year old he won the $50,000 Tatlow Final at Melton as well as heats of the APG, Grinfromeartoear is VicBred and Breeders Crown. heading towards his He was bred by a long time best year as a sire since supporter of Alabar, in the late Peter Provis. It was just over 12 heading down under months since Peter tragically in 2005. Currently succumbed to cancer to the win of his progeny earnings Devilish Smile. in Australia exceed Peter’s wife Denise is now $1.718 million and the carrying on with his life’s passion and will offer an Art Major half progeny only have to brother to Devilish Smile at the win another $100,000 2012 APG Melbourne Premium in two months to better Sale. his 2008/09 record.

The dam of this colt, Counterfeit Girl won 14 of her 32 starts and collected $118,760 along the way. She has now produced five individual winners who have won in excess of $560,000 between them.

Grinfromeartoear is heading towards his best year as a sire since heading down under in 2005. Currently his progeny earnings in

Group 1 victory to Devilish Smile (by Grinfromeartoear)

Australia exceed $1.718 million and the progeny only have to win another $100,000 in two months to better his 2008/09 record.

Of course his standout performer is the Luke McCarthy trained Mr Feelgood, who has added a further $467,000 to his bankroll. His win in the 2010 Victoria Cup was one of the highlights of the 2010/11 Australian racing season.

Grinfromeartoear will stand again at the Echuca property in 2011 for a service fee of $5,500 incl GST in Australia and $5,000 plus GST in New Zealand.

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 11

An Interview With Leading New Zealand Breeder BRIAN WEST I would encourage NZ breeders to be business-like – analyse breeding stock just as you would any major investment. We have an amazing opportunity to breed our mares to a selection of the very best racehorses and stallions the world has to offer. The range of service fees makes breeding affordable to every NZ breeder. The key is to match the mare and stallion by dollar value.

Your farm, Studholme Bloodstock has had outstanding success in recent years with Lancome and Secret Potion – Courage Under Fire’s two best fillies to date. In your opinion, what was it about them that made them so good?

Both fillies have type and pedigree in their favour.

It’s not often the two combinations are connected, but it is with both these fillies. Although raised separately, both were given a great start - well bred, fed and handled with regular farrier work and drenching.

Courage Under Fire was an awesome champion, by a sire who changed our breed.

With studs likely to reduce some service fees, it makes the opportunities ahead more appealing.

Remember, what you breed this season will produce potential income from yearlings for sale in two year’s time.

You’ve been successful in the breeding game for a long time. What’s the best advice you’ve been given (and who gave it to you)?

You’ve previously stated that Secret Potion was your pick of your fillies when she was a foal. What was it about her that made her your pick?

Des Callahan, Tara Lodge, Halswell – rearing and breeding yearlings for sale; Alec Purdon – horsemanship; Colin Baynes – breeding and pedigrees; Jim Dalgety – my mentor. The Master who should be knighted – he has shared knowledge and advice, covering horsemanship, pedigrees, families and reproduction; and Jack Hartley – for the skill of combining business practices and horseflesh together.

As a foal, Secret Potion was a magnificent individual – a perfect 10. She was beautifully balanced, powerful and athletic, yet mentally she was a nightmare – unpredictable and aggressive.

Who’s your pick of your foals this year?

Of our 28 foals (18 colts, 10 fillies), the standout foal is a filly by Santanna Blue Chip from the good race filly we bred and raced, Famous Lover, by Dream Away. Although Secret Potion and the Santanna Blue Chip filly are unrelated, this filly has the same “who’s that foal?” look.

Brian West celebrating the victory of Lancome at the NZ Jewels

She is a magnificent specimen of a horse with a powerful, athletic physique and like Secret Potion she’s aggressive and is handled with care.

You’re starting up a stable in New South Wales where stake money is set to boom over the next few years. How do you see what is happening in New South Wales will affect the New Zealand breeding industry?

