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Howard Bromac's proud owners Lynette Philpott and Michelle Larsen

Howard Bromac has finally got his name on a Group 1 trophy. His nose was sticking out the most in a blanket finish on Show Day's Lindauer NZ Free-For-All, and it was an anxious but memorable way to give his two Australian co-owners their first win at Addington. Trained and driven by Kirk Larsen, Howard Bromac is raced by his wife Michelle in partnership with Lynette Philpott and her nephew David Hardie, who hail from Cronulla, two avid supporters of the sport in their country.

"I first got into harness racing when I was young, but then had a break for about thirty years," said Philpott. "We'd have interests in about forty horses now," she said. Philpott is heavily involved in the day-to-day runnings of the building and investment company Slingsby Holdings, a role she stepped into following the death of her father. She regularly sponsors races at Harold Park, and also Bulli, where during February every year two $50,000 events for 2-year-olds called the Lindon Huntley Little Memorials are raced in honour of her late father.

Philpott first got to know the Larsens through Tahonga's Hanover, who was sold to her from Kirk's stable in 1997. "He won us twelve races, and gave my mum Edith so much pleasure," she said. "Kirk and Michelle came over to Australia not long after that, and we've just clicked ever since."

Philpott continued to purchase horses from New Zealand, with the next one being Howard Bromac's older full brother Harvey Bromac, the first foal of Holmes Hanover mare Honour Bromac. Harvey Bromac won a dozen races as well, which seems to be a pertinent number because Howard Bromac was registering the 12th win of his career in the Free-For-All. Subsequent foals from Honour Bromac, all bred by Nevele R's Bob McArdle, are heading in the same direction too. Live Or Die 3-year-old Huntley Bromac has already been shipped across, and Larsen says the next one - Mystical Shark 2-year-old Hallelujah Bromac - is "quite a nice horse". Others that Philpott has bought from the same source include Hardly Matters, Clint Westwood and Albert Einstein, which have all won their fair share of races, so it is no surprise she's quickly growing a soft spot fo Kiwi-bred horses.

For Larsen, the FFA victory was also his first taste of Group 1 glory, but by Sunday he was almost downplaying the achievment with his 'back to business as usual' approach. "The horse deserved one," he said. "He probably lacks a bit of brilliance, but he got the run to suit - doing no work on a hot pace; he can always give you that good quarter when things pan out that way. And he really dug deep that last fifty metres."

Howard Bromac's connections weren't issued an invitation to the Miracle Mile, which is traditionally the case following the Free-For-All every year; that's quite remarkable considering his Australian owners throw a great deal of money into sponsorship at Harold Park, too. So without it even being an option, Larsen will continue with his original plan of the Auckland Cup, Hunter Cup and Inter-Dominions as the main targets for his stable star. "There's so many big races coming up for him, and even if he only did the same as last year (win one race) I'd be happy. And he's still only six, so if he stays soung there's no reason why we shouldn't be looking to line up again in the Cup next year," he said.

Credit: John Robinson writing in HR Weekly

Meredith Wilson presents the Cup to Margaret Gibson

Pompallier has the high ground as New Zealand's best trotter after a handsome win in the $100,000 Southern Trust Dominion Handicap.

But there in one getting the same view. Jasmyn's Gift ran the race of her life to finish third, behind Major Decision, after a break that cost her 50 or 60 metres but probably more. She would have given Pompallier an awful scare had she stepped and been part of the bunch. She caught them at the 1800m, and went forward almost immediately.

Colin De Filippi, who had replaced Brosnan in the sulky at the suggestion of the owners, was well placed four-back on the outer, but left that cover and took the lead off Major Decision at he 1200m. From there, Pompallier was on a winning rein. Jasmyn's Gift produced not the run of the race but the run of the meeting. But ability is little comfort without manners, and they stood to Pompallier and Major Decision.

Brosnan was not dismayed when the decision was made by part-owners Margaret Gibson and his wife Julija after Pompallier's Show Day sixth to see if De Filippi would handle the horse. He needed to be released from Paris Metro, which John Parsons happily agreed to. Brosnan and De Filippi have combined before, De Filippi winning with Trojan while Brosnan was still in South Canterbury and with Gee Sixty Eight since he's been in the north. The Brosnans, Margaret and her husband Noel have been neighbours for many years, the Gibsons having bought the adjacent property when they originally settled at Ardmore.

