Photo by Paceway Photos
Western Australian Horses popular with US buyers – A number of WA horses have recently been sold to US buyers as owners look to supplement the lack of horse numbers available in the USA. With foal numbers in decline in the USA Australia has suddenly become the exporter of choice for metro quality racehorses who are on tight racing marks. Rueben Brogden and Polak are both now winners in the US with Polak now a multiple winner. There is also a rumour that 1.53.7 mare Sensational Gabby probably our most highly assessed mare and winner of 34 races and stakes earnings of over $710k is US bound. Unfortunately this not only depletes our racing stock but also our future broodmare quality.
Bettor Bling wins the$100,000 2YO Filly’s WA Sales – Bettor Bling looks to have inherited all of the ability of her full sister, Delightful Jade and more in winning the 2YO fillies Sales raced. Having her first start in the heat of the Sales race she was very patiently driven to win in a 2.00.4 mile rate. Then in the final rated 1.58.7 to win after starting favourite from the inside of the back line barrier. Both Bettor Bling and 3YO filly Delightful Jade a winner of 15 races and over $109k in earnings are sired by Bettors Delight from the Booth Hanover USA mare Whitby Solitaire herself a winner of two races and four placings from just 9 starts. Overall Whitby Solitaire bred and raced by WASBA member Ed Dewar has produced 8 foals all of which have raced for 7 winners of 51 races and over $331k in stake earning, a record any broodmare owner would be very proud of. No doubt both of these filly’s will continue to add credit to their dam over the next few years.
It is fast approaching the foaling season so time to get your plans together on this year’s breeding plans. There are a handful of new stallions coming down under for the southern hemisphere season with Sweet Lou and Heston Blue Chip to name a couple and there are already a brilliant choice of stallions some proven and some with foal crops yet to race that breeders can access from anywhere in the country. WASBA will again by conducting a raffle for a stallion service during July and August enabling a lucky breeder to win a service to a top stallion. So far we have secured American Ideal and are also hopeful of having Art Major from which the winner can choose from. This year we are also planning to conduct a Breeders Seminar in early August to assist WA breeders on stallion availability, bloodlines, mare care and a panel of successful breeders to answer questions on what makes a successful breeder.
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