Menangle is a godsend. When it comes to breeding and racing, Studholme has always viewed NZ as a state of Australasia. The Australian race scene is dependent on NZ to supply racehorses; it’s as simple as that. They need us to breed and supply and we need their market to survive and thrive. It’s a great partnership and one we should treasure and respect.

The leadership, vision and energy of HRNSW is fantastic for breeders on both sides of the Tasman. HRNSW will take harness racing to a level that we as breeders and owners need to remain competitive and financially viable.

What do you believe New Zealand breeders should be doing to best position themselves to benefit from what is happening in New South Wales?

Do you have any breeding theories or guidelines that you would like to share with us?

Be realistic about a mare’s pedigree – don’t breed a $500 broodmare to a $10,000 stallion.

Study the extended pedigree of the top 20 two and three-year-olds each season – you will soon reach your own conclusions.

Studholme mares are bred with consideration given to: Mare and stallion type and size.

The extended pedigree of sire over mare. We prefer to breed where there are no double-ups of a stallion within the first four generations, or as close to that result as possible.

A mix of stallion selections – of unproven stallions with an excellent pedigree and race performance, and also breeding to proven sires generally with the aim of wanting fillies to update our families.

What would you like to see happen to give the New Zealand breeding industry a boost?

Encourage the participation of younger, vibrant, energetic men and women with vision and courage, particularly at the highest administrative levels.

Proven commercial acumen is needed, and less of the club management style that we have been saddled with.

Santanna Blue Chip “The first day we took Santanna Blue Chip out onto the track as a yearling he was just a natural - he felt like he was ready to pace a mile in twenty right from the first step. He was just a natural athlete.

His yearlings have the same look about them - I’m really looking forward to training them” - Jeffrey Gillis, leading Canadian trainer.

Ban standing starts. This is now archaic. The moves away from this system should be accelerated.

Introduce standard-sized larger racetracks. Some circuits do nothing to improve our image or quality.

The Santanna Blue Chip / Famous Lover filly in November 2010 – now the pick of the Studholme weanlings

All fillies and mares races should be run over a mile or thereabouts. Buyers will always be attracted to a mare with a sub 2.00 time, and that is only going to come on superior tracks. We haven’t got them and while this situation exists, the breed here will continue to languish behind those that have them.

Page 12 - Alabar News - August 2011

An Interview With Mark Purdon We recently spoke with champion New Zealand trainer, Mark Purdon about some of his stable stars.

You’ve had an amazing run with the progeny of Mach Three, horses like Auckland Reactor, Russley Rascal and this year’s top two year old, Fly Like An Eagle. What is it about the Mach Threes that makes them so successful?

They obviously have the speed to be top horses but what appeals to me most is the attitude of the Mach Three’s, I have found them to be great trying horses.

You selected Fly Like An Eagle from the APG Sale in Melbourne.

What was it about him that attracted you to him?

I always look for a type that will go early. Fly Like An Eagle had a strong maternal line, he was a good type and being a Mach Three he appealed to me.

He had an injury to a hind leg which may have put others off. He was also realistic money ($32,000).

Was he the pick of your youngsters from the start?

He did break in well enough, he was one of two colts I sent north. The other was Mr Nickel. He did win his first race - a Young Guns heat, but it was more his work between his second and third race that was astonishing, he showed he was well above average.

How does he compare to the other top juveniles you’ve had?

It’s hard to compare him to the likes of Auckland Reactor because he was a late two-year-old. Auckland Reactor had three preps before we could work out how good he was – he was very green early.

Talking of Auckland Reactor, where’s he up to at the moment?

He is jogging up in Christchurch, resuming hoppling early July. His main aim is the Miracle Mile, so I hope to have him racing in Australia in October in order to gain an invite. We hope to avoid standing starts.

And what are your thoughts and plans for a couple of your other stable stars...

Major Mark (by Art Major)?

