At the Dunstan Horse Feeds Breeders NZ Cup Eve Cocktail Function in Christchurch early November 2019, it was announced that NIAMEY was the recipient of the 2019 Trotting Broodmare of Excellence Award.
2019 is the first year separate awards have been made to both pacing and trotting gaited broodmares (as opposed to one overall award).
NIAMEY (1998f Chiola Hanover/Game Flyer; another member of Australasia’s leading family Pride Of Lincoln, CF N1) : non-winning trotter; thirteen foals, nine raced, all winners, four sub two minutes, four $100,000, one a $½m winner. Bred by Mrs Jennifer Knight; all progeny bred by Trevor Casey, Ken Barron and Gary Allen except Arnold (Trevor Casey/Gary Allen), Dance With Dragons, Tyene, unregistered Sebastian K colt (Trevor Casey), Regal Appointment, Waiting For You (Gary Allen).
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | NA | G/T | MR | $ |
| 2004 | Lord Nelson (g Sundon) | 1 | – | – | 1 | T2:13.1 | 5,252 |
| 2005 | Pocaro (f Sundon) | 13 | – | – | 13 | T1:57.5 | 232,773 |
| 2006 | Ugly Betty (f Earl) | 2 | – | – | 2 | T2:03.9 | 24,909 |
| 2007 | Springbank Sam (g Sundon) | 20 | – | 9 | 29 | T1:55.1US | 545,702 |
| 2009 | Sun Of Anarchy (g Sundon) | – | 28 | – | 28 | T1:58.2 | 281,581 |
| 2010 | Daenerys Targaryen (f Majestic Son) | 4 | 11 | – | 15 | T1:58.2 | 143,723 |
| 2012 | Sam Galleon (g The Pres) | 5 | – | – | 5 | T2:06.0 | 29,316 |
| 2013 | Arnold (g Muscle Mass) | 4 | – | – | 4 | T2:01.3 | 35,080 |
| 2015 | Regal Appointment (g Majestic Son) | 1 | 1 | T2:07.3 | 4,840 | ||
| Total foals : | 50 | 39 | 9 | 98 | $1.4m+ |
** Conversion: $A1/$US1=$NZ1
Niamey was a three start non-winning trotter who qualified third of seven at Rangiora (T2:13.1 over 2600m) in January 2003. Niamey’s dam Game Flyer, an unraced Game Pride mare left ten foals (all bred by Jennifer Knight except Bonny Evander and Game Pernod), nine to race for five winners including star progeny Chiola Hanover trotting mare Africa, T1:56.3US, $341,434; eleven NZ wins (five Alexandra Park, three Addington; seven for trainer Bruce Negus, four for Mark Purdon), four year old mare trotter and five year old and older mare trotter of year twice in consecutive seasons : 1998 – 2000. Placed second in NZ Trotting Championship, ID Trotters Grand Final, Cambridge Flying Mile and thirds in Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA. Placed in five of seven Australian starts including second ID Trotters Grand Final/third in heat and final of Australasian Trotting Championship before sale to USA by owner Trevor Casey. Recorded eighteen NA victories.
Other progeny of Game Flyer : Sunny Flyer, two race winning Sundon gelding, T2:06.7, $7,313; Bo Didley, Armbro Invasion gelding who won four in NZ, two at Addington for trainer Bruce Hutton, T1:56.4US, $201,894; Willy Lightfoot, Grant Our Wishes gelding, four NZ wins (one at Addington)/nine in Australia (three Harold Park, one Menangle, three Albion Park, two Gold Coast), T2:00.6, $82,633, QLD Jim McNeil Memorial; Game Pernod, two race winner, T2:10.2, $8,625, not bred from; non-winning mare Ikantry who produced a winner in NZ, Sunset Strip and three Harold Park victories, T2:04.0, $24,689 and grand dam of nine race winner Woodstone for breeder and NZ Standardbred Breeders Association Chairman Colin Hair. Woodstone T1:58.6 mile at Alexandra Park, $116,982, winner of four at Alexandra Park and three at Addington, second in Uncut Gems Trotters Classic and NZ Trotting FFA.
Unraced Grand dam Flying Bay (Bay Foyle) won three races, T2:13.3, $7,941 prior to leaving seven foals, two winners from three to race plus a qualifier – Heza Doolan, two wins, 2:03.8 and Sheza Shiela, winner, 2:03.0.
Naimey’s third dam was Flying Ailsa, a five race winner (one at Addington), 2:09.7, $3,300, NZ Pacing Stakes3/4, was also dam of Piclo (T2:11.8, $15,200, NSW Summer Trotters Cup), Ailsa Hanover (T2:04.0US, $63,245); grand dam of Game Captain (T2:02.1US, NZ 3yo Trotter of Year – Cambridge/NZ Trotting Stakes – 3T) and Captain Paul (1:56.0US, $91,870); third dam of good Tasmanian winner Little Ronnie and NSW winner Tyler Jay (Renshaw Cup, 1:59.3, $155,674). Her fourth dam Ailsa Craig left Flying Ailsa and Kimmer, whose family branch contains champion trotter Tussle; Sure Thing branch contains numerous top line trotters including Earl of Mot, Hoops, Ella Powell, Shine On Me, Galleons Paradise.