Pompallier was bred by the Brosnans after buying Armbro Gold, who was one of a number of horses advertised by John Curtin in a dispersal sale. She was a winning Armbro Del mare from the family of Local Light, and she'd been breeding by the time the Brosnans got her. "I'd had a good run with Castle Derg, Kilat and Jenlight who were all by Local Light, so that was a factor. And as she was related to Best Bets, who was a very good trotter for Eddie Cowie," he said.

Sent to Tricky Dick, Armbro Gold left Baltic Flight, the dam of Inter-Dominion Grand Final winner, Baltic Eagle, which the Brosnans sold after two starts for a fourth and a first. Since leaving Pompallier to Sundon, Armbro Gold has left him a sister, seven years younger, and is grazing at Carl Middleton's. She is 27 and perhaps past breeding successfully again, but Brosnan said "we might give her one more go".

Brosnan says Pompallier is an easy horse to work with, but he's "useless" if he gets fired up. "I always work him on his own. It's a privilege to have a horse like this. Along with No Response, he's the best horse I've had," he said.


Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HR Weekly

Badlands Bute

The list of credits behind the win of Badlands Bute in the $100,000 Christian Cullen New Zealand Derby at Addington is long and versatile.

To start with, there is Danny Boyle, the bustling PR operator for Nevele R Stud who bred the colt in partnership with his brother-in-law Ron Stewart and Tim Mills, Chief Executive of the Canterbury Jockey Club. Next comes Badlands Hanover, the sire they matched with their Nero's B B mare Te Phyno, to leave Badlands Bute.

He is seen at the 2003 Inter-Dominion Yearling Sale by John Street and Graeme Blackburn, principals of Lincoln Farms Ltd, who paid the trio $33,000. They then graciously leave him in the care of Ray Green and Robert Mitchell after Ray Norton retired, when they could have easily taken the hand of caution by sending the promising youngster to a stable of greater renown. And it was wrapped up by a steady drive from Tony Herlihy, who knew the key to Badlands Bute winning depended upon the use of his lethal sprint inside the last 200 metres.

Badlands Bute is one of Badlands Hanover's first crop and was, in fact, his first siring success in New Zealand, winning at two in February last year. He was a Norton horse at first, and it was no secret he was one of the best amongst the yearlings handled at the time. The retirement of Norton turned the spotlight on Mitchell and Green, two of the 'boys' who suddenly had the job of making decisions, not taking them. With the exception in particular of Attorney General, Street and Blackburn said the rest of the team was theirs and the operation was over to them. Were they lucky to keep Badlands Bute? "We kept him hidden, but we all knew how good he was. We really wanted to keep this particular horse. We said they would do us a favour if he stayed, and they honoured that," said Green.

Both were well experienced horsemen. Mitchell had been a Norton 'lad' since 1978, and Green was working with horses when he was 17 and recalled being with Peter Wolfenden at the time he had Cardigan Bay. "I was his best boy," Green says.

In any event, they welcomed the chance to manage Lincoln Farm's classy team when the opportunity came, and with two derbies won already - Badlands Bute having also taken the Great Northern - they can feel well satisfied at being put to the test, and passing it. They have a team of 30, the oldest being four, and 10 of them yearlings. Nine of them came from the PGG sales, including three by Badlands Hanover, two by Presidential Ball and two by Artiscape. "Our operation is heavily subsidised. We have six on the staff - Shane Smith, John and Bruce Bedwell, Terry Fletcher, Ned Jelicich and Paul Curran, who will be heading back to Canada soon. It's a luxury, the way we do it. I know Ray would be very proud of both of us," Green said.

Badlands Bute, whose next start will be in the New South Wales Derby - where runner-up Baileys Dream is also heading - gave the partners mild concern when Herlihy began the last lap three-deep, following Baileys Dream and Ewie Duncan. "I was a bit worried that we'd cooked our goose at that point. But then he's deadly with a late sprint. That's his forte," he said.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in the NZHR Weekly

Lew Driver & The Reckoning

Lew Driver is very much his own man. He trains on the edge of convention. But his methods work, as The Reckoning showed when winning the $200,000 Sales Series Pace at Addington last Friday night.

