Alabar News November

Alabar News

November 2009

Mr Feelgood

Broadways Best

Lady Euthenia

Alabar congratulates Mr Feelgood, Broadways Best and Lady Euthenia.

- All Harness Racing Australia Award Winners - All by Alabar Stallions

New Lease On Life for Safely A New Face for Alabar in NSW Alabar Bloodstock is delighted to announce the appointment of Joanne Anderson as it’s representative in New South Wales.

Joanne currently resides at East Kurrajong in the Hawkesbury region of NSW and has a long and impeccable record in the Service Industry.

At the present time she is the Secretary of the NSW Breeders Association and is the proud owner of a number of Broodmares including Kaydee Hanover and Sweet As Reign.

Recently Joanne visited Alabar for the weekend inspecting the 8 stallions currently based at our Echuca property.

Joanne’s responsibilities are to provide assistance to NSW breeders in their stallion selection and to help consolidate the large investment that Alabar has committed to the NSW industry.

Safely Kept has been one of the most successful stallions to have ever graced the stallion paddocks at Alabar.

He has been three times Australia’s Leading Sire of 2yo’s, has sired both Group One winning Colts and Fillies and has also been one of Australia’s leading sire of trotters.

This committment is for a minimum of three years and during this time frame we are sure the industry in NSW will be rejuvenated by the sale of Harold Park and positive policies put in place by the current board and new CEO Sam Nati.

Welcome to the team Joanne.

It seemed last year that the quality of Safely’s semen meant retirement was near. However a new technique of treatment of his semen in February and March this year, performed by Dr Angus McKinnon of Goulburn Valley Equine Hispital (GVEH), produced some amazing and encouraging results.

Consequently Safely Kept is based this season at GVEH under the care of Dr McKinnon.

It is not essential for mares to be based at GVEH, but they must be bred there to maximise pregnancy results.

Both Alabar Bloodstock and Blanche Pooles Rhiannon Park (approx 3 kms from GVEH) are pleased to board your mares and prepare them for service.

Aside from this technique Frozen Semen (frozen from when Safely Kept was at his peak in 2001 - 2003) is also available at the following locations: Victoria Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital Alabar Bloodstock Rosehill Stud (near Ballarat) NSW Dr Andrew Daniels (Albion Park) Success Stud (Young) QLD Equivet Clinic (Toowoomba) - Dr Robyn Woodward.

Joanne with leading stallion Armbro Operative

News Flash As at 3rd November eight mares have been bred to Safely Kept at GVEH. Three have been tested with two positive pregnancy results.

Armbro Operative

With a Record in Sight The now 16 year old Armbro Operative has a record in his sights - to become the first Australian based stallion to sire over 1000 individual winners in the Southern Hemisphere.

He recently passed the 900 plateau and with still some big crops to make their debut’s on the racetracks of Australia and New Zealand the record seems only a formality.

At this stage those 916 winners have banked over $36,555,496 for their owners.

His son and daughter Montecito and Fleur De Lil have both raced very successfully in 2009 at the toughest racetrack in the world - the Meadowlands.

Montecito, who took a record of 1:49.4 during the year, has now won over $457,228, whilst the Luke McCarthy owned mare Fleur De Lil has progressed her earnings to $891,850.

The success story in Australia for 2009 as far as Armbro Operative is concerned was the one eyed colt Two Eye See. He was bred by the Gibson family at Success Stud in Young, NSW and gave his owner Jackie Gibson the ride of her life with a debut season record of 9 starts, 7 wins and $141,950 in prizemoney.

Two Eye See Because of his one eye he wasn’t staked for all the seasons Group One races.

However it could be argued he was the premier two year old colt of Australia with clear cut victories over Cuttheattitude and Chariot King in the Linden Huntly Memorial and Lanercost and For A Reason in the Kevin Seymour Pace.

Two Eye See is now back in work with Mark Hewitt at Grenfell in NSW with a $20,000 stakes race on Miracle Mile day at Menangle as his first target.

Speed and More Speed For Great Success It wasn’t too many years ago that most stud farms in the Southern Hemisphere would happily promote a pacer with a 1:51.4 record.

To stand a trotter with such a record was unheard of... that is until Great Success arrived at Alabar New Zealand in October 2008.

Now it is well known that the great Valley Victory 1:55.6 changed the trotting breed in North America during the 1990’s. His sons including Muscles Yankee, Yankee Glide, Lindy Lane, Victory Dream and Donerail have produced a host of champions both on the racetrack and on the stud farm.

In Great Success there is a huge opportunity to inject that precious Valley Victory blood into our Southern Hemisphere mares.

Great Success carries a 3 x 3 cross to Valley Victory through his sire Self Possessed and his dam Victory Please (by the Valley Victory son Mr Vic). By breeding to Great Success now it may give you great success in the future.

