Many breeders see questionable benefit in delving back more than three or four generations in a pedigree, reasoning the influence of ancestors there begins to dilute.  But one man is adamant that’s where things only start getting interesting. And we should probably listen, for he bred a three-state treble on the weekend. Oh, he’s also... Read More

You put the best to the best and then you hope for the best.  It’s probably the oldest adage in breeding. But what if those two words come into it – “in-breeding”?  Zayydani, a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Grunt, gave plenty of proof of the axiom’s worth in taking Saturday’s Listed Golden Crown... Read More

It’s taken more than seven years but trainer John O’Shea is at last savouring some lucrative rewards from Hallowed Crown (Street Sense).   O’Shea trained the Gooree Park homebred as an early two-year-old with some promise, but was forced to give him up before he’d raced in early 2014 when O’Shea became Godolphin’s Australian trainer.   Bart... Read More

If you’re into breeding horses, and don’t mind a bit of nominative determinism, you could hardly do better in your pursuit of a fast one than naming your galloper Ayrton.  That’s what Waikato boutique breeder and Formula 1 fan Greg McCarthy did two years ago with the second colt he created by outstanding former British... Read More

Rarely would you see the progeny of three such illustrious racemares complete a trifecta as they did in the 1100-metre two-year-old fillies’ handicap at Flemington on Saturday.  Argentia powered home first on debut, one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Viviane, with Invincible Caviar a further half-length back in third.  And how’s this for a trio... Read More