The Reckoning was the busiest horse in the race. He had raced 12 times this season, being once to Auckland and three times to Invercargill. He never missed a float ride. "He's only had three straight days off since February last year," said Driver, who settled in West Melton from the North Island in February, 2003. Driver moved south as an extremely successful businessman and trainer who had done splendidly with "other people's cast-offs. I had won all the cups in the north - Hawera, Northland, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Rotorua - except the Auckland Cup and I had been second in that, and Gaelic Skipper was runner-up in the Inter-Dominion Grand Final. My horses had won over a million, and one season I trained thirty-three winners".

That was before he became heavily involved in the hotel industry. "It wasn't until I came south, and with only a half interest in a hotel, that I decided to spend some real money," he said. For $84,000, he bought Presido at the Ready To Run Sale, claimed Chief to give him a racehorse, and chose 10 yearlings at the PGG Sales. The Reckoning, a son of Presidential Ball, was one of them, and he cost $20,000.

Along with his stablemates Gretamaro, Fleet Magic and Gaelic Annie, The Reckoning was ready and waiting for the juvenile racing to begin, and he was fully educated and conditioned with trial racing when it came. He ran second at his first three starts, to Live To Reign (twice) and The Adman before winning a race at Ascot Park at his sixth start.

Although well pleased with his lead-up form, Driver lost what confidence he had when he saw The Reckoning starting from the outside of the second line. "I had seen how it affected Presido when he drew badly in both Derbies, and I went along for the night a bit scruffy. I just didn't expect to be there. I saw him at the winning post, and then I lost him down the back, though I knew he was in the middle of them somewhere. It was a real thrill to win it, because it is the first big stake I have relly won - $107,000 is quiet a lot.

Driver does not train pretty. "I do what every trainer does, feed them three times a day, but they don't have to work much at home if they're racing or going to the trials. I feed them NRM Race13, and they have jumped out of the ground since they have been on that. They don't get boxed, and there are no shelters - just double rugged in a paddock - a bit like the Aussie galloper, Vo Rogue. And the only time they get washed down is after a race or a workout. They get towelled down, their legs get iced and I rub Staysound into them every day. It is very cooling and tightens them up. They are just my own thoughts and how I do it," he said.

Presido is having a working holiday with Mark Smolenski - who Driver says brought him into the "modern world" with feeding and other suggestions - and in due back in the stable next week. The plan is to take him to Australia for the Breeders' Crown, and The Reckoning will probably go too, after he races in the Juvenile Championship in Auckland.



Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 18May05

Phillippa Wakelin & Steve Noble.

Three rugby mates have Steve Noble to thank for their win by Awesome Imace in the Group 2 $35,000 NRM Sires' Stakes 2-Year-Old Championship at Addington last Friday night. "Come and have a look at him, Steve said to us," recalled part-owner Mike Moore. "Front on, he looks just like Sir Castleton. After this, I believe everything Steve says now," he said.

Still, it wasn't all plain sailing after a hiccup last week when he galloped at his previous start, behind Brite Speed, when third in the running. This was after two false starts, which left Noble and his training partner Phillippa Wakelin in two minds whether lining him up so soon after it was in the best interests of the horse. But Awesome Imace had a strong week. "He's so laid back, nothing fazes him," said Wakelin.

The journey for the pair was a pleasure, sitting behind the pacemaker and favourite, Mountbatten. "I knew he could outsprint them from there," she said. Galleons Assassin attacked with a bold run from the turn, and appeared to have the race in hand 100 metres out. But Awesome Imace came with the speed Wakelin knew he had and turned the tables quickly inside the final 50 metres.

"We just needed our luck to change," said Wakelin, who weaned the colt for breeder Ian Starkey, and Noble arranged the lease with a right of purchase for himself, Moore, Stephen Hill and Alistair McLay.