Major Mark has been spelling since the Jewels, and is due to return to work early July. Unfortunately he pulled hard in the Derby and never had any luck with runs or draws in the other races. He will do most of his early racing this season in Sydney as he is a C2-3 there.

Russley Rascal (by Mach Three)?

He is due back in work mid July.

Mach Three – Mark Purdon has had tremendous success with his progeny

Sleepy Tripp (by Courage Under Fire)?

He had an abscess growing into a bone in his stifle which had to be operated on and then have six months out. He will be due back into work in October.

Have you gained other Australian horses to train since you opened a stable in Melbourne?

I recently gained Sammy Maguire, a Mach Three out of Mystic Gold. He had won 18 in Australia for Gavin Lang. I had won a couple of trials with him, but he is sidelined with a stone bruise at the moment, hopefully not for too long.

REAL DESIRE

Three Group One Winners From His First Crop Real Desire’s first Southern Hemisphere crop raced as two year olds in 2010/11 – and what an impression they’ve made. The highlights of this first crop have been the Group One successes of Let’s Elope (NZ Sires Stakes Final, 2yo colts), Cowgirls N Indians (NZ Harness Jewels, 2yo fillies Diamond) and Secret Desire (Vicbred Super Series Final, 2yo fillies).

Here are the thoughts of the trainers of two of these excellent juveniles.

Frank Cooney, trainer/driver of Let’s Elope “He is a good horse. It can be hard to know with two year olds, some carry on some don’t - I think this guy will though. He not only has speed but he can stay. He can follow speed and it doesn’t matter how quick they go he’s always running on.

“His only blemish was in the Jewels but that wasn’t really his fault. The loud speakers were blaring at him as he went out onto the track and he just got a bit too excitable.

He got too keen in the race and felt like he choked down. It was a shame because he’s as good as any of them.”

Ian Small, trainer of Cowgirls N Indians “Cowgirls N Indians is heading for the Breeders Crown. The trip to Ashburton for the Jewels has made her. She’s just working so well at the moment, the best she ever has.

“She’s just got exceptional speed and that’s what sets her apart really.

Let’s Elope – A Group One winner from the first crop of Real Desire

Earlier on she was just a little immature and that cost her - like in the Sires Stakes Final at Auckland, it’s hard for a two year old to go much better. The mistake she made early was just immaturity but to sit three wide after that and only just get beat was tremendous. You have to remember she’s only a January foal and she’s getting better all the time.

“We’re really looking forward to what she might do as a three year old.”

Alabar News - August 2011 -

Page 13

Australia’s Leading Sire To Stand In New South Wales The Board of HRNSW together with it’s CEO, Sam Nati have implemented policies that will give the breeding industry in that state a huge boost.

With the stakes increases at Menangle and hopefully at other regional clubs – plus the recent announcement that several millions of dollars will be spent upgrading the tracks at Bathurst, Penrith and Wagga – New South Wales is one of the best places in the world to be breeding and racing horses.

With this in mind, Alabar Bloodstock has taken the decision to base two of it’s highest profile stallions in NSW this coming season – they being: Village Jasper – Australia’s leading sire in 2008/09 and 2009/10, and Mister Big, 1:47.8, $4,143,492 – the richest pacing stallion in the history of the standardbred.

Both will be competitively priced with Village Jasper at $3,750 (incl GST) and Mister Big at $4,950 The beautiful Yirribee Stud where Village Jasper and Mister Big will be based (incl GST) in Australia.

The two outstanding individuals will be based in Southern NSW at and have their resultant foal eligible for both the VicBred scheme and Yirribee Stud. the lucrative NSW Breeders Challenge – together with the attractive This decision allows Victorian breeders to access these fine stallions Breeder’s Bonuses that are attached to both programmes.

Village Jasper And Group Winners – They Are A Perfect Fit The mighty son of Jate Lobell is having another sterling year as a sire – his progeny earnings to 11th July are $3.117 million which places him behind only the New Zealand based Christian Cullen on the Australian Sires List.

