NZ BROODMARE “CENTURION” : FRENCH FLAIR

This broodmare centurion bred all her progeny in Australia after qualifying and being lightly raced in New Zealand. Her winners include two foals who each recorded sixty or more wins, two millionaires and a $500,000 winner. The mare is French Flair who left a combination of winners in NZ, Australia and North America.

FRENCH FLAIR (1988f Preux Chevalier/Fujilene; family of Lady Ajax, CF A2) : 2:00.6, fourteen wins, $43,343; eleven live foals, nine raced, eight winners, four in sub 1:52.0, two millionaires, three $500k. Bred by John Penney (former NZMTC and Harness Racing NZ Chairman); all foals bred by WP Hill, Queensland except Flair For Life, Like Jagger and Epaulette (Harshall Investments Pty Ltd, Victoria).

** Conversion: $US1=$A1

French Flair, had three 4yo starts in New Zealand from the Tim Butt stable for a placing in her first start before exported to Australia. Here she won on fourteen occasions (eleven NSW/five Harold Park; three QLD/one Albion Park), 2:00.6, $43,343. Her eight winning progeny have almost the perfect split of wins between Australia (98) and North America (105).

Ironically, French Flair’s sire was Australian pacing champion Preux Chevalier and the family she belongs to traces back to Edith and Australian foundation mare Lady Ajax – complete Australian link together with all her foals being bred in Australia. Sire Preux Chevalier the winner of forty races in Australia (WA Pacing/Winfield Gold/Hunter/Harold Park Cups, ID Grand Final, Miracle Mile, QLD Pacing Championship) and one in NZ (NZFFA; fourth NZ Cup; second Airport Travelodge FFA from three starts), 1:54.3, $791,331, Grand Circuit champion and Harness Horse of Year. Sire of 74 winners in Australia and 53 in NZ including Ryans Day SA Cup and broodmare sire of 69AUS/86NZ.

French Flair’s dam Fujilene (Sir Dalrae) was unraced, being the dam of four live foals, Two of Fujilene’s foal raced, both winners, “French Flair” and Eastwood Dream, the winner of two, 2:04.6, $10,240.

Grand dam Kasha (Scottish Command), pacer race placed on eight occasions from thirty three starts, $1,110. Dam of nine live foals, four to race for three winners including

• Rimaldi, single NZ victory and winner in North America, 2:00.2US, $6,966
• Tekau, winner of one race in NZ and five in Australia (four VIC/one SA), 2:03.3AUS, $12,095
• Willow Chip, six wins, 2:02.7, $34,425, two at Addington including final start
• Fujilene (see above), one of only three fillies from Kasha and the only one bred from

Third dam Chiffon (Johnny Globe), was an eight race winning pacer, 2:08.0, $10,760, Wyndham Juvenile at three and Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup as an eight year old at Addington. Three of her wins were at Addington and she won over 2 miles on the final race day at the New Brighton grass track on 21 September 1963 (club transferred to Addington Raceway). Chiffon was the dam of eleven foals, ten raced for six winners and an unraced qualifier. :

• Chiffonette, single placing, $80; dam of five for three winners including Keyette, three NZ wins/North America winner, 2:02.4US, $37,772; Armbroette, non-winner in NZ, winner in North America, 1:58.2US $47,854
• Frenchelle, four NZ wins/winner in North America, 2:04.2US, $12,718, Eastern Southland 3yo Hcp
• Helenca, four wins, 2:08.3, $4,355, Northland Cup; dam of three for dual winner Perloc
• Guipure, four wins/one Alexandra Park, 2:10.0, $7,050, Stratford Cup; dam of ten foals, eight raced all winners including :
• Nicola Mary, two NZ wins, 1:55.4US, $76,744, NZSS – 2f, Waikato Oaks
• NZ winners – Brocade, 2:06.2, $7,925, dam of winners in North America; Kala Silk, 2:02.9, $9,2489; Velcrose, 2:03.2, $19,560
• winners in NZ and Australia – My Chiffonier (AUS only) 2:08.1AUS, $4,135; Stravinski, 2:02.8AUS, $14,947
• winners in NZ and North America – Fidalgo, 1:58.2US, $34,638; Wrackman 2:01.2US, $13,151
• Angora, three wins, 2:12.4, $4,425; dam of thirteen foals, five raced for three winners including Our Orsini, NZ winner and in North America, 1:58.3US, $129,625
• Kasha (see above)
• Antron, three NZ wins/winner in North America, 2:01.3US, $8,809
• Aquilla, one win, 2:10.2, $1,824; dam of ten foals, four to race for three winners

