This is another in an occasional series looking at some of New Zealand’s trotting broodmare gems.
BROOMFIELD ANN (1981f Spike Darling/Broomfield Chance; member of family of Georgina, CF N35) : T2:07.7, two wins; ten foals/one died, seven raced, all winners, one sub two minutes, two $100,000 and one $½m winner. Bred by Mervyn Halloran; progeny bred by Mervyn Halloran (Buster Hanover, Pretty Special, Special Boy); Wayne and Carol Aylward (Cipollini, Mr Valuable. Miss Valuable, Wee Annie, Auzzie Invasion, Wee Charlie, Mighty Willy (died).
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | G/T | MR | $ |
| 1990 | Buster Hanover (g Sergio Hanover) | 18 | 7 | 25 | T1:59.3 | 557,147 |
| 1991 | Pretty Special (f Sergio Hanover) | 5 | – | 5 | T2:07.1 | 38,602 |
| 1996 | Cipollini (f Muscle Mass) | 3 | 13 | 16 | T2:06.9 | 45,933 |
| 1997 | Mr Valuable (c Sundon) | – | 9 | 9 | T2:04.5 | 48,360 |
| 2000 | Wee Annie (f Straphanger) | 10 | – | 10 | T2:05.0 | 101,100 |
| 2002 | Auzzie Invasion (g Armbro Invasion) | 3 | 1 | 4 | T2:06.8 | 33,720 |
| 2003 | Wee Charlie (g Armbro Invasion) | 1 | – | 1 | T2:08.6 | 6,985 |
| Total foals : | 40 | 30 | 70 | $830k+ |
** Conversion: $A1=$NZ1
Broomfield Ann won a NZ Standardbred Breeders Excellence Award for her matronly deeds. The dam of ten foals, seven of whom raced, all of which were winners. Broomfield Ann recorded two victories herself both at Cambridge from sixty eight starts, T2:07.7, $8,660. In her first victory she was driven by her breeder/owner Mervyn Halloran while master reinsman Peter Wolfenden was the pilot for her second victory. Broomfield Ann was trained throughout her career by Mervyn Halloran who had forty training successes during a forty year training career.
Broomfield Ann’s dam Broomfield Chance, was unraced producing nine foals (one died) with four winners from five starters. Broomfield Ann was her sixth (fifth live) foal, with others including open class trotter Great Talent, winner of seven (four at Alexandra Park) , T2:09.2, $22,205; dual gaited Broomfield Breeze, 2:04.4 (Alexandra Park), T2:12.1 (two trotting wins), $8,030 and Broomfield Bonnie, two wins, 2:07.8, $6,635 and dam of two winners including Sparkling Lady in 1:58.3. Broomfield Chance was also dam of unraced winner producing filly Broomfield Meg, dam of one live foal in six race winner Broomfield Clyde (four at Alexandra Park), 1:58.2, $34,049.
Grand dam Lady Thunder won a race as a pacer and as well as Broomfield Chance, she left Scotch Talent gelding Broomfield Guy, T1:58.4US, $157,895, six NZ wins, three at Alexandra Park. Fourth dam Empire Lady, 2:07.8, $6,205 left a number of winners and descendants that include Swift Princess (NZ Oaks), Talk About Swift (NZSS – 3) , Prince Rapide, Empire Fella etc.
Further back in the female tail line this family of Lincoln Yet mare Georgina (Broomfield Ann is seven removes from Georgina) contains many notable descendants mainly pacers such as Miracle Mile winner Gundary Flyer (AUS/VIC Derbies), Auckland Cup winner Loyal Friend, and Chloe Hanover apart from trotters mentioned throughout this article.
Broomfield Ann’s male progeny include :
Buster Hanover, first foal of Broomfield Ann, originally leased by Bill Pemberton with a $5,000 right of purchase exercised once he started showing signs of his considerable ability for his hobby trainer and part owner. Pemberton had obtained him from Morrinsville enthusiasts Wayne and Carol Aylward. Ownership was established amongst Bill Pemberton, his wife Judy, veterinary daughter Dr Catherine and son Matthew.
In total, Buster Hanover raced from three to ten years of age with only his four starts at three (second placing) not bringing a win in each season he raced. His NZ race record stood at 73 starts for eighteen victories, ten seconds and eleven thirds for stakes of $257,522, T1:59.3. Wins came at Alexandra Park (10), Addington (4), Cambridge (2), Kaikoura (1) and Oamaru (1). They included wins and seconds in Greenlane Cup, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, NZ Trotting FFA and wins in Challenge Stakes, Christchurch Casino Cup Day Trot and Kaikoura’s South Bay Cup. Feature/group race placings included a second in the Dominion Hcp to Merinai and thirds in Ashburton Trotters Mile twice, Rowe and Ordeal Cups.
