At the Dunstan Horse Feeds Breeders NZ Cup Eve Cocktail Function in Christchurch early November 2019, it was announced that TWICE AS GOOD was the recipient of the 2019 Pacing 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).
TWICE AS GOOD (1988f Butler BG/Princess Nandina; a member of Australian family Lady Ajax (A2), NZ branch of Miss Fortune : five race winner, 1:56.5, $33,355; fifteen foals, eleven raced, nine winners, seven in two minutes, three 1:56.0, four $150,000. Bred by Cardigan Bay Breeding Ltd and Co (National Bloodstock offshoot); progeny bred by Steve and Anne Phillips (Twice The Spice, Twice As Fine, Twice As Hot, Waitfornoone, Trelise, Into the Fire); Robert Death (St Barts); Croon Bloodstock (Fight Fire With Fire, Twice As Great, Goodlookinggirl, Mark Dennis, Big Is Good, Good On Top); Breckon Bloodstock (Double Shot, Veddy Veddy Good.)
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | G/T | MR | $ |
| 1999 | Twice As Hot (f in the Pocket) | 5 | – | 5 | 1:59.6 | 53,580 |
| 2000 | Waitfornoone (f Albert Albert) | 11 | – | 11 | 1:55.7 | 201,804 |
| 2001 | Trelise (f Holmes Hanover) | 4 | – | 4 | 1:58.7 | 19,231 |
| 2003 | St Barts (h Island Fantasy) | 14 | 1 | 15 | 1:57.0 | 162,506 |
| 2004 | Fight Fire With Fire (f Artiscape) | 7 | – | 7 | 1:56.0 | 151,657 |
| 2006 | Goodlookinggirl (f Christian Cullen) | 1 | – | 1 | 2:03.5 | 5,277 |
| 2008 | Mark Dennis (g Bettors Delight) | 2 | 43 | 45 | 1:51.4 | 326,017 |
| 2009 | Big Is Good (g Art Major) | 2 | – | 2 | 2:00.3 | 11,471 |
| 2013 | Double Shot (f Bettors Delight) | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1:57.9 | 42,146 |
| Total foals : | 51 | 45 | 96 | $970k+ |
** Conversion: $A1/$US1=$NZ1
Twice As Good, completed her five career victories in consecutive starts as a five year old, all at Alexandra Park (four 2200m mobiles and a 1700m mobile win over Victor Supreme in a 1:56.5MR in 1993). Dam Princess Nandina was brought back to NZ by National Bloodstock and her subsequent NZ foal Twice As Good was raced by Steve and Anne Phillips. Once bred from by the Phillips, Twice As Good had six fillies prior to her lease to former Auckland Trotting Club racing manager Robert Death who got her first colt in St Barts. Sold thereafter by the Phillips to Rod Croon (Croon Bloodstock) and later again to Breckon Bloodstock (Ken Breckon), Twice As Good went onto leave eleven fillies from her fifteen foals. Her progeny have attained ninety five wins moving her close to being another NZ broodmare centurion.
Of her fifteen progeny, only four were colts including :
St Barts, by Island Fantasy whose only other stud successes could be considered Ebony Gem ( 1:56.9, $317,030, Chariots Of Fire) and Greysteel ( 1:53.8, TAS features); winner of fourteen in NZ (four Addington, eight Alexandra Park/one in Australia (Melton), 1:57.0, $162,506
Mark Dennis, two wins from four starts (both Addington including NZSS – 3 heat Addington, fifth in final)/forty three AUS wins from overall 246 starts (SA 28, Globe Derby 22; VIC 11, Melton 3; NSW, three Menangle; QLD, one Albion Park); Menangle FFA, SA – Gawler Cup twice; third Cordina Sprint; fourth SA Cup, Coca Cola Amatil; fifth SA Cup; p3, 1:56.2NZ, 1:51.4AUS, $326,017.
