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 final decade 2013 – 2021.

2013 – 2021 :

2013 BETTOR COVER LOVER : 1:53.8, $1,026,427, millionaire; nineteen wins, fourteen places; by Bettors Delight from unraced Whats Next mare Front Cover Lover, dam of four winners from twelve foals.

Her grand dam was broodmare centurion Vain Franco (progeny won 154 races worldwide), unraced Holmes Hanover mare who left eleven winners (thirteen starters) from seventeen live foals. Vain Franco received 2014 Broodmare of Excellence Award for her achievements. Bred by Addington Breeding Ltd & Co (Nevele R/Fay Richwhite partnership) and with her progeny bred by Graham Pearson and/or Jeremy Tulley apart from Vogue Franco (Franco Breeding Ltd), Vain Franco’s eleven winners feature six in 1:57, three in 1:52, three $100k.

Among them was international globe-trotting mare Under Cover Lover, 1:51.4US, $864,923, twenty one victories including twelve in succession in NZ/Australia as a two/three year old. She was named two year filly/three year filly and four year old Pacing Mare of Year recording four group one victories, GN/NZ/NSW Oaks, Nevele R Fillies. Breeding wise grand dam of Vampiro, 1:52.9, $649,841 and Major Trojan, 1:54.1, $204,689, WA Derby.

Third dam Van Glory won eleven, including Metropolitan Championship/GN Oaks, second running of NZ Breeders Stakes (1974) pacing her quickest mile (1:59.6, mare’s mile record), placing third a year later. Van Glory is grand dam of Mon Poppy Day, WA/TAS Derbies, WA Golden Nugget and Parthenon, WA Oaks; third dam of Amongst Royalty, $½m, Bathurst Gold Tiara – 2f, AUS 2f Pacer of Year and All In Baby, WA Empress Stakes; fourth dam of Straittothehilton, WA Westbred Classic – 2f and Amore Vita VSS – 2f. Family traces to the McDonalds Rothschild mare through Malabella (Bellajilly, founder of extensive list of classy performers).

Bettor Cover Lover won NZSS – 2f, Jewels Diamond – 2f/5m, VIC Oaks (heat/final), Queen Of Hearts (also second), Premier Mares Championship (also second), named two year old filly pacer of year, four year old and older pacing mare of year, NZR 1700mM for 2F/overall 2yo’s. Bettor Cover Lover is the dam of five live foals for a two time winner in Betta Getta Lover.

2014 ADORE ME :  1:47.7AUS (1:51.6NZ), millionaire, $1,667,029; twenty six wins, seven places; by Bettors Delight from twice Broodmare of Year and Broodmare of Excellence Scuse Me by BG’s Bunny, Adore Me, tenth foal and tenth winner, first by Bettors Delight. Scuse Me held the all-comers NZ mile record of 1:53.5 for eleven seasons when set in the Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park, also winning GN Oaks.

Scuse Me’s ten winners feature eight in two minutes including millionaire Have Faith In Me, seven time group one winner including Miracle Mile, NZ Derby, Auckland Cup and Chariots Of Fire, Australasian gelding’s mile record of 1:47.5AUS at Menangle, 1:49.3US; Megabucks 1:49.3US; Imagine Me; NZ Pacing Broodmare of Year/Broodmare of Excellence Splendid Dreams, fourteen foals, nine sub 2:00 winners, dam of double millionaire Christen Me, 1:49.1AUS, ten group ones including Hunter/Victoria/Auckland/Easter Cups, Chariots of Fire, Messenger, NZFFA; Hands Christian, Easter Cup; Dream About Me (2019 Breeders Stakes); Aliante 1:55.9, dam of NZSS – 3f winner Enjoy Me; Splendid Deal, dam of Maxim, VIC Derby.

Unraced grand dam Super Smooth left eleven live foals for eight winners. Scuse Me was her first foal while notable others included Supabet 1:53.8AUS and Tricky Woman 1:56.2, dam of four winners including Bettor To Be Tricky 1:52.6 and Bettor Trix 1:51.3US. Third dam Time Lag is a half-sister to Remit and her descendants the “Whitby’s clan”, Whitbys Miss Penny et al. This is the North American family of Nora by Glencoe with the Australian influence commencing with Moonbeam prior to the family’s NZ base.

Adore Me’s major victories included twelve group ones : NZSS – 3f, GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Jewels Diamond – 3f/4m, Queen Of Hearts (twice), Premier Mares Championship, Easter Cup, NZ Cup, Ladyship Mile at Menangle (also second). She established NZ records over 1m 4yo/overall mares; 2200mM 4yo and older mares; 2400mM 4yo/overall mares; 2600m stand 4yo and older mares/overall NZR; 3200m stand 4yo and older mares/overall NZR and an Australasian mile record – mares/overall of 1:47.7AUS set on Sydney ID Grand Final day 2015.

