There are few examples of NZ broodmares whose progeny have totalled one hundred or greater wins between them. Their identities are below and it must be remembered that there could be others.
Currently (17 March 2020) there are at least thirteen NZ bred broodmares who can be considered centurions – included amongst them is the dam of the world’s first millionaire pacer; a mare whose only progeny to race has recorded a century plus of victories; another produced a classy international female pacer of the late 1990’s; a mare whose second last raced foal was her best performer; a pacing broodmare bred and owned by prominent trotting owners/breeders; a mare with a sub 1:50US performer and another who won eighty of her mares successes; a mare with dual gaited winners, none in Australia but considerable numbers of wins in North America; a mare whose progeny often featured the famed U Scott/Light Brigade cross; a mare who boasts a millionaire and successful sire; one mare with both a millionaire and a double millionaire among her foals whose own mother has achieved centurion status, she boasting two millionaires amongst her progeny; one who only has six winning credits in NZ but a massive number more in Australia and finally the current reigning champion with excellent records especially in NZ and North America together with further successes in Australia.
The illustrious list of mares are Desilu, Cath Hanover, Sabrina Bromac, Vain Franco, Colwyn Bay, Chaangerr, Paulina, Passive, Atomic Lass, Melvins Speed, Splendid Dreams, her dam Scuse Me and the latest entrant Fleets Pocket. Each story will be disclosed in later articles but a brief table outlining their achievements is set out below :
| NO OF WINS BY PROGENY BY LOCATION : | NZ | AUS | NA | TOTAL |
| Desilu (1960f U Scott/Mischevious) | 90 | 15 | 115 | 220 |
| Cath Hanover (1988 Vance Hanover/Chatter Box) | 32 | 48 | 105 | 185 |
| Sabrina Bromac (2000f Live or Die/Solo) | 6 | 166 | 0 | 172 |
| Vain Franco (1987f Holmes Hanover/Van Glory) | 29 | 59 | 66 | 154 |
| Colwyn Bay (1947f Josedale Dictator/Pleasure Bay) | 42 | 14 | 87 | 143 |
| Chaangerr (1990f Vance Hanover/Nells Pride) | 60 | 55 | 9 | 124 |
| Paulina (1952f Medoro/Lillette) | 47 | 0 | 67 | 114 |
| Passive (1941 U Scott/Violet Wrack) | 70 | 0 | 43 | 113 |
| Scuse Me (1993f BG’s Bunny/Super Smooth) | 70 | 19 | 22 | 111 |
| Splendid Dreams (2001f Dream Away/Scuse Me) | 72 | 23 | 13 | 108 |
| Atomic Lass (1986f Sokys Atom/Tudoress) | 41 | 52 | 14 | 107 |
| Fleets Pocket (2000f In the Pocket/Fleet Vance) | 46 | 59 | 0 | 105 |
| Melvins Speed (1986f Melvins Strike/Carlotta Lopez) | 7 | 94 | 0 | 101 |
It is interesting to note that there is another broodmare with an agonising closeness to the one hundred mark for her owners – Rob The Nest will remain stranded on ninety nine wins as all her progeny have completed their racing careers. Interestingly, the remarkable Berthabell (DOB 1909) achieved a standout tally of ninety five credits all in NZ (most credited to any NZ bred mare in NZ) during the 1920/1930’s, who remains’ just outside this special group of centurions while Niamey with ninety eight, Cyclone Vance with ninety seven winning credits and Twice As Good with ninety six are edging closer to the magical one hundred mark while Coo Doo was left sitting with ninety five credits.