Big Is Good, two Addington pacing wins (qualified and raced as trotter, unplaced in ten starts) for Cran Dalgety/Dexter Dunn combo
Twice As Good’s daughters have bred on to excellent effect including :
Twice As Fine, second foal, unraced dam of four winners including Pacific Warrior, four NZ (two Alexandra Park)/twenty four WA wins, fourteen Gloucester Park including first six starts at Pinjarra, 1:54.8AUS, $343,419, RWWA Cup, Governors Cup twice, The Lewis, second ID heat, thirds Pinjarra/Navy Cups, fifth WA Pacing Cup; Flight Of Fantasy, five wins/four Alexandra Park, 1:59.8, $40,273; Im Under Fire, one Alexandra Park/five Bunbury wins, 1:59.1, $40,021
Twice As Hot, winner of three at three and a further two races at four, twice second in NI Breeders Stakes (to Pullover Brown at three; Alta Serena at four); fourth in Nevele R Fillies final. Raced unsuccessfully in North America (two seasons for three placings from fifteen starts). Dam of eleven foals, six winners from seven foals to race including :
- Flaming Flutter (bred in NZ), Addington winner (NZSS – 2c heat) from five NZ starts/twenty four AUS wins (seventeen VIC, six Melton; four Menangle; two Globe Derby; one Gloucester Park), 1:52.2 set recently at Menangle (November 2019) as ten year old , Australian 2yo record in 2012), $813,815; SA Derby/Cup, Tontine Series, Tony Turnbull Cup; seconds Casey Classic, Mildura/SA/Bendigo Cups, ID heat and Grand Final; thirds Paleface Adios, Kilmore/Cranbourne (twice)/Maryborough (twice)/Terang Cups, ID heats (two)/Grand Final; fourth Hunter Cup
- Mister Whittaker, seven VIC wins, 1:54.9, $38,566
- Two Times Bettor, ten wins (nine VIC, two Melton; one NSW), 1:53.6, $140,110, Alabar Classic – 3f
- When You’re Hot (NZ bred), unraced dam of seven foals for four to race, all winners including Zahven Banner, eleven wins (five NSW, one Menangle; six Albion Park), 1:50.8, $76,927 and Cyclone Banner, eight wins (two NZ, one Alexandra Park/six WA, three Gloucester Park), 1:57.1AUS, $51,523
Waitfornoone, eleven Alexandra Park wins, 1:55.7, $201,804, Queen Of Hearts, Thames/Winter (twice) Cups; dam of eight live foals for four winners from six starters plus qualifier including Luis Alberto, non-winner in NZ/fourteen WA, seven Gloucester Park wins, two NA wins, 1:50,1US, $195,905; Windinherhair, eight NZ (five Alexandra Park)/three Menangle wins, 1:54.6AUS, $140,476, second Jewels Diamond – 4m, third Delightful Lady Classic – 2f, dam of winner Letherhardown, 2:08.2, $10,700; Intheshadows, four wins/three Alexandra Park, 1:55.4, $62,862, third Jewels Diamond – 4m to close relation Elle Mac
Trelise, winner of four races/two Alexandra Park, 1:58.7, $19,231; dam of eight foals, three winners from five starters including Im Twice the Delight, one NZ win/ten NSW, three Menangle wins, 1:52.3, $67,832; My Design, one NZ/two Newcastle wins, 1:59.3, $16,516 and trotter Bet Online, three wins, T2:06.5, $14,312
Fight Fire With Fire, seven wins (two Alexandra Park, one Addington), 1:56.0, $151,657, Ashburton F&M Mile, Franklin Breeders Mares Cup, NZSS – 3f (heat/second final); Nevele R Fillies (second/fourth twice heats/second final); second Winter Cup; thirds Ladyship Stakes, GN Breeders Stakes, Thames Cup; fourth NZYSS – 3f; fifth Jewels Diamond – 3f, NZ 4yo Championship. Dam of nine foals, three to race for winner in Ready To Fire, one NZ win/fifteen AUS wins (three VIC, one Melton; twelve TAS), 1:57.5AUS, $122,545, third NZSS – 2f heat
