This is the first in an occasional series looking at some of New Zealand’s trotting broodmare gems.
A notable member of a breed developed over many years by the Grice brothers, Keith and Bevan, Janettas Pride has fashioned an outstanding broodmare record.
JANETTAS PRIDE (1988f Gee Whiz/Zola; a member of the Mavis Wood family, CF N24) : three wins, 2:09.3, $14,380; sixteen foals, ten raced, nine winners and a qualifier. Bred by Keith and Bevan Grice Stud Ltd; leased to Highbank Syndicate and Mrs Pauline O’Reilly for racing purposes with all foals bred by Keith and Bevan Grice.
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AUS | NA | G/T | MR | $ |
| 1997 | Dependable (g Sundon) | 14 | 0 | 6 | 20 | T2:02.6, T1:59.2US | 154,917 |
| 1998 | Jo Anne (f Sundon) | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 | T1:58.5 | 73,428 |
| 2002 | Jasmyne (f Sundon) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | T2:08.3 | 13,069 |
| 2003 | Shirley Temple (f Sundon) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | T2:02.9 | 63,951 |
| 2004 | Platinum Plus (f Sundon) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | T2:11.6 | 12,168 |
| 2005 | Ima Gold Digger (g Sundon) | 15 | 0 | 24 | 39 | T1:56.7, T1:54.2US | 518,638 |
| 2006 | Spin Doctor (g Sundon) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | T2:09.9 | 6,089 |
| 2007 | Rugged Cross (f Sundon) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | T2:08.0 | 13,089 |
| 2010 | Cuddly Jess (f Sundon) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | T2:02.4 | 43,032 |
| Total foals : | 53 | 2 | 30 | 85 | $900k+ |
** Conversion: $US1=A$1 =$NZ1
Janettas Pride was trained by Pat O’Reilly senior to win three races for lessees wife Pauline and Highbank Syndicate whilst being driven to success by youngest son Gerard. Her three wins (one Addington) and six placings from twenty nine starts spanned a three season career (two to four years of age), T2:09.3, $14,380.
Janettas Pride’s dam Zola was unraced (qualified Game Pride mare), dam of ten foals, six raced with three winning races. Janettas Pride was her first foal and eight win (three Addington) trotter Kiwi Battler her last, T1:58.3US, $66,312. Zizette, unraced, dam of five winners including The Upper Crust (one Addington/twenty four AUS wins : seven Harold Park, thirteen SA/twelve Globe Derby, four VIC/two Moonee Valley, T2:01.3, $105,200, Cobram Trotters Cup, Hunter Cup Day Plate); Buster Keaton (seven wins, T2:06.1, $53,450; Zealous Lady (eight wins, T2:04.7, $73,086); Little Bro (five wins, T2:06.3, $57,784).
Queenstown, grand dam of Zola; unraced Armbro Del mare, dam of a winner, Escoffier, five NZ wins, T1:58.1US, $24,730. Janettas Pride’s third dam was the one start unplaced Court Martial trotter Lady Earnscleugh, dam of three foals including Queenstown. Fourth dam Shiann (Desmonds Pride) traces back to foundation mare Mavis Wood through her dam Agent (two pacing wins). Shiann recorded five wins, T2:15.0, $2,270, dam of three foals and part of a family branch with winners of six Derbies or equivalents (Dependable/Ima Gold Digger [two each], Doctor Mickey, Shirley Temple) and was
- grand dam of Dingle Bay, CPTC Trotting Cup, tr/dr Dennis Nyhan
- fourth dam of Janettas Pride, T2:09.3, NZ Broodmare of Year (see above and below)
Mavis Wood bred by the Grice’s uncle Ben was a pacing winner of two races by Rodgewood, sire of only five winners (four pacers, one trotter). Janettas Pride comes from a branch of the Mavis Wood family best known for many fine pacing winners over the years including the noted broodmare Coo Doo whose descendants include Palestine, Barbara Del, Derby, Bahrein, English Elegance, Shivna, French Dynamite (trotter) while other family members include pacers Trojan, Lawn Boy, dual gaited Tough Going and trotters Ronas Jewel, Perfect Du Jour, Lucky Wood. Janettas Pride has left four Group race winners – Dependable, Ima Gold Digger, Jo Anne and Shirley Temple (all winners of NZ Trotters Derby except Jo Anne whose son Doctor Mickey won the NZ Trotters Derby).
Janettas Pride’s male progeny includes :
- Dependable, racing for his NZ owners Laraine Georgeson, Robert Rendel and Grice brothers, was the winner of fourteen races in NZ (Addington eleven, Alexandra Park one), NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T/3T, Rosso Antico Stakes, CPTC Trotting Cup, $154,917; second NZ Trotting Championship; thirds Hambletonian – 3T, NZSS – 3T, Ashburton Trotters Mile; 2yo and 3yo colt or gelding and overall 3yo trotter of year, stake earning trotter of 3yo year.
In North America, over three seasons at seven, eight and nine (2004 – 2006), he compiled a record of fifty six starts for six victories (three at seven, three at eight), eight seconds and five thirds. His best mile rate was T1:59.1US recorded at Freehold Raceway as a seven year old in 2004
- Ima Gold Digger, winner of fifteen races in NZ (five Addington, six Alexandra Park), T1:56,7, $364,072, GN/NZ Trotters Derbies, NZSS – 3T, Thames Trotting Cup, Ashburton Trotters Mile, NZ Trotting FFA; seconds Hambletonian – 3T, Lyell Creek Stakes, National Trot; third Jewels Ruby – 3T, Cambridge Flying Stakes; three year old colt or gelding trotter and stake earner of year; NZ records 2600m (3yo c&g), T3:17.4, 2600mM (overall) T3:13.3.
Raced in North America (eight to twelve) on 121 occasions for twenty four victories and twenty two placings, $154,566. Best mile rates of T1:54.2US at Meadowlands (aged 11), T1:55.0 Harrahs Chester (5/8ths mile at eight; placed in T1:53.1) and T1:58.4 on the half mile Ocean Downs track. Combined earnings of $518,638
Spin Doctor, one race Forbury Park winner, T2:09.9, $6,089
Janettas Pride’s fillies include :
Jo Anne, won ten races in NZ (three Addington, two Alexandra Park) and two two year old wins at Moonee Valley in Australia, T2:03.0AUS, VIC Tatlow – 2T and second in Redwood Classic. In NZ winner of NZ and Cambridge Trotting Stakes – 2T, Great Northern Series Trot – 2T (NZR 2yo filly, T2:45.8, 2200mM, Alexandra Park), T1:58.5NZ at two (NZ 2yo mile record, Ashburton), combined earnings of $73,428, NZ two year old trotting stake earner of year, two year old trotting filly and overall two year trotter of year. Dam of thirteen live foals, eight raced for five winners including
- Doctor Mickey, five NZ (one Addington/Alexandra Park)/three AUS (two VIC, one Globe Derby) wins, T2:02.7AUS, $122,622, NZ Trotters Derby, second Jewels Ruby – 3T, third GN Trotters Derby
- Indiana Jones, six NZ wins (one Addington), one placing AUS, T2:02.7, $45,562
- Sin Bin, two wins, T2:08.4, $16,687
- Fekitoa, one win, T2:13.0, $10,395
- Jimmy Carter, three wins , T2:02.0, $27,725
Note – during the 2000/1 season, trotters Jo Anne (2yo) and full brother Dependable (3yo) became only the second pair of siblings to claim NZ 2yo and 3yo of the year titles. The first were pacing brother and sister Noodlum (3yo) and Olga Korbut (2yo) in the 1974/5 season
Juliana, non-winning trotter, $2,138, dam of nine foals, six race winners and a qualifier including
- Dark Horse, ten wins (one Addington), T1:59.9, $95,426, Uncut Gems Classic; third Jewels Ruby – 4T; fourth NZ Trotting FFA
- Father Christmas, eleven NZ (two Addington)/six VIC wins (two Melton), T1:58.2AUS, $200,189, Kilmore Trotters Cup; second NZ 4/5yo Trotter Championship
- Monty Python, twelve NZ/three VIC (one Melton) wins, T2:00.1AUS, $297,858, Southern Lights Trot, Cranbourne Trotters Cup; thirds SA Trotters Cup, ID Trotters Final
- Sarah Palin, ten wins, T2:07.4, $121,672
- Carla Bruni, one NZ/six AUS (four Albion Park, two Menangle) wins, T2:03.6AUS, $47,848
- Arc De Triomphe, one win, T2:08.8, $5,700
Vivien Leigh, unraced dam of nine foals, four to race, all winners including Benchmark, nine wins (four Addington; five NSW/four Menangle) wins, T1:57.7NZ, T1:58.2AUS, $90,909, Bulli Trotters Cup, NZMTC Summer Trotting FFA; Bob Hope, two wins, T2:05.9, $6,800; Waitoto Express, three wins, T2:07.8, $26,388; Bobby Breen, six wins (four Alexandra Park), T2:04.4, $58,175
Jasmyne, Reefton trotting winner (qualified and had one start as pacer), T2:08.3, $13,609, dam of three foals, one a race winner Red Hot Poker, ten wins, two at Addington, T2:04.0, $77,180
Shirley Temple, three race winner (two for Paul Nairn, one Bryce Buchanan) and two placings from twenty two starts, winner of NZ Trotters Derby at Addington, 2:02.9, $63,951, third in NZ Trotters Oaks. Dam of six foals, two to race for a winner in Crusher Collins, five wins, T2:00.7, $63,745
Platinum Plus, an Addington race winner, T2:11.6, $12,168; dam of two live foals, one a race winner, Laura Bush (four wins/one Alexandra Park), T2:07.2, $41,625
Rugged Cross, three race winner, T2:08.0, $13,089; dam of four foals, one a race winner from four starts in Rugged Peak, T2:12.3, $6,050
Cuddly Jess, second last foal of Janettas Pride and final winner with five wins for Michael House, four at Addington, T2:02.4, $43,032, dam of two foals
The wonderfully productive broodmare gem Janettas Pride had her last foal (Triple A, four unraced foals to date) in 2012. Janettas Pride received the NZ Broodmare of Year Award in 2009.
Peter Craig
9 September 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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