I’m a great believer that life is more enjoyable when we are able to find hero’s to look up to and even better still when we get an opportunity to learn from them. In my case I have the privilege of being able to call Dr Ron Groves a very kind friend.
Ron is not only a man the breeding industry has the upmost respect for, he was also a very important factor in the setting up of Harnessbred.com. He also is credited as the man that conceived and developed the concept of Classic Families and its maternal family numbering system.
Ron has also written eBooks on the history of the Standardbred from a breeding perspective along with a series of articles containing thoughts on breeding theories. The eBooks and articles are available free at ClassicFamilies.net.
Dr Ron Groves’ commitment and contributions to our sport, is so extensive it’s hard to phrase or find the correct words. Put simply, he is outstanding!!!
Below is Ron’s work taken from the Classic Families web site, outlining why the U30 is our greatest producing family ever. I think it also gives yearling buyers and breeders some great insights if they really are looking to find the next super star of the sport.
Now boasting more winners than any other maternal family in Australasia, the Dairy Maid family made it’s way into New Zealand through the importation of the mare Norice in 1904. She began racing at age six, winning five of her first seven races before running second in the inaugural New Zealand Cup. She was the highest stake earner of that year.
Norice also campaigned in Australia, lowering the Australian mile record for mares, before retiring to stud in New Zealand and producing eleven Classic Progeny. Her pacing son Nelson Derby won the New Zealand Derby and Auckland Cup before becoming a successful sire while his trotting full brother, Native King, won the Rowe Cup and Dominion Handicap. Four of her daughters established branches of what has become the second most prolific producing family of Classic Winners in Australasia.
The family still continues to breed successfully in America where it can boast five millionaires and nineteen on the 1:50 list.
| State Treasurer | 2009 | M | U30 | $2,072,450 | Real Desire | Western Ideal |
| Mystical Maddy | 1993 | F | U30 | $1,436,325 | Matts Scooter | Most Happy Fella |
| Nines Wild | 1992 | M | U30 | $1,116,473 | Totally Ruthless | Direct Scooter |
| Armbro Positive | 1994 | M | U30 | $1,064,232 | Cam Fella | Temujin |
| Lotta Soul | 1990 | M | U30 | $1,052,015 | No Nukes | Albatross |
In Australasia the family has five millionaire pacers; Holmes DG, Sokyola, Monkey King, Karloo Mick and Iraklis. This is more than any other family.
The fastest is dual Derby winner is Lavros Star (1:50.0US). Of those racing only in Australasia, the geldings Monkey King (1:50.8), Been in Trouble (1:53.9), Iraklis (1:54.2) and dual Harness Horse of the Year, Sokyola (1:54.6), lead the way. The greatest performers of the last fifty years include 1962 Hunter Cup winner, Adios Court, and world record holder of the seventies, Mount Eden (1:56.6TT).
Five pacers have amassed an enormous number of Classic Race wins. Sokyola leads the way with thirty three, followed by Monkey King on thirty, and Holmes DG and Karloo Mick with twenty five
| Monkey King | 2002 | G | U30 | $3,332,513 | Sands A Flyin | Smooth Fella |
| Holmes DG | 1994 | G | U30 | $1,943,029 | Holmes Hanover | Son of Afella |
| Sokyola | 1996 | G | U30 | $1,890,990 | Sokys Atom | Chiola Hanover |
| Karloo Mick | 2000 | G | U30 | $1,493,155 | Panorama | Fortitude Hanover |
| Iraklis | 1992 | M | U30 | $1,019,042 | Vance Hanover | Knowing Bret |
| Im Victorious | 2007 | G | U30 | $752,035 | Washington VC | Sokys Atom |
| Brabham | 1990 | M | U30 | $720,267 | New York Motoring | Armbro Del |
| Dasher VC | 2006 | G | U30 | $632,072 | Washington VC | Surmo Hanover |
| Hexus | 1998 | G | U30 | $554,229 | Classic Garry | Windshield Wiper |
| Gaius Caesar | 2006 | G | U30 | $546,936 | Julius Caesar | Falcon Seelster |
When you take in Ron’s extremely well researched report above and the APG online guide below, it gives a fantastic view of Bettors Delight’s stallion power – he is the king.
In this weekend’s APG Melbourne Sale there are 11 Lots in total from the U30 family. However, there is only one by the king, Bettors Delight – the highly credentialed lot 168. I’m of the view that this lot would give any meticulously researched buyer a wonderful opportunity to invest in a yearling that has a far greater percentage of achieving lifetime earnings exceeding $100K than his contemporaries . Put simply, this is the only horse in the sale with the Testmating Advantage.
I hope you enjoy the clip below and I look forward to seeing you at this very special event on Sunday in Melbourne. For those you who can’t make it, don’t forget to tune into APG-TV for all the exciting happenings out of the sales ring.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