Village Jasper’s 214 individual winners for the season put him on top of that list.

His headline sons this season are the APG Two Year Old winner, Mr Nickel (1:56.5, $173,750), Villagem (1:52.5), Decorated Jasper (1:54.3) and Village Of Dreams (1:59.5).

Then of course is his wonderful daughter, Broadways Best who has recorded some stunning wins this season. None better than her win in the $100,000 Ladyship Mile at Menangle in 1:52.4 – quarters in 27.3, 29.4, 28.8 and 27.

This exciting mare has now won $483,604 for the McLean family of Victoria.

All this success for Village Jasper is so gratifying for us at Alabar Bloodstock as he had his fair share of doubters when he first arrived in Echuca in 1999.

With horses like Village Jasper and Courage Under Fire, it proves that size is not important – as the old saying reminds us “the size of the fight in the dog” is what counts.

Village Jasper – Two-time Australian Champion Sire

The Rasmussen Factor With Santanna There has been much written in recent years about the success of a breeding pattern known as the Rasmussen Factor.

Basically, it involves breeding a stallion to a mare who comes from the same family – giving the resulting foal a common mare on both sides of it’s pedigree.

Numerous outstanding pacers and trotters have a common mare on both sides of their pedigree – horses such as Soky’s Atom, Sportswriter, Artistic Fella, Smiling Shard, Rocknrolla and the two outstanding three year olds in USA last season in Rocknroll Heaven and One More Laugh.

The handsome son of Art Major in Santanna Blue Chip has the

opportunity in Australia to sire an outstanding pacer by a mating a Torado Hanover mare to him.

The connection comes through the dam of Torado Hanover, Torwood and the fourth dam of Santanna in Torris.

Torris and Torwood are full sisters, both from the mare Torresdale.

The Rasmussen Factor obviously does not guarantee the breeding of a champion, but it would appear that broodmare owners can elevate their chances of breeding an outstanding horse by using this method.

So there is the tip for Aussie breeders – Santanna Blue Chip over a Torado Hanover mare.

Page 14 - Alabar News - August 2011

GREAT SUCCESS In Name And Deed

As the fastest trotter ever to come to the Southern Hemisphere, Great Success carries with him an air of expectation. With his first crop about to turn two, the early reports are that these expectations will not be misplaced.

Trainers like the gait and attitude of their Great Success’. One trainer we spoke to about his Great Success rising two year olds was Mosgiel trainer, Alan Clark – a horseman who specialises in young squaregaiters and certainly knows what it takes for a juvenile trotter to make the grade.

“I've got two Great Success' – a colt out of Christina Rose and a gelding out of Arnees Angel.

“They do nothing but trot. I've got six rising two year old trotters and the two Great Success’ are the two I'm going to keep - I like them so much. They've got a bit of a special quality about them.

“They're willing and good gaited. They're so laid back with no dirt in them at all. They're a delight to work with really.

“They can both trot quarters in 31 or 32. I think they'll definitely race as two year olds.”

GOTTA GO CULLECT

More Popular With The Girls Than Justin Bieber Gotta Go Cullect was an excitement machine on the racetrack and in his two seasons at stud to date he’s certainly got breeders excited.

Of all the sons of Christian Cullen now at stud, Gotta Go Cullect is the one that breeders have given their seal of approval to. In fact, in the two years that Gotta Go Cullect has been at stud, he has served more mares than all the other sons of Christian Cullen combined.

Here’s what two leading breeders think of their Gotta Go Cullect foals.

“The Gotta Go Cullect colt out of Beaudiene Roulette is one of the nicest colts I’ve had on the farm. The other colt out of Artistic Lass is also lovely boned, and both have been great to handle.