Wakelin has had a thorough background in harness racing, especially with trotters, starting with Erin Crawford, where she spent three years, followed by four years with Ian Cameron. She drove five winners as a junior driver, then went to Brisbane, winning 30 races while employed by Stuart Hunter. On her return, with Noble, she worked for Mike Berger, then did yearling preparation for Merv Neill, and before establishing their own stable at Oxford, spent five years at Wai-Eyre Farm. They have two racehorses in their team of 12, plus three nearly due at the workouts.

Awesome Imace is the first winner in New Zealand sired by the Balanced Image horse Brylin Boyz and is from Awesome Lass, a Straphanger mare who won once from seven starts and got hurt. He is the third foal, and the first two have qualified, and there are two by Sundon to follow. Starkey was on-hand for the win, and recalled racing the grandam Not Surprise, a Hodgen's Surprise mare who won seven races for Bryce Buchanan. Starkey raced a number of horses from Gavin Hampton's stable, including Chiola Sam, the winner of five, and Wakfield - his first winner - in 1956.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 18May05

Jasmyn's Gift outfinishes stablemate Allegro Agitato

When you're hot, you're hot. Words fronm the hottie himself, Phil Williamson. And it is true, the man is the latest Little Lucifer.

Having won the NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington last month, Williamson returned last Friday night for the sequel to the appetiser, not only winning the Group 1 $50,000 Tyco Electonics/ Ralph, Thompson, Shaw & Thompson NZ Trotting Championship with Jasmyn's Gift but running second with her stablemate, Allegro Agitato. For Williamson, who has had many special moments this season, this was the best of them. "It would be my biggest thrill in racing," he said. "I have had some good tutors along the way, and you don't lower the colours of Tim Butt often in these types of races," he said.

In this case, he was surprised the Jasmyn's Gift would do it, rather than the more fancied and better-performed Allegro Agitato. "She has shocked a few, including me," he said. This was the supreme test for Jasmyn's Gift, a 5-year-old Sundon mare whose assignment was by far her biggest to date. "She went outstanding. To be honest, I had my reservations about her because there have been a lot of little things she hadn't done before. When we took the lead (off Allegro Agitato) Tony (Herlihy) could see how well we were going. She has never been one to fold up, but I couldn't believe the way she pricked her ears and strode away in the straight," he said.

Jasmyn's Gift entered the record books on two counts, the other being her mobile 2600m mobile time of 3:15.9 which bettered the 3:15.9 she set on February 18 when she defeated Some Direction and Marie Wishes. This performance has now put the Rowe Cup on her agenda, although Williamson knows the assignment will not be an easy one. "She has never raced that way round, and that was a factor against the Australian horses when they were in Auckland last month. It can take racing to handle that. But on the way she raced tonight, I have got to pursue that way of thinking," he said.

Jasmyn's Gift is from Ilona Del, a Speedy Summit mare from Del May who Williamson drove to win a race at Waimate for Polly Cleave. She was owned then by Allan Elderton who bred the top class trotter Directorship from Del May, and gave Williamson the mare to breed two foals. One was Iona Whiz, who won a race at Winton and after being sold went through to good company in Australia. Ilona Del, owned now by Clive and Rona McKay, has since left progeny to Holdonmyheart.

While Phil and his wife Bev were disappointed that their son Nathan was not on track to see the mare's big win, they were quick to give him credit. "He has done a lot of work with her, and has kept saying she is as good as Allegro Agitato."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly

Not so long ago Tony Dickinson couldn't even give Heard A Whisper away, but today she is becoming a broodmare that money can't buy. Heard A Whisper has risen to fame through the deeds of her second foal, Alta Serena, brilliant winner of last Friday night's $100,000 George Calvert Cleaning Easter Cup at Addington in near record time.

The victory was Alta Serena's 17th from only 38 starts, and took her over $360,000 in stake earnings. As long as trainers 'Bunty' Hughes and John Green can keep her sound there should be a lot more where that came from, which is all quite in contrast to the fact that she is out of a mare that no-one wanted.