ROB THE NEST (1989f Chiola Hanover/Tabella Robyn, family of Pottery Mountain, CF N82) : winner of six races, T2:08.1, $35,380; 11 live foals, 9 raced, 7 winners, three in two minutes, two in T1:56.0. Bred by National Bloodstock Corporation; all progeny bred by Neil Munro and/or Gary Allen.
| Winning Foals – | NZ | AUS | NA | TOTAL |
| 1998g Sonofthedon | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1999g Thedonsson | 9 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
| 2000f Charlotte Galleon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001f Whoisinthenest | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2002g Galleons Assassin | 10 | 3 | 20 | 33 |
| 2005g King Of Strathfield | 6 | 15 | 0 | 21 |
| 2009g Just Leave | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| Total foals : | 41 | 24 | 34 | 99 |
Rob the Nest is dam of Galleons Assassin (T1:55.2US), Aust Breeders Crown – 2T, NZ Trotters Derby, Australian and NZ 2yo C&G Trotter of Year; Thedonsson (T1:54.4US), NZ/GN Trotters Derbies, NZ 3yo C&G Trotter of Year; King Of Strathfield (T1:56.8)and grand dam of Wilmas Mate (T1:55.5), NZ Trotters Oaks, VIC Trotters Derby, Breeders Crown – 3T, Jewels – 4T, NZ 4YO Mare Trotter of Year; Temporale (T1:57.2), Rowe Cup, National Trot, Lyell Creek, Cambridge Trotters Mile, NZ 4yo H&G Trotter of Year; Amour De Frere, VIC Need For Speed – 3T (T1:56.5) and Royal Charlotte (T1:57.7), VIC/NSW Trotters Oaks.
Rob the Nest was accorded the NZ Broodmare of the Year Award in 2006.
BERTHABELL (1909f Peter the Great/Corona Mac; family of Kate by Highland Chief, CF U301} : Pacer, placed, $111; 16 foals, 11 winners, four in 2:10.0. Bred by CG Thompson, Kentucky, USA. All progeny bred by Etienne Le Lievre.
| Winning Foals – | NZ | AUS | NA | TOTAL |
| 1917h Worthy Bingen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1918h Great Bingen | 26 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 1920h Peter Bingen | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 1921f Bessie Bingen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1922f Bertha Bingen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1923h Great Peter | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 1924h Baron Bingen | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1925g Great Nelson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 1926h Great Parrish | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 1929f Corona Bell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1930h Ringtrue | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Total wins : | 95 | 0 | 0 | 95 |
One of several successful North American imports by Etienne Le Lievre, Berthabell arrived on NZ shores in 1914. Placed on three occasions from five starts, Berthabell numbered six daughters who bred on to leave substantial families. Her foals included six sons (and three daughters) by Nelson Bingen, with Worthy Bingen, Peter Bingen and Great Bingen notable in the siring ranks. Among her sixteen foals were winners of NZ Cup (Peter Bingen, twice), NZFFA (Great Bingen/Peter Bingen), GN Derby (Great Parrish/Great Peter) and Auckland Cup (Great Parrish).
NIAMEY (1998f Chiola Hanover/Game Flyer; another member of Australasia’s leading family Pride Of Lincoln, CF N1) : non-winning trotter; thirteen foals, nine raced, all winners, four sub two minutes, four $100,000, one a $½m winner. Bred by Mrs Jennifer Knight; all progeny bred by Trevor Casey, Ken Barron and Gary Allen except Arnold (Trevor Casey/Gary Allen), Dance With Dragons, Tyene, unregistered Sebastian K colt (Trevor Casey), Regal Appointment, Waiting For You (Gary Allen).
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | NA | G/T | MR | $ |
| 2004 | Lord Nelson (g Sundon) | 1 | – | – | 1 | T2:13.1 | 5,252 |
| 2005 | Pocaro (f Sundon) | 13 | – | – | 13 | T1:57.5 | 232,773 |
| 2006 | Ugly Betty (f Earl) | 2 | – | – | 2 | T2:03.9 | 24,909 |
| 2007 | Springbank Sam (g Sundon) | 20 | – | 9 | 29 | T1:55.1US | 545,702 |
| 2009 | Sun Of Anarchy (g Sundon) | – | 28 | – | 28 | T1:58.2 | 281,581 |
| 2010 | Daenerys Targaryen (f Majestic Son) | 4 | 11 | – | 15 | T1:58.2 | 143,723 |
| 2012 | Sam Galleon (g The Pres) | 5 | – | – | 5 | T2:06.0 | 29,316 |
| 2013 | Arnold (g Muscle Mass) | 4 | – | – | 4 | T2:01.3 | 35,080 |
| 2015 | Regal Appointment (g Majestic Son) | 1 | 1 | T2:07.3 | 4,840 | ||
| Total foals : | 50 | 39 | 9 | 98 | $1.4m+ |
Refer Harnessbred.com article of 4 March 2020 concerning Niamey – NZ Trotting Broodmare of Excellence Award winner for 2019.
