2020 Victorian Juvenile Sires of the Year
Harness Breeders Victoria are pleased to recognise the achievements of Victorian-based sires, registered by HBV members on the 2020 IRT Victorian Breeder Awards program. The performances of these sire’s juvenile crops, based on a crop/winners strike rate, have seen them named our Victorian Juvenile Sires of the Year:
2020 The Storm Inside @ Alabar Victorian 2YO Pacing Sire of the Year
A son of the world-beating Somebeachsomewhere, Captaintreacherous saw his first crop of 89 foals reach the track in season 2019-20 and this debut season was an auspicious one, with a crop-to-winner strike rate of almost 44%.
The undoubted jewel in his first crop crown was the Group 1 winning filly, Tough Tilly, bred by HBV members, Benstud Standardbreds. Her season’s earnings of $191,000 contributed to his overall crop earnings of $859,000. Those winners included a further Group 1 filly in Treachery (1:57.6, $116,000), Lochinvar Chief (1:54.7, $51,000), Arma Renegade (1:52.0, $32,000), La Cabeza Gem (GR3, 1:54.6, $45,000) and Captain Crusader (1:52.6, $30,000).
2020 Haras des Trotteurs Victorian 2YO Trotting Sire of the Year
Equaled only by Majestic Son, the French-bred Used To Me had a standout season with his 2YO crop, with his progeny earning in excess of $146,000 and with a crop-to-winner strike rate of almost 21%.
His son Don’t Care was the dominant of his progeny in 2019-20, securing the Group 1 Vicbred Super Sires 2YO Trotting Colts Final, and securing a close second in the Breeders Crown 2YO Trotting Colts Championship, for season stakes of $87,000 and a sub-2:00 best mile rate. His fillies performed well too, with She Sailz collecting the Group 3 Vicbred Silver 2YO Trot and over $22,000 in stakes.
2020 Haras des Trotteurs Victorian 3YO Trotting Sire of the Year
A quality crop of 3YOs – his eldest – put Quaker Jet’s crop-to-winner strike rate for the 2019-20 season at an impressive 41.7%, with their total earnings topping $310,000. Leading the pack was the outstanding filly, Im Ready Jet, winner of over $112,000 and taking multiple Group 1 wins in the Breeders Crown and Need For Speed series, as well as the Group 3 Vicbred Silver Trot. She also recorded a time of TR1:55.6, one of the top four fastest new times for member-trotters across the season. