Magnificent superstars of our sport

I offer ponder what process the breeders and buyers of these magnificent superstars of our sport (shown below) went through selecting the right sire at that time or why they picked these future champions out ahead of others.

When I think of the greatest horses to race in NA, these four below jump at me, they are:

1. The product of Adios out of Brenna Hanover, Bret Hanover earned the adoration of his fans by winning 62 of 68 races and earning $922,616 in his three years of campaigning. His career included a modern day record 35 straight victories as a two-and three-year-old. He captured the Pacing Triple Crown and earned Horse of the Year honours three years running (1964-66).
2. An Albatross-Niagara Dream-Bye Bye Byrd foal, Niatross  was undefeated in 13 starts as a 2-year-old and was voted 1979 Horse of the Year. Major wins included the Woodrow Wilson and the Kentucky Pacing Derby. At three, Niatross was a Triple Crown winner and voted Horse of the Year again, after winning 24 of 26 starts with earnings of $1,414,313. In 1980 he became the fastest horse in history with his 1:49.1 time trial – the first 1:50 Standardbred ever. He retired with with a career record of 39-37-0-0 for $2,019,21
3. Foaled in 1982 by Niatross out of Margie’s Melody, Nihilator as a two-year-old he won 12 of 13 races with purses totalling $1,361,367. Nihilator was a major stakes winner and a true champion of the track. He won 35 of his 38 starts for career earnings of $3,225,653 ranking him as one of the richest pacers ever.
4. No Standardbred had ever raced a faster mile, and no pacer has ever earned more in a single season than world champion 2008 Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere. He holds a lifetime record of 21-20-1-0 with career earnings of $3,221,299

As a two-year-old in 2007, Somebeachsomewhere won all six of his starts, earning $773,296. Somebeachsomewhere was voted Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, and voted O’Brien Award Horse of the Year in a tie with Tell All.

In his 2008 season, three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere won 14 of 15 starts earning $2,448,003, more than any Standardbred in a single season up to that time.

Somebeachsomewhere succumbed to cancer on January 14, 2018 at the age of 13.

The list below of Australian-Trained horses also come to mind:

• Blacks A Fake
• Gammalite
• Im Themightyquinn
• Our Sir Vancelot
• Popular Alm
• Preux Chevalier
• Pure Steel
• Smoken Up
• Village Kid
• Westburn Grant

Fellow breeders and buyers are always looking outside the box for little clicks or patterns that could possibly give them an edge to find a true champion like the horses above.  One that I’ve just stumbled across is the wonderfully successful and powerful combination of a Steve Johnson (WA) colt when it get into the hands of Justin Prentice.

Steve Johnson is one of the sports very best breeders. He’s bred a Million Dollar earner, a Breeders Crown Champion, a dual Vicbred Final winner, numerous Horse of the Year award winners and the winners of almost every juvenile classic on the West Australian calendar.

Justin is a brilliant trainer and his current profile has him at:

• 695 wins
• 27 Group 1
• $10,028,969 in prizemoney
• 23% career win rate (38% in 2023)

Justin Printice has had just 8 Steve Johnson colts come through his stables after the sales and the results are clearly next level:

If you are looking at buying yearlings in 2023 that could change your life for the better, take a serious look at teaming up with a trainer like Justin and with horses bred by Steve Johson available at the Magic Millions Sales Complex, 2/56 Dale Road, Middle Swan, WA, 6056 on Sunday, March 5.

Steve’s Lots in “The Greatest Offering Ever” in WA that will see $125,000 for each 2yo division and $100,000 for each 3yo division are:

Please contact Paul Ellis on 0412 377 312 or Trevor O’Reilly on 0408 714 624 to answer any other questions that you may have.

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

Driving The Future Of Harness Racing