NZ HARNESS NEWS
Steve Baucke has labelled the northern sojourn of Delight My Soul a success.
The Woodlands dairy farmer and harness trainer bred and races the mare with his wife Carol and in February they sent her to Ray Green for racing at Alexandra Park in Auckland.
In 13 starts, the daughter of Bettor’s Delight won three times, was second four times and amassed earnings in excess of $40,000.
For 10 of her outings, Delight My Soul faced fields of only six (twice), seven (twice) eight (three times) or nine (three times) with 11 the biggest.
After her last race in Auckland on July 27, the mare returned to Southland.
“She was always coming home at the end of the season to get in foal,” Baucke said.
“From a financial point of view, it was well worth it – the stakes are so much better and fields a lot smaller.”
A month after her final Auckland outing, Baucke had Delight My Soul back at the races, in an R58 to 77 mobile 2200 at Gore on Sunday and she won decisively for Blair Orange.
“She’ll probably have a couple more starts but the main thing is to get her in foal,” said Baucke, who has chosen a son of Somebeachsomewhere in Captaintreacherous for the descendant of Black Watch.
Still in Auckland is her half-sister, I’mallaboutthebase. After a win at Winton in May and a pair of seconds at Invercargill in June, the daughter of Shadow Play joined Green.
An encouraging second at her first visit to Alexandra Park on July 13 was followed a fortnight later by a fifth, but nothing has been seen of her since.
“She got a virus and they’ve backed off her,” said Baucke.
“We think she can win two or three up there.”
After I’mallaboutthebase was weaned, Baucke sold her dam Soliel D’or for $2600 at the 2015 autumn mixed sale.
But it didn’t leave him short of broodmares and they include Loyal Arden, the half-sister to Arden Rooney.
Her Bettor’s Delight colt brought $40,000 at the premier sale this year and Baucke has a full brother to prepare for next year’s sales.
Also in line for the sales is a Sportswriter filly out of a half-sister to the big winner Happy Asset in Operative Asset. Citylight, Belkmyster and Takitimu Express are multiple winners from the mare.
Citylight is the dam of a Bettor’s Delight filly also destined for the sales. Her full brother Royal Gamble, sold at the 2016 sales for $57,500, has won six in Australia including a mile at Menangle at the end of last month in 1:52.9.
- NZ Harness News
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