Twice As Great, qualified and one start unplaced pacer ($150), dam of nine foals for six winners from those raced including Duplicated, four NZ/six AUS wins (five VIC, one Melton; one Albion Park), four NA wins, 1:49.2US, $257,834, QLD SE Derby, fifth QLD Derby; Awayandrideyourself, one Alexandra Park/eight TAS wins, 1:56.5AUS, $62,623; Strawberry Courage, three NZ (one Alexandra Park)/thirteen (eight NSW, one Menangle; four Albion Park; one VIC) wins, 1:54.1AUS, $118,658;
Youshallnotpass, two wins at Cambridge, 1:55.4, $21,635
Into The Fire, unraced dam of three winners including trotter Prosthesis, seven wins (three Melton), T1:59.0, $46,543, Abrahams Classic – 2T and pacers The Fire Within, six wins, 1:57.0, $25,141 and Nightoffire, three wins, 1:58.8, $11,114, dam of winner
Goodlookinggirl, winner of one race at Cambridge from five starts, 2:03.5, $5,277; dam of eight foals (six fillies), five to race for four winners including fillies
- Elle Mac, two year old filly and four year old mare of year in NZ, twelve wins (five Alexandra Park, six Addington) from thirty two starts, 1:51.6 (1700mM, NZR), $607,678; 2yo filly – Caduceus Club Classic, NZSS (heat/final); 3yo filly – NZSS (heat/final), GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies (heat/final); 4yo mare – Jewels Diamond; seconds Jewels Diamond – 2f, NZYSS – 3f, NZ Oaks, GN Breeders Stakes, Queen Of Hearts; thirds Jewels Diamonds – 3f, Teltrac Comms FFA. Sold at sales by Breckon Bloodstock to major Australian owner Jean Feiss and repurchased back at end of race career as an addition to Breckon’s broodmare band
- Miss Streisand, two Alexandra Park 2yo/seven AUS (six NSW, three Menangle; one VIC) wins, 1:53.0, $161,986, NZSS – 2f (heat/third final); second NZYSS – 2f, QLD/SE Oaks; third Delightful Lady Classic – 2f; fourth VIC Oaks; fifth Caduceus Club Classic – 2f
- Goodlookingbabe, three wins (one Alexandra Park), 2:00.6, $20,475; half-sister to Elle Mac, dam of yearling Bettors Delight filly [In The Spotlight] sold at Karaka February 2020 to Team Bond, Western Australia for $50,000
- Fellamongstabeauty, one Cambridge win from two starts, 1:59.7, $3,770
Good On Top, unraced dam of two time winner Champagneandwine, 2:08.0, $13,473
Double Shot, five NZ wins at three (one Addington for Cran Dalgety/Dexter Dunn combo)/one AUS win at Shepparton, 1:57.9NZ, $42,146, Nevele R Fillies consolation
Twice As Good’s dam Princess Nandina (Able Bye Bye/Portmadoc by trotting stallion Tuft) was bred by Nandina Stud Ltd. A non-winner from eleven NZ starts, exported to North America, she won six races, 1:59.4US, $28,786. The dam of seven foals, first six conceived in USA, Princess Nandina left two winners, the first of which was outstanding filly Pacific, 1:53.0US, $871,550, Breeders Crown and Mistletoe Shalee as 3yo filly, USA 3yo filly pacer of year in 1987. In addition, non-winner Princess Pacific has left Nicholas T (1:50.2US, $267,239)) and My Metallica (1:51.1US, $287,851). Princess Nandina’s only NZ foal was Twice As Good.