Fourth dam Luckylast, winner of six races over five seasons, 2:11.3, $3,690, dam of eight foals (Chiffon her first), four winners including :

• Chiffon (as above)
• Dacron, six wins, 2:08.7, $8,085; Canterbury Juv – 2, Hororata Challenge Stakes, NZMTC Presidents Hcp, Gore Cup
• Lucky Song, six NZ wins (one as a pacer 2:16.2; five as a trotter, T2:12.8), $4,741 (NZ earnings only); also winner in Australia (T2:09.2) including Shepparton/NSW Easter and Summer Trotters Cups, Aust Trotting Championship heat
• Dainty, unraced dam of one foal, one race winner Vonnell, 2:19.6, $825; dam of six winners including Trevira (winner of sixteen, 1:59.6, $119,055; Easter/Ashburton Cups, two Waikato Flying Miles), Trilobal (1:59.0US, $34,650, New Brighton Cup), Tokorangi (2:05.1, $15,295, Franklin Cup; dam of Power and Glory, 1:53.4US, $166,922), Tricotine (2:08.2, $17,395; dam of Just Royce, 2:00.4, $147,595, second in NZ Cup to Il Vicolo)
• My Luck, non-winning pacer, $0; dam of four winners including leading juvenile Hill High, nine NZ wins (all at Alexandra Park, five at two), 2:00.2US, $66,030, Thames Juvenile, GN Stakes and Cardigan Bay Stakes at two
• Super Star, unraced dam of three winners including
• Kay Tina, T2:14.8, $885; grand dam of Cornishman (T1:56.2US, $214,024), third dam of Eisenhower (twelve wins, T2:03.9, $95,344) and fourth dam of Kheiron (twelve wins, T1:57.2, $192,150, Breeders Crown/VSS – 4T)
• Shanaire, 2:05.4, $5,012; grand dam of Sonali, 1:53.4US, $84,048 and third dam of The Gaunlet (2:00.0, $50,023), Tas Prince of Pace

This is the family of Lady Ajax (A2, DOB 188-), foundation mare for top horses the calibre of pacers Elle Mac, Shez All Rock, Flight South, Pullover Brown, Flaming Flutter, Trevira, Pacific, Twice as Good and trotters Sovereignty, Yankee Loch (Heatherloch) in addition to those mentioned above and from French Fair’s progeny below. Refer to harnessbred.com article of 7 August 2019 for a more complete breakdown of this family.

French Flair’s male progeny included :

Our Galvinator, the first live colt foal, winner of eighteen QLD/six Albion Park races before exported to North America where he was successful on forty four occasions. With a best time of 1:57.8AUS, he upgraded this to 1:51.2US mile in North America, $643,243. Mark McNee trainer of the full brother and sister pair of Our Galvinator and Miss Galvinator (see below), by Fake Left, for owner Paul Galvin. Our Galvinator did not win any major races in Australia, majority of his wins being at Redcliffe rising well above expectations with his North American performances

Living It On, solitary Cranbourne race winner at two, 2:01.2, $11,270

Epaulette, French Flair’s eleventh and final live foal was victorious on twenty one occasions in Australia (twelve in NSW/eleven Menangle; five at Albion Park; four VIC/two Melton), 1:50.6 at Menangle (three times under 1:52), Lady Drivers Invitational, Garrards Horse & Hound Final. Exported to North America, he has won eight races to date with a best time of 1:50.4US (1:50.8AUS equiv), $376,775

French Flair’s fillies included :

Miss Galvinator, like her older full brother Our Galvinator, Miss Galvinator eventually ended up in North America where she competed with the very best. The former Queenslander went on to become a millionaire earner ($1,148,466,) recording a best time of 1:50.3US, included among forty three victories in the Northern Hemisphere was the Cape and Cutter, open mare’s event at the Meadowlands. Before her sale to NA, she won on seventeen occasions in Australia (sixteen QLD/five Albion Park; one Harold Park), best time of 1:57.8, victories included QLD Star Wars, Gold Coast Oaks, QBRED Breeders Classic – 4m together with fifths in both Queensland Oaks and Derby.