By Smooth Fella out of Tawhai Sandy, Heard A Whisper was bred by Dickinson and some friends to put through the Sales. But she cut a leg and had to be withdrawn, so they raced her themselves. "Heard A Whisper won two for us, then after we leased her to Chris Insley she won another one for him," Dickinson recalled. "She was a fast mare too, but she could only do it at one end."

It was about this time when Dickinson
decided to convert his passion for harness racing into a boutique operation and formed his own company, Alta Breeding Ltd. He bought out his partners in Heard A Whisper, bred three foals, and then tried to give the mare away. "Her first was a Soky's Atom filly (Whisper Atom), but she was so small I ended up selling her cheaply to Chris and she never raced - he is breeding from her though," Dickinson said. "Then I put Heard A Whisper to Fake Left (Alta Serena), because he was flying in Queensland at the time and I thought if he could do that sort of job in Australia over their mares he should be able to do just as well here. And the third one I bred was a Sands A Flyin, who was a magnificent colt but he contracted the Wobbler Syndrome and had to be put down."

Three foals down, only Alta Serena actually making it to the Sale ring and attracted just $4500 at that - it's no wonder Dickinson wanted Heard A Whisper's space in the barn to be taken up by something else. "I tried to get rid of her," he admits. "I advertised her in a couple of papers, even rang a couple of studs to see if I could swap her for a service. But there were no takers. In the end, Woodlands put her in foal to Lislea for me. Then when Alta Serena jumped out of the ground as 2-year-old, well, everyone wanted to know about her."



Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 13Apr06

Tuherbs is too strong for Pay Me Christian

Terry McDonald has never been afraid of having a bit of a flutter on the tote, and last Friday night a punt of a different kind paid big dividends for him when Tuherbs won the $50,000 NZ Welcome Stakes at Addington.

Tuherbs was bred by Roydon Lodge Stud, and the Live Or Die-Futurist gelding did all his early education under the guidance of part-owner/trainer Dave Anderson, but on Friday he made his debutin the colours of Tim Butt after being bought by McDonald and his good mate Eddie Griffin a little over a month ago. "We have people looking around for horses for us all the time, and it was actually Mark Jones that spotted Tuherbs at the trials one day," Butt said. "We trialled him once, at Dave's, and knew he had a six-figure price tag - but that is the going rate for a good, young horse these days."

In between times Butt had put the proposition to McDonald, who had raced the likes of Show Cruiser and Life Goes Bye from the stable in the past. "Tim mentioned that the asking price was fairly high, but I left it to his judgement to decide whether he was worth it or not," McDonald said. "He believed Tuherbs was, so then I rang Eddie and he nearly fainted, but he said he would get the money together somehow."

In business and as friends McDonald and Griffin go back a long way, 30 years in fact. Originally they were partners in the Acme Metal & Drum Company, McDonald managing the Christchurch branch and Griffin overseeing the Dunedin one. The picture changed about seven years ago when McDonald amalgamated with McIvor Metals to form Resource Recycling Ltd and Griffin went out on his own, but they have remained great mates and continued to race the odd horse together. One of those was In The Way, who ran second to Giovanetto in the 1991 Welcome Stakes, so Tuherbs did his bit to settle the score by going one better last Friday night.

He had to be good to do it too, because apart from a second-row draw over the 1950 metre sprint trip he had the red hot favourite Pay Me Christian standing in his way as well. Tuherbs and driver Anthony Butt tracked Pay Me Christian with every stride, settling behind him after the start and then following him three-wide and into the race over the last lap. Gaps appeared between the pair when Pay Me Christian took off at the 600 metre mark just as Tuherbs got humped four-wide, but once around the final bend he was soon idling in behind his main rival once again and waiting to pounce. Butt went to pass at the furlong, but then had to suddenly grab hold of Tuherbs and steer him wider when Pay Me Christian baulked for the second time and went sideways. Unfazed by the loss of momentum, Tuherbs straightened, gathered himself and zoomed on past the favourite, winning virtually untouched by one and a half lengths in a 1:58 mile rate.

"He is a lovely horse," Tim enthused afterwards. "He has got a great temperament, and settled in right from day one after we got him; Dave deserves a lot of credit for what the horse did tonight. "And the thing about Tuherbs is that he probably doesn't really know what he is doing yet. We will target a Sires' Stakes Heat with him in a fortnight, hopefully the Final after that, and then that will be it for the season."

