This is the sixth of an occasional series of articles reviewing multiple classic producing broodmares with five or more offspring in results information as shown on the Classic Families (CF) database. A number of these mares won classic races, became the dams of classic winners/progeny and contributed to the genetic inheritance of numerous outstanding performers.
BERNIES SISTER (1962 Gay Reveler/Ilinois), Australian family of Lady Ostic (A4), 2:09.0; 15 foals, 12 raced for 10 winners. Breeder : L. Horton, Tocumwai, NSW; Foals bred by : BJ Kelly, NSW, all except Breeze Easy, unnamed Knowing Fame colt and Rich Sister bred by BJ and D Kelly, NSW; Allwood Lady bred by BJ Allen, NSW
Sire Gay Reveler arrived in New Zealand as an unraced three year old from North America. He stood at stud in NZ before transferring to Australian shores. His moderately successful sire His Majesty set a world mile record unhoppled of 2:02.0 as a two year old while his dam Calumet Emissary (2:04¾) left seven winners, six in under 2:10.0.
Gay Reveler was the sire of 233 winners including Gay Reel (Wellington Cup, CAN Milton Stakes), Gay Vivienne (NSW Trotters Derby), Gold Tod (Australian standing start mile record of 2:03 2/5), Great Reveller (Franklin Cup), High Power/La Jose (NSW Oaks), Lynmont (SA/VIC Oaks), Moon Reveler (VIC Derby) and outstanding trotter Court Jester who set an Australasian record of 16 successive victories [bettered by Maoris Idol] and won NSW/VIC/SA Trotters Derbies, Dullard/Cochran Cups, ID heat.
Broodmare sire of 478 winners (449 Australia, 29 NZ) including Classic Garry (WA Golden Nugget and superior sire/BM sire), Double Cash (NZ 2yo Championship), Exemplify (VIC Trotters Derby, VIC SS – 3T/4T), Gypsy Winkle (NZ/Southland Oaks), Provocative (NSW Oaks, VIC SS – 4m), Revelling Prince (QLD Derby), Special Garry (WA Derby), The Rattler (ID heat/consolation).
Dam Ilinois was an unraced Kimberlene mare who left seventeen foals for eleven winners, five worthy of noting :
- Bernies Sister, see below
- Bernies Elect, 2:05.4, $5,660, Leeton Breeders Plate, SW & Riverina Derby
- Bernies Gift, 2:11.8, $1,705, SW & Riverina Derby
- Bernies Princess, 2:11.0, $1,132, dam of 13 foals for 7 winners, 4th dam of Intoxicated, 1:57.4, $112,093, 13 wins, Bathurst City/LM Cup, NSW 4/5 Championship
- Bernies Pride, 2:14.5, $358, 3rd dam of Cams Legend, 1:57.9, $128,860, 15 wins, WA Golden Slipper
This is the family of Lady Ostic A4 (3:16.7), a grey mare who left one foal Miss Tommy (roan filly by Tommy II, NTT), bred by W Withers, Marrar, NSW. Descendants include
Grand Circuit champion, Australian Harness Horse of Year Lennytheshark (1:49.2, $2,630,790, NSW Derby, VIC SS – 4h, Victoria Cup, four ID Heats/Pacing Final, Miracle Mile, Allied Express/Cordina Sprints, four sub 1:50 times) and
glamour mare Frith (1:50.1, millionaire, Bathurst Gold Tiara – 2f, VIC/WA Oaks, NSW Breeders Challenge Stakes/Breeders Crown – 3f and 4m, Ladyship Mile); Hot Spell (NSW Oaks), Classic Garry/Provocative (see above under Gay Reveler), Mother Courage (VIC SS – 2f, AUS/VIC Oaks), Tandias Courage/Secret Desire (VIC SS – 2f), Oh Carolina (Ladyship Mile), Jillby Melody (VIC SS – 3f), Albert Kelly (VIC SS – 3c, QLD Derby), Sandy Bay (Fremantle Cup), Mcraes Mate (1:51.4US, VIC SS – 3c), Lady Waratah (APG – 3f) Greg Kelly (APG – 2c, AUS Derby), Crusaders Castle (VIC SS – 3c), Led Suitcase (Breeders Crown – 2f), Royal Verdict (1:53.5, APG/VIC SS/Breeders Crown – 2c), Sun of Sonoko (Redwood – 2T),
Illinois produced three foals in successive years, Bernies Sister being the third and also the third winner of four races (3 NSW/1 VIC) as a four year old, $873 (4yo earnings only), 2:09.0. Due to the lack of detailed official records, we can only say that she also won at two (2:12.2) and three (2:11.6). Her wins included the South West and Riverina Derby at Young.
Note : classic winning progeny (five) of classic producing mare Bernies Sister are underlined.
The maternal line descendants of family of Bernies Sister follow – male progeny included :
- Kelly Glen (2:09.6, bay colt 1968 by Tarport King), $3,976, 12 (1 VIC/11 QLD) wins
- Kelly Ranger (2:09.9, bay colt 1969 by Smokey Hanover), $5,460, 16 (5 NSW/11 QLD) wins, Leeton Cup. On 7 October 1974, both he and half-brother Kelly Glen were winners at Gold Coast
- Texas Ranger (2:08.9, bay colt 1972 by Glenerrol), $17,433, 16 (11 NSW [2 Harold Park]/5 VIC [2 Moonee Valley]) wins, SW & Riverina Sapling – 2
- Breeze Easy (2:09.6, chestnut gelding by Knowing Fame), $7,041, 3 NSW wins
- Pauls Chance (2:01.2, bay gelding 1983 by Select Yankee), $16,690, 8 (1 NSW/7 VIC [2 Moonee Valley]) wins, Wangaratta Cup
- Society Seeker (2:04.6, bay colt 1985 by Allwoods Trick), 5 VIC wins, $9,197
Bernies Sister’s fillies included :
- Wee Sister (2:05.6, bay filly 1973 by Jerry Adios), $13,451, 8 (4 NSW [2 Harold Park]/4 QLD) wins, NSW Challenge Stakes – 2, dam of 15 foals for 7 winners
- grand dam of Paradise Bird (dam of Von Trap, 1:59.7, $123.555, VIC Tatlow Memorial/Breeders Plate/Sapling – 2c; Kirlian. 2:02.9. $94,300, NSW Pink Bonnet, dam of Sandy Bay [1:57.7, $198,896, Fremantle Cup], A Flyin Dash [1:51.4US, $94,803], grand dam of Midnight Dylan [1:51.4US, $264,410, Pat Cranley Memorial]); grand dam of Jarita, 1:56.9, $70,606, WA Breeders/Empress Stakes); Sunsett (1:58.1, $100,963).
- 3rd dam of No Soup For You (1:59.6, $69.873, Loddon Valley Juvenile – 2f)
- Yankee Town (2:12.0, bay filly 1974 by Select Yankee), $815, 1 NSW win
- Yankee Leanne (2:09.6, bay filly 1975 by Select Yankee), $4,978, 7 (5 NSW/2 VIC) wins, NSW Springfield Globe 2f/3f
- Bernies Flame (unraced, chestnut filly 1978 by Knowing Fame), dam of 3 winners, grand dam of Garys Delight, VIC Eastern Challenge
- Rich Sister (pacer, bay filly 1982 by Richmond), $0, dam of 8 winners including Miss Paula 1:59.5, $159.395, NSW SS – 3f (will be subject of later Classic Mares article) and grand dam of Tentolife, 1:56.3, $77,025, VIC Central Victorian Pacing Championship
Next Article in series on Classic Winner Producing Mares : GAY ACRES
Peter Craig
3 May 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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