One of the more recent graduates to the centurion broodmare class, Atomic Lass’s second last foal proved to be the outstanding individual of her progeny – Auckland Reactor. Her progeny had success in New Zealand and Australia with one, Matuka winning in North America.
ATOMIC LASS (1986 Sokys Atom/Tudoress; family of Flora by Berlin, CF N40) : winner of two races (Alexandra Park, Cambridge), 2:01.9, $9,635; twelve foals, nine raced plus qualifier, eight winners, four in two minutes, two in 1:54, three $100k earners including a millionaire. All Atomic Lass’s progeny were bred by Tony Parker, Auckland.
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | NA | G/T | MR | $ ** |
| 1992 | Taupo Tiger (g Ok Bye) | 2 | 2 | – | 4 | 2:03.9 | 16,435 |
| 1994 | Cheapskate (g Tuapeka Knight) | – | 20 | – | 20 | 2:01.2 | 47,949 |
| 1995 | Waitaki Warrior (g New Yok Motoring) | 4 | 2 | – | 6 | 2:00.7 | 55,934 |
| 1997 | Taihape Tickler (g New York Motoring) | 3 | 16 | – | 19 | 1:57.1 | 183,919 |
| 1998 | Matuka (g Miles McCool) | 3 | – | 14 | 17 | 1:53.1US | 125,603 |
| 2001 | Rifle Dragon (g Badlands Hanover) | 1 | 7 | – | 8 | 1:59.8 | 58,112 |
| 2002 | Twilight Beauty (f Badlands Hanover) | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2:01.6 | 12,630 |
| 2004 | Auckland Reactor (h Mach Three) | 27 | 5 | – | 32 | 1:52.9 | 1,759,374 |
| Totals : | 41 | 52 | 14 | 107 | $2.2M+ |
** Conversion: $US1=$A1=$NZ1
Atomic Lass’s dam Tudoress won seven races, five Alexandra Park, 2:02.9, $18,223. Among her six live foals were four race winners : Atomic Lass, Gene Tudor (1:57.2US), Russley Bridge (five wins) and Russley Emperor (2:01.9AUS). Unraced filly Danty Bess left Kiwi Nigh, a six race winner in NZ/AUS.
This is the family of Flora by Berlin tracing through to Atomic Lass. Flora was a successful winner producing mare with filly foal DIC proving to be one of a number of Young Irvington mares who were very successful, others included Dusky Morn, grand dam of Loyal Nurse (NZ/AK Cups) and third dam of Lady Joss (ID Pacing Consolation). DIC was the founding mare of a prolific winning family.
DIC 2:25.4; £51, one win; eleven foals, ten winners with all but Peter Mac, Peterson and Downfall (AE Ives) of her foals bred by H Hendrickson. DIC by Young Irvington (Irvington, Hambletonian 10’s only son to come to NZ), had her first start on 26 May 1900. She won one race, Electric Hcp at NZMTC meeting, Addington (1902/03 season). DIC’s progeny included Admiral Wood (Wildwood Junior), NZ Derby (in winning set 3yo colts record for 1½ miles of 3:27.4; winning driver Charles Kerr died following a car accident driving home after the Derby victory), NZFFA and Auckland Cup together with a third in NZ Cup. Exported to Australia he successfully stood at stud in Victoria for Bill Tomkinson leaving thirty two winners. Papanui won an Otahuhu Cup and was second in an Auckland Cup while Peter Mac (half-brother to Admiral Wood, by Petereta) was successful in the NZ Derby.