Her non-winning grand dam, Portmadoc (Tuft/Forever), left fourteen foals, eight raced for five winners plus a qualifier. They included first foal Princess Nandina and good male winners Captain Smooth (thirteen wins, 2:02.7, $55,930, Cambridge Classic – 4) and Porthcawl (twelve AUS wins, 2:00.9, $41,960; 2:003US) as well as (Free) Port Boy (nine AUS wins, 1:57.6TT, $20,508) and Captain Portentious (two NZ wins, $9,750, 1:58.0US). Winner producing mares included :
- Precious Nandina, non-winning pacer ($875), dam of three winners including good mare Precious Dina (eight wins, 2:03.3, $49,440, NI Breeders Stakes); dam of ten foals, six winners including
- Pacific South, winner, 2:05.7, $6,234; dam of four winners : AK Cup winner Flight South (twelve wins, 1:56.3, $292,566, Queen Of Hearts, Premier Mares Championship, Franklin Cup); Where Eagles Dare (eleven NZ wins, 1:51.4US, $196,401, ID heat); Falcon Jewel, winner, 2:04.7, $2,920, dam of Three Jewels
- Dinavinetto, winner, 2:01.6, $11,335; dam of six winners : Pullover Brown (eight NZ/four AUS wins, 1:56.7, $332,265, NZ/VIC/AUS Oaks, NZ Breeders Stakes, dam of five winners); Im Against the Wind (three NZ wins, 1:59.0, $32,335, dam of five winners including Pass Them By (nine NZ/two AUS/ten NA wins, 1:51,4,US $419, 261); Montecito (twelve NZ wins, 1:49.2US, $522,723)
- Honey Trap, winner, 2:04.3, $4,635; dam of three winners including Anarchy, two wins 2:02.0, $19,630 and dam of Whittaker, four NZ/six AUS/four NA wins, 1:50.0US, $163,577
- Universal Port, unraced dam of two winners; Port Courage, seven wins, 1:59.4, $93,209, dam of three winners
- Universal Princess, final foal, unraced dam of one foal, three win Chal Roco (dam of Chal Fire, three NZ/fifteen AUS wins, 1:54.8, $177,641)
The third dam of Twice As Good is Forever (Grattan Loyal/Garden Path by Dillon Hall from Erins Fortune and so on through Miss Fortune, Edith to Lady Ajax), non-winning pacer, $40, produced ten classic performers including males Byebye Bill (2:01.1, $7,645, Waikouaiti Cup; sire of Why Bill, 1:57.1US, $609,684, Louisson Hcp/Pezaro Memorial, ID heat, USA/Canadian FFA’s; broodmare sire of trotter Glenfield Girl, Aust Trotting Championship, Dullard Cup, two ID heats); Born To Trot (2:05.6, $32,627, Harold Park/Albion Park winner); No Comment (Reefton Cup); Ten Grand (Kurow Cup).
Forever’s winner producing daughters apart from Portmadoc included Afire, grand dam of Jungle Jiver (1:56.4, $315,216) and third dam of Eastwood Jaunty (2:00.0, $114,437, Methven Cup twice, Green Mile); Buffy Fortune, third dam of Council Man (twenty wins, 1:55.3, $108,332, Albion Park FFA); Everlasting, third dam of Beckon (fifteen wins, 1:59.3, $77,166, VIC Silver Chalice – 4m, Cobram Cup); You’re Welcome, grand dam of Dreamy Bye Bye (QBred Breeders Classic – 2c).
Forever was a half-sister to NZ Derby/NZ Sapling Stakes winner Tobacco Road (Smokey Hanover/Garden Path). Garden Path’s dam Erins Fortune left top pacer Loyal Peter (Grattan Loyal), 2:06.4, $15,550, Canterbury Hcp, CPTC Winter Cup, ID heat.
As can be seen Twice As Good is matriarch to a quality family of predominantly fillies, accordingly her influence will continue for some considerable time to come.
Peter Craig
26 February 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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