Taylor Takes Two (Sunday 27th February 2011)

By Bruce Stewart

Ladbrooks trainer Dean Taylor made a raid on the Wyndham meeting yesterday bagging two winners.

Courage Under Fire colt River Black started the ball rolling, winning the Leithfield Nursery Mobile Pace. Driver Mark Jones settled the three year old third last early before moving around to lead.

"He's quite a lazy wee horse so Mark had to tap him up but he got there," said Taylor. The winning margin was half a head from Jenna's Highview.

Taylor had planned to start River Black at the Winton meeting on Wednesday so he could filful the qualifying criteria for the Southern Supremacy Stakes in the one trip south but on the Harness Racing website River Black has been scratched.

Brothers Ron and Colin Bennett own River Black which was sold at the 2009 Sale of the Stars for $40,000 when consigned by Riverton based Highview Standardbreds. He was bought by Taylor without too much research and pre-sale inspection.

"What Ron Bennett said to me was, do you like the look of that black horse (River Black coming into the sales ring). I've only got three quarters of an hour here because I've got an afternoon tea to go to. So he stood beside me and gave me thumps on the arm every time he wanted the bid to go up." 

River Black has now won four races from just eleven starts and was good enough as a two year old to run third in the PGG Wrightson New Zealand Yearling Sales Series Open Final behind Thumpem and Le Sol. 

"As a two year old he liked a tight hopple. He used to break at home but as he's matured he's got better and better and his pacing style is fluent now. He's probably gone out by five or six holes."

The Taylors had previous success with Waipawa Lad the winner of eighteen races, and stake winnings of $368,50. His biggest win was in the 2007 Free For All at Addington. 

River Black with Mark Jones

Two races later Dean Taylor completed the double when Mach Three four year old Mah Sish lead all the way to win the BMac Sheetmetal Mobile Pace.

"Mark said he went hard out of the gate today. He lead up and they attacked him the whole way and he won with a bit in reserve so it not bad for him second start. He said he's got a lot of bottom to him"

The gelding is owned by Kim Taylor and is the last foal out of the New York Motoring mare Dancing On Winds which died in 2007. She was a half sister to Megaland Bay which won six races for Taylor. He has won a further twelve in America. Dancing On Winds is also related to Washakie and the great Stella Frost, the winner of twenty two races including the Auckland Cup and Interdomion final.

He also raced Mazasha (Mach Three - Rich and Smooth) out of the Taylor stable. He won one race in New Zealand and has since won four more in Australia under his new name of Azumah Mazasha.

Most of his horses carry American Indian names.  

Mah Sish an easier winner for Dean Taylor and driver Mark Jones

McCulloch Floats On Cloud Nine (Sunday 27th February 2011)

By Bruce Stewart

Wayne McCulloch was a nervous man yesterday morning before he jumped in the float and headed to Wyndham for the Wyndham Cup.

McCulloch who shares in the ownership of Vi Et Animo with wife Allison and new owner Mary Jane Thomas, helps out at the Gil Shirley stables and to settle the nerves he generally drives the Shirley float to the races.

"I'm a better driver of a float that I am of a horse," he said.

Vi Et Animo disappointed at his last start running eighth in the Invercargill Cup but McCulloch said the horse wasn't 100%.

 "He was a bit sore in the back after the Invercargill Cup run so we got some accupunture and massage. He's been a lot more relaxed since then. John Cox did the massage."

Vi Et Animo began well from the 30 metre handicap and settled second last. In the drive of the day Brent Shirley sat patiently behind Anthony Butt and Centreofattention knowing the Canterbury driver would take him forward and into the race at some point.

From the 1000 metre point Butt obliged and Shirley was taken to the top of the straight before storming down the outside to beat Flying Diamonds by three quarters of a length with favourite Leethal Rocket a nose back in third.

Wayne McCulloch and new owner Mary Jane Thomas and the Wyndham Cup

It was the Pacific Rocket gelding's fifteeth win and he has now won $186,269. McCulloch said he will head to the Interdomions series in Christchurch and is currentlty ranked 25th of the 39 horses left in the series. 

After selling McCulloch Electrical he went into early retirement but that was short lived. He now owns Mainland Transport and Florklifts New Zealand and heads into work each day.

Vi Et Animo and Brent Shirley returning to scale after winning the Wyndham Cup

Dexter's Orl Black Attack (Sunday 27th February 20110

By Bruce Stewart

His pedigree and reputation stamped him as a contenter and at times Orl Black was the favourite for yesterdays Alabar New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes at Wyndham.

Orl Black certainly looked a racey type and after the dust settled he was too good for his eight rivals. 

Although he drew the second row the size of the field factored that disadvantage out, and driver Dexter Dunn was able to place the colt in a great position early.

"He got a good run through early and ended up three back on the outa. He then went round and sat parked at the thousand and was just too strong."

Orl Black is a three quarter brother to Christian Cullen and was bought at the 2010 Sale of the Stars for $52,000. He's owned by high profile owners Rona and Clive McKay, Pam and Debbie Smith and Ross Stanbury.

But despite and breeding and the horses reputation Dunn says you can never be too confident with first starters.

"He handled it really good and straighting up he still had a bit of gas in the tank."

It was Dunn's second consecutive win in the time honoured event winning last year with Le Sol. Although Orl Black has his first win on the board Dunn is cautious about the task ahead. 

"We can't get too excited because two year old racing is that strong now and you can get your butt licked pretty quickly"

Prior to Saturday's Kindergarten Dunn had the difficult task of hopping off impressive last start winner Monaghan.