Niamey’s female tail line continues back to Pride Of Lincoln Sure Lady, Dorothy Dell (grand dam of Balgove, NZFFA, Easter Cup), Dell, Glade, Merce (descendants include champion trotter Take A Moment and Stig, Dr Hook, Quite a Moment), Authoress (dam of Author Dillon, NZ Derby, NZ Cup, NZFFA three times, successful sire) to classic producing mare Thelma. Niamey is thirteen removes from foundation mare Pride Of Lincoln.
Niamey’s male progeny include :
Lord Nelson, first foal of Niamey who won one race at Invercargll for trainer Darryn Simpson and driver Alan Beck
Springbank Sam, the winner of twenty races in NZ (five at Addington, two at Alexandra Park), NZ Cup Day Trot, Central Otago FFA (three times), Southern Lights FFA (twice), T1:59.3 (placed T1:56.3), $150,935. Placed second in NZYSS– 2T, GN/NZ Trotting Derbies, Jewels Ruby – 3T and 4T, Rowe Cup, Southern Lights FFA and third in NZ Trotting Championship 4/5T, NZ Trotting Championship (Open), Summer Trotting FFA. His final NZ victory was from 70m behind over 3200m at Wyndham’s Young Quinn raceway. He was trained throughout by Phil Williamson for owners Raymond (Alastair) and Mrs Denise Smith.
Springbank Sam has won on nine occasions in North America with a best time of T1:55.1US, total earnings of $545,702
Sun of Anarchy, the last of three full brothers by Sundon to win as well as full sister to Pocaro, raced in Australia after twenty non-winning performances in NZ for three third placings. Successful on twenty eight occasions, fifteen VIC wins with four at Melton (Ouyen/Wedderburn Trotters Cups) and since February 2018 a further thirteen wins in WA, eight of which have been at Gloucester Park (WA Trotters Cup, Pinjarra and WA Trotters Sprints), 1:58.2, $281,581. In addition, placed second in Maryborough/Trotters Cup, True Roman Trotters FFA and thirds in a Southern Star heat (unplaced final), Kilmore/Cochran/WA Trotters Cups
Sam Galleon, a five time race winning The Pres gelding from twenty seven starts for master trotting trainer Phil Williamson, with youngest son Brad being the pilot on all winning occasions
Arnold, four time race winning Muscle Mass gelding in NZ for Ken Barron including three victories at Addington, best mile rate of T2:01.3 (1950m), now racing in Australia. Placed twice in six starts to date at Albion Park, $35,080
Regal Appointment, winner at second start of four to date at Ashburton during 2019 NZ Cup week for trainer Gavin Smith
Niamey’s fillies include :
Pocaro, thirteen NZ wins (winner of two at two; six at three; three at four and two as a five year old with four at Addington, seven Alexandra Park) and eleven placings from thirty nine NZ starts, T1:57.5 (Ashburton 3yo Jewels Ruby), two NZ Group Threes NZ Trotting Oaks, Hambletonian and Jewels Ruby – 3T when classified as a listed race. Seconds in Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes, City of Sails FFA, NZ Trotters 4yo Championship and thirds in GN/NZ Trotting Derbies.
Pocaro established NZ 1 mile record for three year olds and three year old fillies of T1:57.5 on Jewels day 2009, Ashburton. Awarded NZ Three year old Trotting Filly of Year and Four year old Trotting Mare of Year titles.
Unplaced in three Australian starts, Pocaro retired with earnings of $232,773. To date, she has left six foals for breeder Trevor Casey, four to race for him with three winners in Missandei (seven NZ wins, three at Addington, one Alexandra Park), T1:59.3, Jewels Ruby – 2T, second NZSS – 2T, two Australian wins, T2:04.9 including VIC Breeders Crown heat (third in final), second Redwood Classic, total earnings $177,260; Kings Landing, five wins (four at Addington) in twelve starts to date, T2:00.9, $74,750, second in Southern Lights and third in NZ Trotting Championship for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen; Westeros (raced with trainer Mark Smolenski), winner at Motukarara, T2:13.5
Ugly Betty, winner of two races as a three year old, one at Addington in T2:03.5. Dam of five foals, two winners Roll Tide (T2:05.0 winner in only start at Maryborough) and two race winner, Gazza Galleon, T2:06.4, $20,079
Daenerys Targaryen, the winner of four two year old races for owner Trevor Casey in NZ, three at Addington, T2:02.7, NZSS 2T Championship (Gp2) and second in NZSS 2T Prelude, NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T and Breeders Crown heat. Sent to Australia in ownership of Casey and trainer Mark Purdon where she won Redwood Classic (Gp 1), Breeders Crown first reprecharge, second in Breeders Crown heat and unplaced in final. Named NZ two year old Filly Trotter of Year.
Remaining in Australia, Daernerys Targaryen won a further nine races (eleven in Australia in total) including seven VIC with one at Melton (thirds Holmfield/Breeders Crown 4m), one at Albion Park and one at Menangle, second NSW Trotters Oaks. Best mile time was recorded at Bendigo in early 2015 in Lyn MacPherson Silver, T1:58.2. Retired in 2016 the winner of $143,723 in earnings to join Breckon Farms broodmare band
Niamey is in foal, again to What the Hill (last date of service 9/12/2018; no return).
Peter Craig
4 March 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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