“They look like they’ll go early, and are very correct in their conformation.”– Dave Kennedy (who along with his wife Dawn is the breeder of Im Themightyquinn and Beaudiene Bad Babe) “I broke in the Gotta Go Cullect filly out of Az Gold as a weanling and really like her. She free legged first day in the cart, and paced with hopples on the second day.

“Gotta Go Cullect seems to breed the conformation faults out, as this filly stands perfectly in front. She is really nice to do anything with.” – Murray Swain, Southland breeder/horseman

The Gotta Go Cullect / Shazza’s Dream colt – one of the top price weanlings at the 2011 Auckland All Age Sale

ELSU

More Winners Everyday A quick study of the New Zealand Sires Premierships shows just what an impressive start Elsu has made to his siring career.

Elsu’s first crop are current four year olds. With this crop in New Zealand this season, Elsu has sired 43 individual winners of 73 races – only Christian Cullen and Courage Under Fire have sired more winners and won more races in New Zealand with their four year olds this season.

With his second crop of current three year olds, Elsu this season has sired 26 individual winners of 46 races in New Zealand – only Bettor’s Delight and Christian Cullen head Elsu in this category.

Over the three crops combined (two, three and four year olds) that Elsu has foals of racing age, only Bettor’s Delight and Christian Cullen can improve on Elsu’s total of 72 individual winners of 122 races in New Zealand this season to date.

In fact Elsu’s wins and winners are enough to place him fifth amongst all sires in New Zealand – even though the majority of the sires above him have far more crops and starters than Elsu does.

There is little doubt that Elsu is destined for a very lofty position on the New Zealand Sires Premiership in the years to come. (the above figures are as at the time of writing, 9/7/2011) One of Elsu’s star performers over the last two seasons has been the

Colin and Julie De Filippi trained filly, Miss Elsie. In 2011 she put up a tremendous performance for third in the Northern Oaks. However, luck deserted after this time.

We recently spoke to Colin De Filippi about the talented daughter of Elsu.

The season started well for Miss Elsie?

Yes, everything went to plan, she won a Nevele R heat at Marlborough early in the season. She’s always been a great traveller, but this time when she went to Auckland for the Northern Oaks in early March she didn’t really eat like she normally does and things just didn’t go as well as we wanted. Condition wise she looked ordinary compared to how she usually looks. To race as well as she did was a credit to her.

We brought her home and freshened her for the Nevele R Final and NZ Oaks but she really was only coming right around Jewels time. Unfortunately, she had no luck - she drew 13, got checked on the home turn, but still ran home really well for fifth.

What are you plans for her this season?

She will return to work early August after having two months out. I’d quite like to take her to Australia for some nice mares races as a four year old.

Alabar News - August 2011 -

He’s A Masterpiece …

Page 15

Federal Flex

And Brother John’s Not Too Bad Either

Taylor-Made For The Southern Hemisphere

As a stallion prospect, Tiz A Masterpiece has always had plenty to skite about.

An extremely talented racehorse himself, he peeled off some amazing sectionals in his all too brief career – he won the Oliver Wendell Holmes leading from post seven with halves in 53.6 and 55.4.

He’s also a heck of an individual.

And now, being by Western Hanover out of Trulyawork Of Art (an Artsplace daughter of the great Town Sweetheart), he can proudly say he’s a full brother to Big Bad John – a horse who just might be the best three year old in North America in 2011.

Big Bad John went into this year’s North America Cup unbeaten as a three year old. He duly won his elimination of the $1.5 million feature in 1:50.6 and started the final as favourite. Unfortunately Big Bad John was not 100% in the final – after controversially trucking home to Delaware, Ohio and back during the week. He faded late after leading to go down by 2 ½ lengths.

Big Bad John has now been eased and, somewhat ironically, his next target will be the Oliver Wendell Holmes at the Meadowlands on August 6th – a race won so impressively by Tiz A Masterpiece three years ago.

After that, the big target for trainer Ron Potter will be the time honoured Little Brown Jug – a race run in his home town.