DIC’s full sisters Mabel Wood and Monica bred on, Monica ancestress of Hoover (1:57.2US at Hollywood Park). Sylvie was the dam of Norwood (Westport Cup) and later descendants include Sylvia Mint (Fremantle Cup), Goldon (Rosso Antico Stakes 3T). Miss Florrie C (Wildwood) was winner of 1907 Easter Hcp at Addington. The family branch originating from DIC is still going strong today, particularly in Australia, through four foals from Safely Kept mare My Ami Lee : full brothers and sister Renaissance Man NSWSS – 2c, SA Derby)/My General Lee (Treuer Memorial) and Louvre (NSW Breeders Challenge 2&3f, APG 3f ), half-sister Miss Hazel (Australian Pacing Gold (APG) 3f, NSW Oaks).
DIC left OIC by Australian bred sire OYM, by American bred Charles Derby stallion Owyhee, from the great Australian pacing mare Mystery, holder of the Australian Pacers mile, Pacers Mares’ mile and Australasian Pacers mile records on a number of occasions in the early to mid-1890s. OIC left Ecstacy, she in turn was dam of Estatic whose unraced filly Russley Girl (descendants include NZ Cup winner James, GN Derby winner Russley Rascal) produced Atomic Lass’s grand dam Russley Song, she being the dam of Tudoress, Atomic Lass’s dam.
Atomic Lass’s male progeny included :
Taupo Tiger, won two at Alexandra Park for Mark Purdon prior to export to Australia where he won another two races in Victoria, 2:03.9
Cheapskate, non-winner in NZ before winning seventeen races in country Victoria and three at Broken Hill, NSW
Waitaki Warrior, the winner of four in NZ (one Addington, three Alexandra Park), thirds in Flying Stakes and NZ Derby for Mark Purdon before being exported to Australia where a further two wins were recorded at Bankstown including O’Shea Guineas
Taihape Tickler, full brother of Waitaki Warrior, won three of nine 3yo NZ starts at Alexandra Park (including first start) for Mark Purdon, GN Stakes but unplaced in a couple of Group races. Sold to Australia, winner of sixteen races (three VIC/one Moonee Valley; thirteen Gloucester Park), 1:57.1, $183,919. Perth victories included WA Listed Classics, New Seasons Pace and Lord Mayors Cup with thirds in Group Three’s JP Stratton Cup and Mount Eden Sprint
Matuka, won three as a three year old at Alexandra Park for trainer Tony Herlihy before exported to North America where a winner of fourteen races, p7, 1:53.1US, $125,603
Rifle Dragon, Alexandra Park two year winner with further seven WA victories, two at Gloucester Park, 1:59.8AUS
Auckland Reactor, Atomic Lass’s eleventh foal of twelve when aged eighteen having missed the two previous seasons after ten foals, was a glamour pacer spanning the first and second decades of the twenty first century and now successful sire. By Direct Scooter line stallion Mach Three, commencing racing as an early three year old, Auckland Reactor won his first seventeen starts in NZ year old. Good enough to win a Sires Stakes heat at his third start, he completed his first Group One two starts later in the NZSS – 3 Open final at Addington (NZ Cup Day 2007).
Further significant victories at three included Flying Stakes, NZ Derby and Southern Supremacy Stakes, his final three year old start (didn’t contest Jewels). At four, his winning streak continued including the Junior FFA and NZFFA (1:54.0MR for 2000m) at 2008 NZ Cup carnival, Franklin Cup, Waikato Flying Mile (1:53.5), Cambridge 4yo Classic before his first defeat at Cambridge (January 2009) by All Tiger in the 4yo Futurity.
At his next start won NZMTC Summer FFA, followed by $600K Auckland Cup prior to contesting the 2009 Gold Coast ID’s – heat win and second, unplaced in Grand Final. Auckland Reactor completed his four year old career with a Group One grand slam of Taylor Mile, Messenger and Jewels Emerald (twenty four wins to end of 4yo career).
At five, again won Junior FFA and fifth in NZFFA, followed by oversea trips that brought little success – sixth in 2009 Miracle Mile before an underwhelming North America campaign in mid-2010 where he qualified in q1:51.4US but earned only US$2,560 from three non-place bearing starts.
