Small time breeder strikes Gold
When Park Life took out the APG Fillies final at Menangle on the last Saturday in April it was a huge thrill to her breeder Mario De Carlo.
Mario only ventured into the breeding game three years ago and now has a Group 1 trophy on his mantelpiece; born in Sicily 57 years ago he has long been involved in both racing standardbreds and also thoroughbreds.
De Carlo raced Melton Multimax a prolific winner in the early 2000’s in Queensland before being sold to the US were he won five races, he also owned a handy thoroughbred Picablu who won 14 races and almost $400,000 in prizemoney.
He currently races a small team including handy pacer called Zac Mac trained by Darren Hooper.
The Park Life story started when De Carlo purchased her dam Strawbs Interact as a racing proposition from New Zealand breeder Brian Wastney in 2010.
Strawbs Interact won five races in Australia before a knee injury cut short her racing career, she was sent to the breeding barn with the notable cross of In The Pocket over a Beach Towel mare Strawbs Interact would be given every chance to breed a good horse.
Her first foal Wishitwasheaven, like Park Life is by Rock N Roll Heaven, and to date he has won 1 race from 13 starts. Park Life after her APG success has won 3 from 6 and $168,329 in stakes and Strawbs Interact has a yearling colt by Always A Virgin to come.
Di Carlo told Harnessbred.com “the mare is in foal to Roll With Joe and will go back to Rock N Roll Heaven next season.”
When asked about his other breeding interests Di Carlo replied “ I have three mares at present but we’re looking at another mare at the moment. I would like to boost my breeding stocks.”
“I have a nice mare Straws Posh Dream, who we also got from Brian (Wastney) she had a filly go through the same sale as Park Life.” he said.
“When Park Life went through the sales ring I was in Las Vegas, she went for just $16,000 but I am over the moon she has won a group 1 race now.” Di Carlo added.
A painter and builder Di Carlo is looking to hand is business interests to his son and spend more time on harness racing “ I am looking to maybe buy a property to keep mares on and would like build a track to make it a complete harness racing centre, a present the mares are at Burwood Stud who do a wonderful job with them.” He said.
Mario Di Carlo and partner Kim McKewan look set to be involved in harness racing in Queensland for many years to come “it great that this filly (Park Life) was bred and sold in Queensland it’s just the boost Queensland needs and you can quote me I will bred another Group 1 winner.” And who could argue with him given his record in such a brief period as a breeder.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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