Federal Flex is one of Muscles Yankee’s best sons – and that’s saying something!

Muscles Yankee is North America’s leading sire of trotters and sire of the $3 million plus winners Muscle Hill and Dewycheatumnhowe.

Via frozen semen, Muscles Yankee is also making a significant impact in this part of the world – in 2011 with horses like the Australasian Trotting Championship winner Let Me Thru and the Interdominion Trotting Champion I Can Doosit.

The fact that Federal Flex’s dam is a $522,369 winning daughter of S J’s Photo – another extremely influential sire in this part of the world – completes a pedigree taylor-made to succeed in the Southern Hemisphere.

A sensational trotter himself, Federal Flex was the Canadian Two Year Old Trotter of the Year and won the Goodtimes Trot and the Stanley Dancer Memorial at three. The $840,643 he won would have been considerably enhanced had he not had the misfortune to be bred the same year as the great Muscle Hill.

Federal Flex is available via frozen semen in Australia only. The semen is ready and waiting in Australia having arrived towards the end of last season.

Federal Flex

Big Bad John – winning an elimination of the 2011 North America Cup

Shadow Play

A Sneak Preview Of His First Foals

Welcome To New Staff Members At Alabar Australia Joanne Andersen We welcome Joanne as our full time representative in NSW. With the likelihood that the industry is going to grow substantially in NSW, we felt the timing was right to appoint Joanne to a full time position.

For the past 18 years Joanne has been employed in the real estate industry, so has a strong background in sales and service. She also Joanne Andersen is passionate about the harness racing industry, owning six broodmares and having taken care of the former champion pacer Attitagain for nine years until his recent unfortunate demise.

Joanne can be contacted on (+61) 0414 936 663 or email joanne@alabar.com.au

Dr Kath McIntosh Kath graduated with first class honours from the University of Sydney Vet School in 2005.

One of the first Shadow Play foals.

Pictured at Seelster Farms, this colt is ten days old

Shadow Play himself is a stunning individual. On the basis of his looks, pedigree and record as a world champion racehorse, he received tremendous support from breeders in his first Australasian season – many breeders remarking “I’d love to breed a foal that looks as good as him!”

Having seen some of the Shadow Play foals in North America, we can report that they are great lookers. Now, more than ever, we can’t wait for spring and the arrival of the first Southern Hemisphere Shadow Play “mini me’s” – a heart warming thought indeed on a cold, wet midwinter’s day.

She established the Northern Rivers Vet Practice two years ago and from July 2011 will be based from the vet facility at Alabar’s property in Echuca.

Kath came from a rural background in Gippsland, Victoria and has developed a strong interest in harness racing. She will shortly gain her reinsperson’s licence from Harness Racing Victoria, having now completed 15 trial drives.

Kath McIntosh

Kath will take up a role with Alabar as Assistant to the General Manager John Coffey, whilst also providing the veterinary care to Alabar’s on farm mares, weanlings and yearlings.

In this role Kath will communicate with all clients who have stock based at the Echuca property.

Kath can be contacted on (+61) 0427 497 429 or email kath@nrequine.com.au

The Excitement Starts Here allamerican ingot armbro operative art major art official courage under fire elsu federal flex gotta go cullect great success grinfromeartoear jereme’s jet mach three majestic son major in art mister big

real desire safari santanna blue chip shadow play sutter hanover tiz a masterpiece village jasper Alabar Bloodstock P O Box 129, Tongala Victoria, 3621, Australia Phone: +61 3 5859 2201 Fax: +61 3 5859 2206 Email: alabar@alabar.com.au www.alabar.com.au

Alabar (NZ) Ltd 480 Seagrove Road, R D 4 Pukekohe, 2679, New Zealand Phone: +64 9 232 1800 Fax: +64 9 232 1799 Email: alabar@alabar.co.nz www.alabar.co.nz