A World Champion......

An article published on the 9th of June 2005, prior to the Battle Of Lake Erie on the internet site Odd On Racing (www.oddsonracing.com) says it all: Perhaps it was fitting that Battle Of Lake Erie entrant Ponder was given such a name. That’s because for two years all trainer Bob McIntosh could do was wonder how good the colt might be. Now at age 4, Ponder might have finally given McIntosh the answer - and it is the one the trainer envisioned all along.

“I bought him as a yearling and as a two year old I thought he was the best one I had,” McIntosh said. “He had a little hairline crack in a back ankle which didn’t require surgery, so we stopped him after one race. It bothered him again at three, so I shut him down and figured we’re going to take our time with him. We never did anything else until he was ready, completely healed. I always thought he was a great horse and now everyone is getting to see what I was talking about.”

“I always thought he was

R

....Still! ecords come and records go but the world record on a half mile track still remains at 1:49 - the date 21st September 2006 - the horse Ponder.

Now how do you pace 1:49 around a half mile track - well as Bob McIntosh has said: “Ponder is one of those rare horses who could pace as fast in the turns as he could in the straights.”

In May 2007 Graeme Henley (Alabar NZ) and myself (John Coffey) spent two hours in the Southern Ontario city of Windsor talking to leading trainer Bob McIntosh about his recently retired “champ” Ponder.

It was obvious he always admired him for his natural speed, will to win and sheer toughness. In fact he surprised us both when he declared Ponder as the most courageous and mentally toughest horse he had trained - and this was after horses of the calibre of Artsplace, Camluck, Artiscape, Live Or Die, Staying Together and many others had passed through his stables.

There is a misconception whether observed from his race record or spread by opposition farms that Ponder had no ability as a young horse.

Well this could not be further from the truth. Ponder won his first start in a race (13th July 2003) at Flamboro Downs (1/2 mile track) in 1:58.1. He then developed a hairline fracture in a hind ankle and missed the rest of his 2yo season.

a great horse and now everyone is getting to see what I was talking about.

”

Ponder is now into his third stud season downunder and his foals continue to impress.

He definitely puts some size into his progeny without them being too big.

His pedigree has been enhanced this year by the performances on North American tracks of Shark Gesture now the winner of $2 million. Shark Gesture is out of Simple Gesture, a three quarter sister to Ponder.

Ponder’s dam and grand dam are by Abercrombie and Most Happy Fella, two sirelines that have been enormously successful in Australia, so we suggest - don’t sit around wondering or pondering - we will remember you when Ponder is a leading sire.

Great Gait and Early Speed =

Sutter Hanover There is so much to like about Sutter Hanover as a type - he is tall (16 hands), dark (black), and handsome and has a temperament to match. As trainer Mark Harder described him when eye balling him for the first time at the Harrisburg Yearling Sales in 2005:

“He was a big yearling, picture perfect really. You could tell he had class right from day one. �

He went in a 63 inch hopple, did not wear knee boots and had a long fluent stride. Just take 10 minutes to watch him on the Alabar DVD and you can judge for yourself.

One of the impressive races on the DVD is the 2006 Governors Cup, a major stakes race run towards the end of the season. Horses such as Artsplace, Western Hanover, In The Pocket and Bettors Delight have put this race on their resume in years gone by.

On this night Sutter Hanover survived a tough trip to win running away by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:52 - leaving in his wake the very smart colts Always A Virgin and Artzina (US 2yo of the Year 2006).

We have previously said that if Sutter Hanover stamps his foals like himself they are going to be very attractive commodities at the yearling sales, well guess what? Just take a look at some of his early foals on the following page.

Jeremes Jet’s Book is almost Full!

Jeremes Jet is recieving fantastic support again this year and his book is almost full.

So if you would like to breed to the fastest and richest son of Western Hanover at stud then please call the office today.

First Season Foals

Sutter Hanover - Flash Alley Filly

Sutter Hanover - Russian Rocket Colt

Flash Alley is an In The Pocket half sister to 6 winners, incl 3 in 2:00.

Russian Rocket is a half sister to 2 in 2:00, incl Marika 1:57.2 - $275,155.

Breeder: Flashdance Syndicate

Breeder: Alabar NZ Ltd & M & J Payne Breeding Syndicate

Sutter Hanover - Ballie Hanover Filly

Jeremes Jet - Brookmaker Colt

This filly is a half sister to 3 in 2:00, incl Alta Sirocco 1:58.6 - $53,672.

This colt is a half brother to 2 winners and his dam is an Amercian bred half sister to 10 winners.

Breeder: Alabar NZ Ltd.

Breeder: TJ Armstrong

Jeremes Jet - Weona Beachley Filly

Jeremes Jet - Ultimate Dollar Filly

Weona Beachley is a half sister to 3 winners, incl 2 in 2:00. From the Weona Jewel family.