CYCLONE VANCE (1998f Safely Kept/Cyclone Betsi, member of NZ family of Little Agnes, CF N65) : T2:06.1, $46,582; fourteen foals/one died, eight raced, all winners, six sub two minutes, two sub T1:55.0. Bred by Robert Jacobs, Mrs Annette Cameron; all progeny bred by Aaron Lowe, Mrs Annette MacFarlane with exception of Cyclone L Ko, Cyclone S Adams, Cyclone Lucky Linda, and unregistered Kadabra filly bred by Aaron Lowe and Todd MacFarlane who are current owners of Cyclone Vance.
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | TOTAL |
| 2004 | Cyclone Jake (g Muscles Yankee | 5 | 11 | 16 |
| 2007 | Cyclone Dream (g Dream Vacation) | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| 2008 | Cyclone U Bolt (g Dream Vacation)) | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 2009 | Glenferrie Typhoon (g Majestic Son) | – | 34 | 34 |
| 2010 | Cyclone Lucky Seven (g Majestic Son) | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 2011 | Cyclone Jeter (f Majestic Son) | 1 | 9 | 10 |
| 2014 | Cyclone L Ko (f Muscle Hill) | – | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | Cyclone S Adams (g Wishing Stone) | 1 | – | 1 |
| Total foals : | 24 | 73 | 97 |
** Conversion: $A1=$NZ1
Cyclone Vance is dam of half million dollar earner Glenferrie Typhoon (T1:54.4), Geat Southern Star heat/final, Maori Mile; dual Jewels Ruby winner at three and four Cyclone U Bolt (T1:54.5, NZ all comers record when recorded), City Of Sails FFA, Ordeal Trotting Cup, VIC Trotters Derby heat;
Cyclone Jake (T1:55.6), NSW Trotters Championship; Cyclone Jeter (T1:58.4), VIC Lightfoot Laurels, Chris Howe Cup; Cyclone Lucky Seven (T1:56.3), Swan Hill Trotters Cup and Cyclone Dream (T1:58.0).
TWICE AS GOOD (1988f Butler BG/Princess Nandina; a member of Australian family Lady Ajax (A2), NZ branch of Miss Fortune : five race winner, 1:56.5, $33,355; fifteen foals, eleven raced, nine winners, seven in two minutes, three 1:56.0, four $150,000. Bred by Cardigan Bay Breeding Ltd and Co (National Bloodstock offshoot); progeny bred by Steve and Anne Phillips (Twice The Spice, Twice As Fine, Twice As Hot, Waitfornoone, Trelise, Into the Fire); Robert Death (St Barts); Croon Bloodstock (Fight Fire With Fire, Twice As Great, Goodlookinggirl, Mark Dennis, Big Is Good, Good On Top); Breckon Bloodstock (Double Shot, Veddy Veddy Good.)