Adore Me is the dam of two Sweet Lou race winning fillies, two year filly pacer of year Sweet On Me, 1:55.2, $246,960, six wins from seven starts, NZSS – 2f, Delightful Lady Classic, Jewels Diamond – 2f and Darling Me, 1:51.4, $126,166, six wins; Captain Treacherous three win colt Remember Me 1:56.2.

2015 VENUS SERENA : 1:52.1, $796,397, sixteen wins, six places; by recently deceased Matts Scooter stallion Mach Three from five win Falcon Seelster mare Inspiring Dash, dam of thirteen foals including Caduceus Club Classic two year old filly winner Rona Lorraine and Jen Marie, dam of NZ Derby winner Sheriff, 1:52.2US and Wrangler 1:48.8AUS.

Unraced grand dam Awesome Dream left five winners from twelve live foals and is grand dam of Dashofluck 1:50.0AUS. Third dam Lochaime dam of Corumba, Southern Supremacy/Welcome/Kindergarten Stakes. Fourth dam Witchlight dam of two year Pacer of Year and Messenger winner Trident and third dam of Lento, dual NZ Breeders Stakes winner (1995, 1996) and Bella Chip, among descendants Awesome Armbro, Bellas Boy, Winter Rose family including Bettors Strike. This is the family of Maud by Berlin, descendants include outstanding pacer Master Musician and dual NZ Breeders Stakes winner Shortys Girl (2002, 2003).

Venus Serena won the Caduceus Club Classic – 2f, NZSS – 2f, Jewels Diamond – 2f/3f, Nevele R Fillies, GN Oaks, two and three year old filly pacer of year, NZ mares mile record holder, 1:52.1 set on Jewels Day 2014 at Cambridge. Venus Serena’s NZ records included 1 mile 2yoF, 1950mM 2yof, 1 mile 3yoF/overall female, 1950mM 3yoF/overall female and 2700mM mare’s 4yo/overall. She is the dam of two Art Major colts to race, both winners including nine win Laver, 1:51.9 (Nelson).

2016 LUISANABELLE MIDFREW : 1:52.2AUS, $225,107, six wins, eight places; by Western Hanover line stallion American Ideal from Christian Cullen mare Lulabele Midfrew, winner of five races, dam of seven foals, three winners, first foal Luisanabelle Midfrew and Letsgotothehop, 1:52.5AUS.

Grand dam Lucinda Midfrew 1:56.9 won eight races and was dam of ten foals of whom five won races including Libertybelle Midfrew, 1:53.9, $640,497, WA Oaks, Golden Nugget, ID heat. Third dam Lu Baker winner of three races with Lucinda Midfrew the standout of five winning foals. Fourth dam Babalu was a trotter. From the family of Lady Irving which includes WA Derby winner Hilda Grattan and Sign Again Fremantle Cup.

The first three year old filly to win the NZ Breeders Stakes and first 3yo filly to win an open mares Grouo One race (2021 Queen Of Hearts winner Bettor Twist is the second), Luisanabelle Midfrew was bred and raced by former Chair of NZ Standardbred Breeders Association John Mooney and his wife Rebecca. Luisanabelle Midfrew won NZYSS – 3f and ran 1:52.2 at Menangle.

2017 THE ORANGE AGENT : 1:51.1NZ (1:53.7AUS), $725,542, twenty three wins, six places;  sire American Ideal out of placed Artiscape (Artsplace) mare Lady Fingers. Dam of ten foals, four winners including Australian three year old filly mile record holder Cheesy Fingers, 1:50.3AUS.

Grand dam Matter Of Fact, won four of twelve starts, dam of six winners from eleven foals including Cincinnati Kid, 1:55.0, $499,495, Ballarat Cup and grand dam of Vettel, 1:48.3US. Third dam Smooth Paula, dam of nine winners from eleven foals, with her fillies breeding on. This is the family of Tot Huon descending through Paulreta and Paulina (dam of GN Oaks winner Paula Scott, Paul Gentry, trotters Paulette, Rowe Cup [grand dam of Game Paul], Paula and Paul Evander); grand dam of Pauls Byrd, Yankee Paul and third dam of NSW Derby winner Fellas Pride) to the foundation mare.