Following the conclusion of her racing in North America, Miss Galvinator produced her first foal in North America, Westernator, winner at two of one race in 1:56.2US before like his dam retuning to Australia. In Western Australia, Westernator won a further eight races, seven at Gloucester Park, $88,748. Miss Galvinator has left seven foals, but Westernator is her only foal to race, two unraced fillies are breeding on

Fleur De Lil, star Queensland mare recognised as the best to emerge from Queensland and one of the very best ever in Australasia. The Luke McCarthy trained/driven Armbro Operative millionaire mare raced on one hundred and one occasions, recording thirty nine victories (twenty nine Australia – twenty two QLD/thirteen Albion Park; three NSW/one each Harold Park and Menangle; three VIC/one Moonee Valley; one Gloucester Park; ten North America) and thirty placings with best miles of 1:53.4AUS and 1:51.2US, $1,041,636.

At two, Fleur De Lil began her career at Albion Park on 8 April 2006 succeeding in a heat of the APG – 2f before finishing fifth to Amongst Royalty in the final at Ballarat. Followed by run of seven consecutive two year victories including Gr.1 Kay Seymour Nursery Pace Final, the Breeders Classic at the Gold Coast plus the QBRED Triad Final at Albion Park. Fifth in her heat, she recorded a fourth placing to leading NZ filly One Dream in the Breeders Crown final at Ballarat.

Major victories at three were recorded in the QBRED Breeders Classic and Triad features; Gr.1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park; Gold Coast Oaks; Gr1 Breeders Crown – 3f at Ballarat. Significant placings at three included second in NSW Oaks to Miss Hazel; thirds to Miss Hazel in APG – 3f final and  Dance Of Life in QLD Oaks. These performances led to Fleur De Lil being named Australian 3yo Filly of the Year.

During her four year old career, Fleur De Lil was victorious in QLD Sweetheart, Breeders Classic and QBRED Triad with major race placings – seconds in Governor’s Cup, Ladyship Mile, Patrons Purse; thirds in Gold Coast Cup, Paleface Adios Sprint and fourth in the Chariots Of Fire.

As a five year old Fleur De Lil graduated to Grand Circuit racing competing in the 2009 Interdominions held on the Gold Coast – fourth and fifth in heats and fourth in the consolation. She was the winner of a couple of FFA’s at Albion Park, placing second in QLD Pacing Championship; thirds in Ladyship Mile, Ballarat Cup and fourths in Trans-Tasman, WA Pacing Cup. It was after the ID’s that Fleur De Lil was sent to North America by Luke McCarthy. Her record at this stage was twenty eight wins and fourteen placings, over $747,000 in earnings and best time of 1:56.5AUS.

In North America, Fleur De Lil raced on thirty seven occasions for ten victories and twelve placing’s recording her lifetime mark of 1.51.2US at Harrah’s Chester, Pennsylvania on 23 September 2009, increasing her stake earnings by in excess of $272,000 during her two year spell in North America with many of her victories recorded at Yonkers Raceway, New York. She raced on the anti-bleeding agent Lasix in North America (banned substance in Australia). With the intention of returning to Australia initially to race and then be bred from, she went into the quarantine in Kentucky.

Fleur De Lil raced on a further eleven occasions on her return from North America scoring her twenty ninth and final win in Australia at TABCORP Park, Menangle in her Australian best time of 1.53.4AUS taking her overall earnings to $1,041,636.

Dam of seven foals with three to race, all winners :

• Effronte, eighteen wins/seventeen Australia (thirteen NSW/ten Menangle; two VIC; two Albion Park) and one North America, 1:48.3US at Meadowlands (11 January 2020), $147,185
• Love My Sister, thirteen wins (twelve NSW/one VIC), 1:53.6, $114,915, Breeders Crown Silver – 2f
• Lil Rocker, two NSW 3yo wins, 1:58.8, $9,050

Save Me Christian, winner of nine QLD races/one at Albion Park, 1:57.0, $42,862. Dam of seven live foals, three to race for two winners Our Work Of Art, two Mildura victories 2:02.1, $8,688 and Fortyeighthenson, eighteen wins (seventeen NSW/two Menangle; one Albion Park), 1:54.5, $116,089

Parisian Pearl, two QLD wins/one at Albion Park, 2:02.3, $6,458

Flair For Life, Bathurst winner in 2:03.8MR, $5,010. Dam of five foals, three to race for an twelve race winner in American Zest (all Victoria/three at Melton), 1:53.8, $111,413, third in Rising Stars Final

Peter Craig

1 April 2020

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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