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | G/T | MR | $ |
| 1999 | Twice As Hot (f in the Pocket) | 5 | – | 5 | 1:59.6 | 53,580 |
| 2000 | Waitfornoone (f Albert Albert) | 11 | – | 11 | 1:55.7 | 201,804 |
| 2001 | Trelise (f Holmes Hanover) | 4 | – | 4 | 1:58.7 | 19,231 |
| 2003 | St Barts (h Island Fantasy) | 14 | 1 | 15 | 1:57.0 | 162,506 |
| 2004 | Fight Fire With Fire (f Artiscape) | 7 | – | 7 | 1:56.0 | 151,657 |
| 2006 | Goodlookinggirl (f Christian Cullen) | 1 | – | 1 | 2:03.5 | 5,277 |
| 2008 | Mark Dennis (g Bettors Delight) | 2 | 43 | 45 | 1:51.4 | 326,017 |
| 2009 | Big Is Good (g Art Major) | 2 | – | 2 | 2:00.3 | 11,471 |
| 2013 | Double Shot (f Bettors Delight) | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1:57.9 | 42,146 |
| Total foals : | 51 | 45 | 96 | $970k+ |
** Conversion: $A1/$US1=$NZ1
The 2019 NZ Broodmare of Excellence Pacing Award winner, dam of Mark Dennis (1:51.4), still racing competitively at Menangle aged eleven and winner of numerous SA features including Gawler Cup twice; free-for-all pacer St Barts and Waitfornoone, Queen Of Hearts, two Winter Cup and Thames Pacing Cup. Her fillies have bred on leaving Twice As Good grand dam of Elle Mac, 1:51.6, Caduceus Club Classic/NZSS – 2f, NZSS/Nevele R – 3f, GN Oaks, Jewels Diamond – 4m, $607,678; Flaming Flutter, SA Derby/Cup, $813,875, 1:52.2; Luis Alberto, 1:50.1US; Duplicated 1:49.2US; Miss Streisand 1:53.0 and many more both in New Zealand and Australia.
Refer also Harnessbred.com article of 25 February 2020.
COO DOO (1960 Morano/Lady Dimp; family of Mavis Wood, CF N24) : unraced; eighteen consecutive foals, fourteen raced plus two qualifiers, eleven winners, three in 2:02.0, one in 1:55.0, two $50k earners. Bred by Keith and Bevan Grice as were all Coo Doo’s progeny.
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | NA | G/T | MR | $ ** |
| 1967 | Stereo Light (g Local Light) | 6 | 0 | 21 | 27 | 2:01.2US | 37,040 |
| 1968 | Barbara Del (f Armbro Del) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2:03.6 | 18,440 |
| 1969 | Doctor Finlay (g Scottish Hanover) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:10.4 | 4,738 |
| 1970 | Palestine (h Scottish Hanover) | 18 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2:02.0 | 81,415 |
| 1971 | Pamelene (f Scottish Hanover) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:11.8 | 1,875 |
| 1972 | Nijinsky (g Armbro Del) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:10.8 | 1,265 |
| 1974 | Columnist (g Armbro Del) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2:01.3 | 16,195 |
| 1976 | Neptune (g Armbro Del) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:10.6 | 5,315 |
| 1980 | Aqaba (g Nat Lobell) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2:02.1AU | 18,162 |
| 1981 | Kiss And Coo (f Nat Lobell) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2:04.9 | 15,701 |
| 1983 | Finest Hour (g Mark Lobell) | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 1:55.0US | 59,602 |
| Totals : | 57 | 7 | 31 | 95 | $260k+ |
** Conversion: $US1=$A1=$NZ1
The dam of an incredible eighteen consecutive foal between 1967 and 1984 (aged 24) which may be a world record. Coo Doo had eight daughters who have bred on most successfully; examples include NZ Derby winner Captain Peacock, Kindergarten Stakes (Our El Nino, Rarest), provincial cups winner (Watch) Pulp Fiction 1:51.4, Lady Liberty – Open Mares (Life of Luxury, 1:51.0US), Smullin Memorial (Long Live America), Gee Up Neddy T1:56.6, Extender (1:49.1US, $835,803), Atom Love (1:49.4US, $542,786). Among her eighteen foals were Barbara Del (Welcome Stakes), Palestine (Matson FFA, Wellington/Kaikoura Cups, Hannon Memorial (twice), ID Pacing Consolation; sire of Stratum) and Finest Hour 1:55.0US.
Next time we will take a look at NZ’s most successful winning broodmare, the only double centurion in DESILU.
Peter Craig.
19 March 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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