The Orange Agents victories included GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Jewels Diamond – 3f, Breeders Crown – 3f, Queen Of The Pacific, three year old pacing filly, four year old pacing mare and aged pacing mare of year, NZ records included 1 mile mobile 3yoF/overall female, 1950mM 3yoF/overall female, 2200mM 3yoF/NZ 3yo record, 2700mM 3yoF, 1700mM 4yo mares, 2600mM 4yo mares/overall mares,. The Orange Agent was unbeaten in Australia, winning on five occasions, four at Melton.

2018 UTMOST DELIGHT : 1:52.7NZ (1:54.4AUS), $256,802, ten wins, nine places; by Bettors Delight from outstanding mare Victor Supreme, 1:56.4, $247,022, seventeen wins, ID heat, four year old and twice aged pacing mare of year. She was the dam of thirteen foals, Utmost Delight being her final foal, for seven winners. Unraced grand dam Charming Pride’s thirteen live foals produced five winners; unraced third dam Katarini produced three winners from ten foals including QLD FFAer/North American winner Max Brydon and was fourth dam of Franco Jamar 1:51.2AUS, $378,302. This is the Dillons Pride branch of the Harolds Rest family.

Utmost Delight was the winner of the Jewels Diamond – 4m, VIC Pure Steel, four year old mare pacer of year.

2019 DREAM ABOUT ME : 1:50.1AUS (1:53.3NZ), $1,375,085, millionaire; twenty five wins, thirteen places; by Bettors Delight from two win Dream Away mare Splendid Dreams, NZ Pacing Broodmare of Year/Broodmare of Excellence. For family details including grand dam Scuse Me and the family of Nora by Glencoe, refer Adore Me earlier.

Dream About Me won her first twelve races in succession as a two and three year old; winner of eleven group ones, only beaten once in nine Australian starts (second Robin Dundee Stakes, 1:49.3). Her last start in the Ladyship Mile at Menangle was won in a career best 1:50.1.

Significant victories were NZSS – 2f, Jewels Diamond – 2f, Breeders Crown – 2f, NZ/NSW Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Queen of Hearts (twice), Auckland Cup (also sixth), Ladyship Mile, named two and three year old filly pacer of year, four year and aged pacing mare of year and Australian 2yo pacing filly of year. Established NZ records over 1 mile mobile 2yoF, 1700mM 2yoF, 1950mM 3yoF/overall mares.

2020 WAINUI CREEK : 1:54.9NZ, $315,905; fourteen wins (eight WA), sixteen places; by Bettors Delight from non-winning Christian Cullen mare Christian Creek, dam of five winners from her first five foals. Her grand dam is five win Armbro Del mare Kahu Del who was the Broodmare of Excellence winner in 2016 thanks mainly to her trotting descendants –

• Kahlum, dam of outright champion trotter Lyell Creek; grand dam of Dominion Hcp winner Amaretto Sun; third dam of three time group one winner, former NZ Trotting mile record holder Marcoola T1:53.8
• Kahola, dam of Kahdon, GN Trotters Derby, VIC Trotters Oaks
• Lough Neagh, dam of Le Reveur T1:56.1US, Arboe T1:55.5AUS
• Why Not Girl, grand dam of Donegal Rundlescreek 1:53.3US, $393,729

and pacing winners Harnetts Creek, Cullens Creek.

Third dam Tee Kahu was dam of four year old trotting mare of the year By The Way. This is the family of Mavis Logan best known for its trotting prowess including Black Miller, King Charlie, Shezoneoftheboyz, Kinsclaugh).

Wainui Creek’s significant victories include NZSS Southern Mares Classic, WA Norms Daughter Classic and Empress Stakes. Wainui Creek was exported to Western Australia in September 2020.

2021 WATCH ME NOW : 1:53.3NZ, 1:49.3US, $149,655; seven NZ wins, six places; by Meadowlands Pace winning sire Hes Watching from non-winning Mach Three mare Mach N Elle, also dam of Darcee, 1:50.4US, $261,728. Race winning grand dam Elleuro has left three winners. Third dam Tena Tact, left eight winners from ten foals including Sapling Stakes winner Hes A Ten. Watch Me Now descends from the Tactics branch of the Red Diamond family – refer to NZ Breeders Stakes winners Its Ella and Tact Lizzie.

Her NZ Breeders Stakes victory was run in NZ record time over 2600mM for four year old and overall mare’s records. Exported to USA following her final race in an Addington FFA in May 2021, making her North American debut at the Meadowlands in July 2021 winning in 1:49.3US and again in 1:49.4 in September.

2022 : who will take out the coveted fiftieth running of the NZ Breeders Stakes on 11 February 2022??

This concludes what has been a brief five part overview of the breeding background associated with the past winners of the NZ Breeders Stakes.

Peter Craig

2 February 2022

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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