NZ BREEDERS STAKES – FIFTY YEARS OF WINNERS BREEDING DECADE BY DECADE

This article will take a specific look at the breeding of the winners of the NZ Breeders Stakes for the decade 1993 – 2002.

1993 – 2002 :

1993 BLOSSOM LADY : see earlier under 1983 – 1992 decade

1994 TIGERISH : 1:57.0, $491,957, fifteen wins, twenty one places; by BGs Bunny stallion Butler BG out of Tiger Wave mare Tiger Dale, an eight race Victorian winner including VIC Oaks, dam of thirteen foals (four NZ, nine AUS) for six winners of which Tigerish was the standout. Unraced grand dam Waitaki Dale also left Adieu Girl, dam of Legal Brief 1:54.4US. Third dam Kid Dale produced the very well performed Waitaki Hanover, GN Derby, Auckland Cup, NZFFA, Hunter Cup, ID Heat/Consolation and dam sire of Nevele R Fillies winner Genuine Product. She was also third dam of Messenger winner Rostriever Hanover.

A precocious juvenile pacer, Tigerish was the winner of Caduceus Club 2yo Classic, GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Taylor Mile, VIC – Queen Of Pacific with significant placings in Premier Mares Championship – second, NZ Derby – third and fourths in both NZ and Auckland Cups. She was two and three year old filly of year and equal four year old pacing mare of year with Pay Me Back.

Dam of twelve foals for six winners, Tigerish proved to be a productive broodmare including nine race winner Justa Tiger. Her fillies include two year old filly pacer of year Tiger Turner, Caduceus Club Fillies Classic, dam of All Tiger 1:49.1US, $496,107, grand dam of Texas Tiger 1:51.7AUS; Tigerish is grand dam of Bit Of A Tiger 1:50.1US

1995, 1996 LENTO : 1:56.4, $272,110, fifteen wins, fifteen places; by Most Happy Fella stallion Peoples Blue Chip from Patron Score mare Orbell, Lento is a member of the Maud by Berlin family. Her unraced fourth dam Witcha (grand dam of Armbro Wings, GN Derby; third dam of millionaire Master Musician) left Witchlight, the dam of Trident, Messenger and fourth dam of 2015 NZ Breeders Stakes winner Venus Serena, dam of Laver 1:51.9. Grand dam Light Chase is dam of the unraced Orbell, a prolific producer who in addition to Lento was responsible for Abbeybell, dam of Awesome Armbro, 1:49.4US, $849,309 and Bella Chip, 1:52.3US, dam of Bellas Boy, 1:52.0US, $437,564, VIC Derby and Winter Rose, winner of NZSBA Broodmare of Excellence Award. Winter Rose is dam of Bettors Strike, $789,764, TAS/VIC Cups, second NZ Cup; Ardens Choice, Caduceus Club 2yo Classic; Bella Arden; Southwind Arden, dam of South Coast Arden 1:51.3, Jewels Emerald – 4, NZFFA; Rocknroll Arden.

Two time winner of the NZ Breeders Stakes (also second), Lento won the Southland Oaks, twice successful in Premier Mares Championships (also second), ID heat, VIC Queen of Pacific, ran third in the NZ Oaks and NZFFA (twice), was voted five year old and older pacing mare of year.

Dam of eleven foals for eight winners, most significant being only filly winner, Whanau, 1:57.1, $137,726, Nevele R Fillies, dam of six winners, grand dam of Vintage Cheddar, Junior FFA..

1997 ADIO ROUTINE : 1:55.8TT (1:56.9), $249,961, fifteen wins, fourteen places; by Meadow Skipper line stallion Equitable II from unraced Oma Routine, dam of two other winners, by colonial stallion Wee Win (Easter Cup, three ID heats). Winning grand dam Local Routine’s juvenile colt Lord Patron one of five winners won Lordship Stakes, while unraced third dam Royal Routine produced five foals, all winners. This family goes back to foundation mare Linton, a regular producer just before and after the turn of the twentieth century.

Adio Routine also ran second in NZ Breeders Stakes in 1999 and was a winner of Queen Of Hearts, Premier Mares Championship, two ID heats, VIC Queen Of Pacific, second in Messenger and fourth in an ID Pacing Grand Final. She was voted pacing mare of year at four and as a five year old and older mare.

Dam of six foals for three winners and grand dam of SA Derby winner Our Jimmie.

1998 THERES A FRANCO : 1:57.7, $217,588, thirteen wins, thirteen places; by Meadow Skipper line stallion and champion Australasian sire Holmes Hanover from El Patron mare Tango Franco from Tiger Wave mare Tempest Tiger. Significant here is that Holmes Hanover (owned by Nevele R Stud co – proprietor Bob McArdle), Tango Franco bred by and Tempest Tiger were all owned by Nevele R supremo Wayne Francis. Dam Tango Franco was exceptionally productive in the broodmare paddock leaving fourteen live foals for eight winners including Franco Thunder 1:51,2US; This Time Franco, Caduceus Club 2yo Classic. Nevele R Fillies, NZSS – 3f, Ladyship Stakes, two and three year old filly pacer of year; many of Tango Franco’s fillies and their progeny bred on, grand dam of Three Blind Mice, WA Derby; third dam of Tralee Bromac 1:50.9AUS, Motu Crusader, Sunshine Sprint 1:52.9, $361,343, La Norvic De Milo, Delightful Lady 2yo Classic; fourth dam of Motu Premier, 1:53.0, $397,952.