The first foal of Ultimate Dollar 1:57.7, who is a full sister to 3 winners, incl Super Falcon 1: 57 - $168,502.

Breeder: Harshell Investments Success Stud Pty Ltd Vic.

Pty

Ltd,

Breeder: T H Gluck.

Great Success - Rebecca Anne Colt

Great Success - Justine H Colt

This colt is a half brother to 2 winners, incl One Fine Day tr 1:56.4 - $88,306

The 2nd foal from a half sister to Martina H $401,495, Lleyton H $146,324 and Tony H $97,143.

Breeder: D W Wobberley & A R Wobberley.

Breeder: K D Marr.

Exciting Times Ahead for Real Desire

At this stage (1st November) the $3 million earner Real Desire has over 100 mares booked to him in Australia. This augers well for him to breed at least the equal in Australia as the 2007 stud season, when he was last in the Southern Hemisphere.

Back in 2007 Real Desire was bred to many outstanding race and broodmares, producing some great looking yearlings.

Thirty One of those Real Desire yearlings will be offered at the APG Yearling Sales in Melbourne or Sydney in February next year. This is just a sampling of them - many of which are likely to be keenly sought after: Colt from Our Lady Rena A half brother to the rising superstar Bonavista Bay 1:56.4 - dam is a half sister to triple Inters winner Our Sir Vancelot.

Colt from Smooth Jes A half brother to 2008 Miracle Mile winner Divisive 1:56 - $1.28 million.

Colt from Nemeeshar The first colt foal from Australian 3 Year Old Filly of the Year Nemeeshar 1:58.2 - $331,230.

Colt from Keep It Hot A half brother to Jazzam 1:56.9 - $130,520. Dam is a half sister to Cyclone George and Cyclone Force.

Filly from Billabong Girl (by Classic Garry) The second foal of high class Perth racemare Billabong Girl 1:55.8 - $143,616.

Filly from Headline Franco Second filly foal from racewinning half sister to Franco Hat Trick 1:52 and Franco Heir.

Filly from Ruffle My Feathers First foal of former top racemare Ruffle My Feathers 1:57.7 - $189,000.

Real Desire is having another terrific year in the USA in 2009 particuarly with his 3yo’s. Recently (6th September) his son Sheer Desire won the $300,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes Final in a blistering 1:49.8. This colt who is out of a The Panderosa mare has now won in excess of $373,000.

High Def Z Tam, a 2yo colt trained by Patrick La Chance, also took out the $300,000 Sires Final for 2yo’s on the same night.

Carnivore, another 3yo colt, trained in Canada by Jack Darling has taken his lifetime earnings past $542,588 with some impressive performances this year.

Sheer Desire

Bookings are still available to this highly fertile stallion.

He’s Big Time....

He’s a Millionaire!

The five year old gelded son of Presidential Ball named Bigtime Ball recently became a millionaire in Canada.

The horse with no tail or at least a sawn off tail is now the third millionaire sired by Presidential Ball.

Bigtime Ball, who is out of an Albatross mare, has dominated the Free For All ranks at Ontario’s premier tracks Mohawk and Woodbine in 2009.

He has now had 27 visits to the winners circle in a 61 start career.

The Presidential Ball filly Best Of Ball has also dominated her division in Ohio this season culminating in a decisive victory in the $80,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Final on September 5th.

The 262 foals have resulted in 185 starters, 126 winners (48.1% winners to foals) with average earnings per starter of almost $35,000.

The winners are headed by the three half million dollar earners Maffioso, Emmas Only and Ball Gown.

As well as three Group One winning fillies White Thunder, Lets Thank Heaven and Miss Hazel.

Presidential Ball is now based at our Echuca property and is available to Australian breeders only.

Best Of Ball has been undefeated in 2 and 3yo Fillies races in 2008 and 2009.

Meanwhile in Australia “the Ball” continues to show he is a high class sire with his son Maffioso dominating the four year old ranks with late season victories in the Chariots of Fire and the Breeders Crown.

From his first five crops of foals born in Australia (youngest 3yo’s in 08/09) Presidential Ball has gathered together some highly impressive statistics.

Presidential Ball

Truly A Work Of Art - She Just Keeps Producing Masterpieces The lightly raced Artsplace mare Trulyawork Of Art is living up to her name and becoming more valuable with each passing day.

Her third colt named Blank Canvas sold for US$130,000 at the recent Lexington Yearling Sales. This placed him in the leading six pacing colts sold at the sale.

Blank Canvas is a full brother to Tiz A Masterpiece 1:49, Western Artwork 1:52 and this seasons smart 3yo filly Im Not Gonna Lie 1:53.2.

Trulyawork Of Art is on her own way to becoming a broodmare gem, which of course is no surprise as she is by the all conquering sire of females in Artsplace.