Back in NZ in early 2011, first up at Ashburton he paced his fastest ever winning mile time of 1:52.9 before failing in two Auckland Group features. Starting off the 2011/12 season (aged seven) at Addington, winner of New Brighton Cup and then Ashburton Flying Stakes, a third Australian campaign followed. After winning Ballarat Pure Steel and second in Hunter Cup, the 2012 Perth ID’s beckoned. A stylish winner of all three of his heats, Auckland Reactor finished seventh in Im Themightyquinn’s Pacing Grand Final.
Four unplaced efforts before Christmas 2012, were followed by a fourth in Waikato Flying Mile early 2013 and a final Australian campaign resulting in a third in Bendigo Cup and unplaced in Ballarat Cup, his final start.
Injuries and illnesses plagued Auckland Reactor at various stages of his career. Retired to stand at stud (Alabar, Auckland), the winner of six Group Ones, millionaire ($1.759m), q1:51.4US, 1:52.9NZ, 3yo colt/gelding Pacer of Year, 4yo horse/gelding Pacer of Year, Pacer Of Year (twice), Harness Horse of Year, NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee. His major siring credit to date is Chase Auckland, 1:52.2, eight NZ, first seven in succession/one Menangle win, NZSS/NZYSS – 3c, GN Derby, 3yo colt/gelding Pacer of year.
With several crops on the ground and his oldest progeny now five, Auckland Reactor has left sixty seven winners (one trotter, 33 in 2:00) in NZ and ninety three in Australia as at mid June 2020. These include prominent multiple Group One winner Chase Auckland in NZ, 1:50.4, $736,069, twelve NZ/two AUS wins (NZSS – 3c, GN Derby, NZFFA) and good mare Soho Burning Love (twelve wins/six Melton, 1:52.6, $246,840 ) in Australia.
Atomic Lass’s fillies included :
Lacewing, qualified, dam of three winners, Sweep (two NZ/three Launceston wins), Eyecatcher Dream (non-winner NZ, three WA wins, two Gloucester Park, grand dam of twelve race winner AUS Im Shadow Boxer), Brown Drake, a Hawera winner and Hilda, dam of two winners
Bishops Blessing, non-winner, dam of four winners including Devil Dodger, winner of twelve NZ races, eleven at Alexandra Park, Kumeu Stakes with a second in Jewels Emerald – 3 and twenty six victories in Australia (one Melton, nine Menangle, sixteen QLD/fifteen Albion Park), Breeders Crown – 3c, at Albion Park – Lord Mayors Cup, Flashing Red, at Menangle Les Chant Cup, third in an ID heat, 1:50.8, $724,666; Silence Is Golden, two Alexandra Park wins, dam of Addington winner and eleven Albion Park wins, Speech Is Silver, 1:53.0AUS; May Fly, two Alexandra Park wins, dam of Harpagus (one NZ/eight VIC, four Melton wins, 1:54.7AUS); The Devils Own, three Addington wins, NZYSS – 2c, 1:52.4, $239,475, second in Jewels Emerald – 2 and thirds in NZSS – 2c, Victoria Derby; Bishops Dream, dam of two winners
Twilight Beauty, Alexandra Park winner, dam of three winners/two Australian winners, October Brown (seven WA wins, 1:56.9, $72,036) and Racketeer Reactor (Upsy Daisy in NZ; four WA wins, 1:57.2, $24,291)
Hearty Lass, unraced dam of two winners including The Parade, exported to Australia as a yearling. The winner of twenty two in WA, with fourteen victories at Gloucester Park including The Johnson, Races For Roses, Golden Girls Mile, Empress Stakes and Group One WA Mares Classic. Seconds in WA Oaks, Daintys Daughter, Norms Daughter and third in WA Breeders Stakes, 1:53.2, $425,999; dam also of Cry Havoc, two WA starts for a win at Pinjarra, 1:55.9
Peter Craig
17 June 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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