In Australia, his seven wins in fifteen starts included victories at Moonee Valley in two heats and two finals of the Australasian Trotting Championship and at Harold Park undefeated in in two ID Trotters heats (heat one, first night, 2965m; heat four, second night, 2565m) finishing leading points scorer with 36 and Grand Final (handicapped off 30m in each race with Knight Pistol; Pride Of Petite off 35m). Buster Hanover’s win was Mark Purdon’s third ID Trotters Grand Final in his third year as a trainer (1996, 1997 Pride Of Petite) and brother in law driver Tony Herlihy tasted success with his second Sydney Trotters Grand Final win (1994 Diamond Field).
Additionally in Australia, a second and two thirds were recorded in the Dullard Cup, a third in the Millennium Mile and fourth in the Bill Collins Mile for stakes of $299, 625 and a best mile rate of T2:04.9. He was named Australian Trotter of Year in 1998.
Overall Buster Hanover’s career record showed 88 starts for twenty five wins, eleven seconds and fourteen thirds for stakes of $557,147, a best mile rate T1:59.3 in the Cambridge Trotters Mile and a NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee
Mr Valuable, winner of nine in VIC, one at Moonee Valley, T2:04.5, $48,360, Stawell and Gunblower Trotters Cups
Auzzie Invasion (Our Auzzie Invasion in Australia), three win trotter in NZ (two at Alexandra Park), T2:07.2 and one time Albion Park winner in T2:06.8, total earnings of $33,720
Wee Charlie, one race winner at Manawatu Raceway, T2:08.9, $6,985
Broomfield Ann’s fillies include :
Pretty Special, her first filly and second foal was the winner of five races (two at Alexandra Park), T2:07.1, $38,602 and dam of twelve, three to race for three winners : Specialiam, three wins (two at Alexandra Park), T2:08.7, $36,003; Pretty Snazzie, three wins, T2:07.1, $23,886, dam of Pretty Fantastic, one race winner, T2:04.8; Oh So Special, three wins, T2:09.4, $18,285
Cipollini, seven race winning trotting mare, five of which were at Alexandra Park, T2:06.9, $45,933, winner of GN Breeders Trotting Stakes. She is the dam of nine foals, six to race for six winners, including one in T1:55.1 (1700m) and $300k winner. Her leading progeny is Lemond,
winner of fifteen (fourteen at Alexandra Park), T1:55.1, $308,710, ANZAC Cup and placed second in NZSS – 3T, ANZAC Cup (twice), Lyell Creek Stakes and third in Dominion Hcp. In addition Cipollini, left Jewels Ruby – 2T and two year old colt and gelding trotter of year in Merckx, five wins (four at two including three at Alexandra Park), T2:01.6, $62,540 and dam of five winners – Schleck, Bartali, Rave Nation, Capelli, Gimondi (T1:57.1AUS)
Anquetil, one win, Hambletonian – 3T, T2:00.6, $20,102; Kyvalley Rain, winner of three in VIC including one at Melton, T2:04.6, $13,818; Il Pirata, seven wins (four Alexandra Park), thirty one placings, T2:02.8, $174,002, five VIC/two Melton and one Albion Park win in QLD Trotters Cup with thirds in Horsham and Shepparton Trotters Cups; Contador, three wins (one Alexandra Park, two Addington), T2:06.3, $41,864, third NZYSS – 3T, winner on NZ Cup and Show Day’s in intermediate grade trots when trained by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne
Cipollini was named four year old Trotting Mare of the Year.
Miss Valuable, unraced dam of eight foals, three winners from three raced including Purplepeopleater : eleven wins, T2:00.7, $92,063, VIC Lyn MacPherson Memorial (Bronze), Slack Memorial, Shepparton Trotters Cup, second in VIC Trotters Oaks and third in NSW Trotters Oaks; Mighty Sunny, eight wins, one Menangle win in T2:01.0 and seven in NZ, T2:04.8, earnings of $64,837; Tricky Rastus, winner
Wee Annie, was the winner of ten races, all at Alexandra Park, T2:05.0, $100,100, GN Breeders Trotting Stakes, seconds in Greenlane Cup, City of Sails FFA and GN Breeders Stakes, third in GN Trotting Derby. Dam of five foals, four to race plus qualifier, two winners, the first of which was her first foal Dead Cat Bounce, seven NZ wins, T1:59.8 (six at Alexandra Park), six AUS wins (three Menangle, three VIC including one at Melton), T1:54.1, Gunbower/NSW Tabcorp Trotters Cups, VIC McNamara Memorial, second Kilmore Trotters Cup, total earnings of $138,509. Her other winner is one race Alexandra Park winner Ain’t No Princess, T2:06.6, $14,625.
Like her older half-sister Cipollini, Wee Annie was named four year old Trotting Mare of the Year.
Peter Craig
3 February 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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