The impact on Harness Racing by Artsplace mares is just enormous.

both are by Western Hanover).

The two richest 3yo colts in North America this season in Well Said and If I Can Dream are both from Artsplace mares (and like Tiz A Masterpiece,

The $2 million winning mare Southwind Tempo is another from an Artsplace mare as also is the Chariots Of Fire winner in Australia Maffioso.

It is not difficult to get excited about the pedigree of Tiz A Masterpiece when you consider he is or has: • A 1:49 son of Western Hanover (the number one sire in the USA is 2009) • From a perfect record Artsplace mare.

• A grand dam, Town Sweetheart, who is a Broodmare of the Year.

• A descendant of the maternal family that has produced the high class sires Cam Fella, Live Or Die and Butler BG. Tiz A Masterpiece has furnished into a glorious individual (much better than the photo in our brochure) and is well on the way to a good book or mares with over 50 booked or bred by the end of October.

He was a big striding horse and loaded with high speed as can be seen on our 2009 Alabar DVD. With falling foal numbers all around Australia, don’t leave your mare empty this season - take a tip from us and get yourself a Masterpiece.

Western Terror.... Blowing Away his Opposition The millionaire son of Western Hanover that stood at Alabar for three seasons (2005-06-07) is now dominating his opposition in North America, On the evening of 24th October Western Terror’s daughter Yellow Diamond took home the trophy in the $731,000 Breeders Crown Final for 3yo Fillies.

After being unraced at two, Yellow Diamond has now won $1.12 million for the season.

In the 3yo colts division Western Terror’s full brother If I Can Dream saluted in a gutsy 1:51.1 to advance his career earnings to $1.6 million.

With his first crop to the races in North America being current 3yo’s, Western Terror looks a likely successor to his sire, the great Western Hanover.

Currently (27th October) Wester Terror sits in a clear second position on the USTA 3yo Sires Premiership with only Western Hanover ahead of him.

V.J. - You Deserve This To win awards for being the best in any sport is a huge honour and for the staff at Alabar Bloodstock in Victoria there hasn’t been any trophy more gratifying than that awarded to the “little champ” Village Jasper recently.

The trophy of course was that of Leading Sire of Australia for the 2008/9 season.

In lots of ways Village Jasper has been the quiet achiever. There were critics early on who said he would be no good because of his size.

However he is now a favourite of many trainers because he sires honest, good gaited pacers that race true and sound.

Village Jasper was represented by three pacers Mister Swinger, Decorated Jasper and Tip Your Hat during the 2009 Inter Dominions - a perfect example of the description of most of his progeny.

In our travels to Canada each year, I have occasionly met up with his previous owners Jean and Paula Wellwood and have assured them that Village Jasper will always have pride of place at Alabar Bloodstock.

A nicer stallion you will not meet.....

Congratulations V.J.

Elsu Siring Impressive 3yo’s In the first 3 months of the 09/10 season in New Zealand, Elsu has given notice he is a sire on the move. He has sired 21 individual starters for 8 individual winners of $84,053 (to 4th Nov 09).

Anvils Best Ever, who won the Young Guns as a 2yo, has taken out a heat of the NZ Sires Stakes to qualify him for a start in the rich Final on New Zealand Cup Day. The other winners include: Arnoux 1:59.3 - 2 wins at 3 Awohali 2:01.4 - 3 wins as late 2yo or early 3yo Matai Mies 2:01.2 - 2 wins from 2 starts Shady Su 2:03.2 - 1 win from 2 starts Spendit 2:03.4 - 3 wins from 3 starts Elsu currently (4th Nov 09) sits in third position on the NZ 3yo Sires Premiership behind Christian Cullen and Mach Three.

In Australia this season Elsu will again breed in excess of 100 mares. He is an extremely fertile stallion, so if your mare is still empty in December he is well worth considering.

Gotta Go Cullect is now fully Booked

Thank you for supporting this very exciting young stallion!

Artesian Artesian

1:49.4 - $987,884

Artiscape - Hula Dancer - Falcon Seelster

A Sire on the way UP From his first small crop Artesian is the sire of 10 winners incl four that have won or placed at Group level already!

David Hercules 1:59.2 - $109,415

Winner of Group Two Aussco Sales Classic & Group Three Champagne Classic

Jorg Is Best 1:55.6 - $45,925

Winner of 2 heats of APG and third in the Group One Kevin Seymour Pace Final

Bella Jam Jam 2:04.3 - $29,723

Winner of a heat of the Bathurst Gold Tiara, third in the Group One Final

Salem 2:00.6 - $11,691.

2nd in Group Three NZ Sapling Stakes.

Service Fee: $3,000 (incl GST) Australian Off Farm Fee

Ph: (03) 5859 2201 Fax: (03) 5859 2206 www.alabar.com.au