Ray Wilson, is my kind of bloke! Loyal, friendly and looks you straight in the eye when he speaks to you. Add to that the fact that he is ultra-competitive at everything he does – from playing tennis at the highest level (Wimbledon 1967) to spending many hours researching the best stallions to join to his mares.
Ray is a hobby breeder, who is well researched and a perfect example of someone who can add real value to our industry, however it’s his loyalty that has driven me to write this little piece about his special colt, Lot 69 in the APG sale in Melbourne.
When his mare As It Is In Heaven (Village Jasper x Gold Don’t Rust) was about to be joined back in October 2014 he had many conversations with Belinda Richardson formerly of Pepper Tree Farm. They looked at all kinds of options for his mare and they finally settled on Roll With Joe.
This has turned out to be a master stroke as the sire has now been building a reputation that he can leave a very special Colt, backed-up by the best evidence being Racing Hill a 2013 horse that’s won US$1,727,692. Racing Hill was retired to stud after an outstanding year with victories in the Breeders Crown, US$500,000 Max Hempt Final, Messenger Stakes, US$400,000 Adios & announced as the 2016 richest 3YO harness racing horse. As It Is In Heaven herself was a 2YO listed classic winner & is the dam of 3 to race includingDoubledipofheaven (Rock N Roll Heaven) with 7 straight victories & the ill-fated Rosie O’Rourke (Art Major) with 4 wins at 2 & 3. The mare has an outstanding Roll With Joe filly foal this season.
Ray has been loyal to Pepper Tree Farm stallions in the past such as Art Major, Rock N Roll Heaven, Sportwriter & Roll with Joe but thought it would be an ideal time to move his broodmare to Victoria to be served by Alabar stallions in the future, commencing now being in foal to Mach Three.
Ray has greatly appreciated Belinda’s advice & assistance on broodmare matters along the way & was pleasantly surprised at Belinda’s move to Alabar last year coinciding with As It Is In Heaven’s relocation.
It’s loyalty like this that’s not lost on me and l would ask anyone who will be at the sale to check our Ray’s Lot 69. (Lot 69 – Click Here).
He is a stunning looking colt and l get the feeling something good is going to happen with this, the only Roll With Joe colt in the Melbourne sale.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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