For McDonald, winning the Welcome Stakes was one of his most enjoyable moments in the 40 years he has owned and raced horses. His involvement has never been more in-depth than it is right now either, because he is breeding from seven mares and the total head count across the board is well into the 30s. The latest to join the list is the dam of Tuherbs, Fitch II mare Futurist, who he bought for "a steal" when outlaying $6500 for her at the Roydon Lodge Sale earlier the same day. She is in foal to Julius Caesar, and after such an emphatic debut performance by Tuherbs she too looks like a punt that is going to pay off.

Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 13Apr05

After his game second placing behind Elsu in the InterDominon Grand Final, Sly Flyin had everything in his favour to take out the $30,000 Group 2 Frucor Beverages Free-For-All on Friday night.

Starting a warm favourite, Sly Flyin and Tony Herlihy proved that patience is a virtue in the running. As predicted the early speed came from Jagged Account (barrier 2) and Sly Flyin (barrier 4), Jagged Account held out the early lead from the inside draw leaving Sly Flyin sitting parked. After 800m Herlihy decided to release the brakes on the fav, zooming to the lead only to be headed off soon after by Young Rufus - thus giving Sly Flyin a dream trip in the trail. Entering the home straight Sly Flyin zipped past the tiring Young Rufus and skipped home to win easily by a length from a game Hexus and a brave Bobs Blue Boy who sat parked for the last portion of the race.

Sly Flyin ran the 2600m in 3:13.7, the 800m in 58.3 and the 400m in 28.3. Remarkably it was his 17th win from 48 starts and has boosted his earnings to over $500,000. The performance now puts Sly Flyin as an early favourite for next week's Easter Cup.

Credit: Harness Racing NZ

Michael Taranto & Bruce Hutton

Michael Taranto's faith in the NZ breeding industry was vindicated when Rhythm Of The Night won him the $70,000 PGG NZ Yearling Sales Series Trot at Addington last Friday night.

Taranto hails from Hallam in Central Melbourne, where he manages the aluminium company Seelite Windows & Doors. He started the business with his father Vin in the early 1980's, and then took over the reins himself when Vin retired nine years ago. "It's booming," Taranto said, proudly. "There were three of us when it started, and now we employ fifty people. It's the sort of job which gives me the time and money to get involved in harness racing."

Taranto's dedication to his work almost cost him the chance to even be on-course at Addington last Friday. He was booked on a 9:00am flight that morning but had to re-schedule, even though he had been at the office since 3:00am. "Being the end of the month I had to finish all the invoicing and get everthing done before I flew out. It soon became clear that I wasn't going to make my flight though, and I was lucky enough to be able to change my ticket and finally get on a plane at eleven."

Taranto arrived at Christchurch just hours before Rhythm Of The Night's event, and the Sundon gelding that he races in partnership with trainer Bruce Hutton made the hectic rush all worthwhile by showing great tenacity to wear down the pacemaking Power In Motion near the line. "I'm a walking billboard for the New Zealand breeding industry, believe me," Taranto said afterwards. "The quality of your stock at the yearling sales here is far superior to anything back home. Plus, you have got such lush paddocks; we have had no rain in Melbourne for three years - we have to install tanks and pump the water in, that is very hard on young horses."

Taranto met Hutton a couple of years ago when buying 'tried' horses, and their friendship has grown to the point today where he has now got eight or nine in-foal mares and another dozen or more yearlings and racehorses stabled at Hutton's property. The numbers are similar back home in Melbourne, where his horese are all trained by Matthew Garth. "You couldn't find a more hard-working or honest toiler," Taranto said, praising Hutton. "He may not have the same flamboyance as other trainers, but as a horseman he will do me every time. My involvement in horses is still pretty much in it's infancy, but this is what we do it for.

Taranto is also involved in the administration of harness racing as well, being Vice-President of the Cranbourne HRC, Chairman of the Breeders' Crown committee, and a member of Harness Racing Victoria's stategic planning committee for 'V3'.




Credit: John Robinson writing in HRWeekly 6Apr05