Theres A Franco’s grand dam Tempest Tiger was a class mare winning seven of her twelve career starts, Messenger, NZ Broodmare of Year leaving nine winners from twelve live foals including Franco Tiger 1:53.9TT, $991,387, Miracle Mile, AUST/QLD Pacing Championships, SA Cup, Treuer Memorial; fourth dam of Kimba Bay, WA Westbred Classic and WASS – 2c and fifth dam of WA Oaks winner Benesari Lane. The family traces back to foundation mare Miss Poole.

Winner of both NZ Oaks and Ladyship Stakes at three, Theres A Franco was second in Nevele R Fillies final, second and fourth in Premier Mares Championships and fourth in NZ Cup, she was crowned five year and older mare pacer of year in the season she won her NZ Breeders Stakes (also fifth twice). Dam of four winners from nine foals, Franco the Man, 1:51.3US;, four win Theres A Dancer, dam of five winners including WA winner Ocean Ridge and McClinchie 1:51.3US; Theres A Franco is grand dam of Franco Totem 1:48.1US.

1999 TARTAN LADY : 1:57.6, $134,544, thirteen wins, six places; by Meadow Skipper line stallion Holmes Hanover from a race winning Smooth Fella mare Imperial Tartan, dam of three winners including Tartan Lady and seven race winner Imperial Phoenix. Unraced grand dam Imperial Kilt left three winners, nine race winner Imperial Time and four win producing dam Imperial Kiora, dam of ten win Imperiora; trotter Imperial Trick six NZ wins, T1:59.2US; four win Imperial Blaze 1:53.1US. Non-winning third dam Imperial Frost left Imperial Dream, three NZ wins, 1:58.4US and Ice Wise, seven wins. This family traces back to Mid Canterbury’s Hoods Polly.

The NZ Breeders Stakes win was one of three contested by Tartan Lady finishing sixth and eighth in the other two. Tartan Lady was a winner of the Southland Oaks and Central Otago Cup, second in NZ Oaks, fourth in Nevele R Fillies, third and fifth in Premier Mares Championships (also tenth). Dam of nine foals for seven winners, best of which has been Tartan Rover, eight wins.

2000, 2001 KYMS GIRL : 1:57.3, $581,918, eighteen wins, twenty two places;  by Gene Abbe line stallion Man Around Town sire of another well performed mare in Imagine That, NZSS – 2f, Queen Of Hearts. From unraced Lumber Dream mare Ribbonwood Spangle, producer of one winning foal in Kyms Girl. Her grand dam Espanga was also unraced while it is not until her fourth dam Roschana is reviewed that family performers from Lady Disdain are revealed : GN/NSW Derby and Auckland Cup winner Cardinal Garrison and numerous fillies who bred on including Geni Globe third dam of trotters Positively Dangerous and Pure Ardenalin; Yankee Spirit, grand dam of Freightman, Champion and Timaru Challenge Stakes at three.

Another NZ Cup winning mare Kyms Girl won successive NZ Breeders Stakes as well as Premier Mares Championship and Treuer Memorial in Australia at the highest level. She was the dam of seven foals for three winners, best of which Here We Go Again won a Ladyship Stakes.

2002 SHORTYS GIRL : 1:56.5, $223,276, eleven wins, eight places; by National Bloodstock’s imported Most Happy Fella stallion New York Motoring from one race winner Sokys Girl by another National Bloodstock import Sokys Atom. Shortys Girl continued the trend of consecutive NZ Breeders Stakes victories began by Kyms Girl. Shortys Girl was Sokys Girl first foal and only winner from two live foals. Unraced grand dam Spy Girl was born in Australia having been bred with leading sire Kentucky before arriving in New Zealand as a three year old. She went onto produce Australian winners Motoring Mike, Sokys Boy and Shortys Star among her thirteen foals. Third dam Watchout left Tasmanian Derby winner Spyglass. Fourth dam Watcher is notable for her foal Witcha whose family branch includes Master Musician, Awesome Armbro, Lento, Whanau, Armbro Wings, Trident, Winter Rose and many others (refer Lento above).

Shortys Girl was also a winner of the Southland Oaks, Southern Country Cups Championship and Wairio Cup, all in her home province of Southland. Dam of five winners from nine live foals including Shortys Nate 1:51.2AUS.

Next Time : Decade 2003 – 2012

Peter Craig

19 January 2022

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

Driving The Future Of Harness Racing