"It was really difficult. Monaghan is a lovely two year old and he went great last start. I thought I was getting off a better horse to drive the other one but I'm committed to Cran's stable so you just have to make those sacrifices sometimes but it's paid off."

The overall time for the 1609 metres was 1-58.0 well outside the race record of 1-54.3 recorded by Le Sol in last years Kindergarten. The last 800 metres was run in 56.8 and the last 400 metres in a slick 26.8.

"They didn't go much early and did run hard down the back so you'd expect them to run home in a quick 400 when they haven't gone hard early. It took a bit to get past Ardghal but he hit the line strongly," 

Orl Black winning teh Kindergarten.

Sales (Thursday 24th February 2011)

By Bruce Stewart 

Once again the 2011 Sale Of The Stars was a bit of a mixed bag for Southland breeders.  And interrupted by the Christchurch earthquake on it's second day, auctioneers PGG Wrightsons were forced to cancel the third day.

There's some speculation that the third day of the sale will be rescheduled for the 20th March and local breeder Alan Clark said a sale around the Interdominions would make sense.
Clark was preparing six yearlings for the last day of the sale and all have been floated home to be 'reprepared' for any confirmed sale date.
At the end of the second day Clark said Highview Standardbreds was happy with the money they'd averaged for the yearlings they sold. 

 
Their top seller was the first lot on day two; an unnamed colt by Jereme's Jet out of In The Pocket mare Take Her Easy Tiger. He sold for $40,000. to Cran Dalgety. Jimmy Curtin bought an unnamed colt by Art Major out of Kind Martar for $31,000 also on the second day. On day one Graeme Anderson bought Highview Anwell an American Ideal out of Highview Miss colt for $29,000.

Mark and Pauline O'Connor could be rightly happy with their first day lots. Alliwantforchristmas, a Mach Three colt sold for $44,000. Magnus Denario is off to Australia, sold for $20,000, while Domino Denario, an Artsplace-Campeche colt sold for $35,000.

The Falcon Seelster Jamie colt offered by Brent and Sheree McIntyre of Macca Lodge was bought back for $24,000. and www.southlandharness.co.nz understands he will be tried as a racehorse.

Southland’s highest priced horseflesh was sold by Vin and Daphne Devery on day one of the sale. The Christian Cullen filly out of Western Dream brought $85,000. and she'll do her racing in Australia.

Winton breeder Stu Gillian sold a Mach Three filly on day two (which is a half sister to big winners Ohoka's Bondy and Code Red) for $52,000. and later in the day he bought an Art Major filly out of Minnie Me for $20,000. Her second dam is twelve race winner Happy Hazel.

Debbie and Mark Smith had limited numbers at this years sale but were happy with the $45,000. they got for their Lis Mara - Sly Shard colt which was bought by the owner of Lis Mara. He'll be sent to Spreydon Lodge for his early preparation but Debbie says he'll probably end up racing in America.

Debbie Smith was one of many Southlanders who were in the sales arena when the 6.3 magitude earthquake struck Christchurch.
"It was scary. It threw grown men to the ground. Some of the horses moved sideways but none were injured. Our filly went round and round in her box but the staff settled her down. You could see the earthquake as it just rolled through," she said.           

In terms of the rescheduling of the sale, Smith is unsure about having it at Interdominion time.
"I'm not so sure about holding the third day during the Interdominions and whether that standard of horses should be shown at such a big event."   

Tony Barron and successful owner/breeder Peter Marshall sold  four lots on the first day of the sale with good results.
A Bettor's Delight -Titan Bloss colt was sold to Dunedin trainer Graeme Anderson for $22,500. Roofcraft (McArdle-Meglea) was purchased by Ashburton trainer John Hay for $40,000. and Medley Moose a full brother to Winnie Mak was purchased by Ray Green for $30,000.

First time preparer Alister Black sold a  full brother to grand circuit pacer Washakie to Australian Kevin Jeavons  for $25,000.

On the buying front Frank Cournane and Jean Fallow both bought, with Cournane purchasing a Bettor's Delight filly out of Art Lover for $28,000. Her second dam is the champion filly Under Cover Lover.
Southland bred colt Domino Denario (Artsplace-Campeche) the last foal out of the dam of Fake Denario (1-48.4 USA) was also purchased by Cournane.
Fallow bought an Art Major filly out of Beaudiene Ladylike from Dave and Dawn Kennedy for $25,000.

The biggest Southland purchase though was by Alan and Liz Sloan who recently sold Bettor’s Delight three year old Lovers Delight. They reinvested by purchasing Brindy for $76,000. He's also by Bettor's Delight out of In Bloom which has the great Blossom Lady as his second dam. 

Local trainer Hamish Hunter paid $14,000. for Highview Robyn (Bettor's Delight - Star Traveller) and $22,000. for Adore To Our Dream a filly by Christian Cullen out of Enchanter Franco.

John Stiven who prepared four yearlings for the first day described his sale as 'ordinary'.
His best seller was a full sister to Bettor’s Strike which sold to Australian Trevor Lindsay for $46,000.
"She was the saving grace for me. No cigars this year but at least my yearlings have gone to good trainers," he said.

Top Lot for the Stiven's Striking Arden

David Butt bought Art Major colt Arden Mustang from Stiven for $21,000. while Awesone Arden (Art Major-Arden's Dream) was passed in for $19,000. but was later purchased by Invercargill trainer Kirk Larsen.

The Bettor's Delight Tosca Hanover colt which was passed in for $16,000. has been left in Christchurch and will be trained for the Stivens by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne.

A huge effort by Southland breeders to prepare their blood stock for the sales. Disappointing for the sale not to run to completion, but nothing in comparison to those coping with the aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch.