Courtesy of NZ Standardbred Breeders Assn
All eight of Geena Hest’s foals have won races and her second youngest – Geena’s Success – is proving to be one of the best to have graced a racetrack here in New Zealand.
Geena’s Success notched up her fourth win in 18 starts (and seven placings) at Alexandra Park on April 6th.
Trained Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett at Waiuku, the 5-year-old Great Success gelding won by one-and-a-quarter lengths as the $8 third favourite.
He was driven by Maurice McKendry and the promising trotter is now owned by Merv and Me Butterworth of Australia.
Ashburton trainer David Mitchell paid $4,500 for Geena’s Success at the 2014 New Zealand Premier Sale in Christchurch and then after four starts, and one win, on-sold him to the Butterworths.
She was bred by good friends Stephen Thompson of Dunedin and Brian Wood of Christchurch.
“We bought Geena’s Success’s mother – Geena Hest off Colin Campbell who had the ‘Hest’ breed. Colin bred Geena Hest from Lisa Hest (Count Bay – Den Hest). Geena Hest was the fourth foal and Colin and I won five races with her ($30,545) before we started breeding from the mare,” Thompson said.
“Geena Hest (1990 mare by Gee Whizz II) had 10 foals between 1999 and 2013 before she passed away in December 2014. Brian came in on the third foal,” the Dunedin accountant added.
The mare’s first foal – Anreca Hest (1999 mare by Pine Chip) won one of her three starts for Wellington owner Reg Caldow. That mare has since left 11 foals, and the last of three of them have been bred by Caldow, who had her put to Wishing Stone in December.
“Anreca Hest actually left me one of the best horses I have ever bred. That foal was named The Fiery Ginga and he was the third horse out of the mare. He won 28 of his 134 starts ($474,996) and placed in many Group races. He actually won the Group Three New Zealand 2yo trotting Stakes in 2009 at Addington.
“I only ever kept Geena Hest and Anreca Hest for breeding purposes and they both went on to do good things in the broodmare’s paddock,” 63-year-old Thompson said.
Geena Hest’s second foal – the 2001 Earl mare, Countessa Hest never raced in New Zealand but won 20 of her 90 Australian starts and placed in 26 others for $137,858 in stakes. Her best performance came in her very last race when she placed in the 2008 Group One Trotters Mile at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Thompson and Wood’s first foal together, the 2004 Muscles Yankee filly, Rosedorae won one race while Geena Hest’s fifth foal, the 2005 Muscles Yankee filly, Geena’s Star won six races and $50,496.
Rosedorae has left six foals since 2010 – the best of them the Angus Hall brown gelding, BD Khaosan, who has won seven races and $63,480 for Ashburton trainer, and co-owner, Ton Bagrie.
Dreamit (2006 colt by Dream Vacation) also won six races ($71,696) while the next two foals – Maidstone Miss (2008 filly by Sundon) and Wairakei Miss (2010 filly by CR Commando) won one race each.
Thompson said the duo then sold their now 6-year-old Sundon mare named Ruby Shade to Emilio and Mary Rosati of Haberfield in New South Wales for $22,000 at the 2013 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale in Christchurch. The filly was originally named Sundon Miss.
Geena’s Success, who has now amassed $42,465 in stakes was born on October 22, 2012.
“The mare left us a 2013 (now four) Sundon colt before she died. He has since won four races for the Butterworths in Australia,” Thompson said.
The Fiery Ginga aside, Thompson said the Group One winning gelding Chancellor Cullen was right up there with the best he had bred.
“He was a 2008 Christian Cullen – Nivea Franco gelding whom we bred and then bought back at the 2010 Yearling Sale for $27,000.
“He won 13 races in New Zealand and then another nine in Australia ($411,821) including the Group One $125,000 McInerney 4yo Classic at Gloucester Park in 2012. he also won two Group Two races over there as well,” Thompson said.
Thompson said he enjoyed breeding and was glad that he got involved in that side of the industry with Campbell and Anreca Hest in 1999, and then latterly with Wood and Rosedorae in 2004.
“I’ve always loved the trots and used to go to Forbury Park all the time when I was studying at Otago University.
“I’ve sold most of my broodmares but still have a nice 2011 Mucle Hill – Anreca Hest mare I’m breeding from named Muscle Girl. She has left us (Thompson Bloodstock Ltd) a nice 2-year-old Andover Hall colt named Andover Boy and a good looking full yearling brother to him named The Last One,” Thompson said.
From Breeding Matters, by the NZ Standardbred Breeders Association. To find out how to join the NZSBA and get your own copy of the magazine, email Brad Reid – brad@thebreeders.co.nz
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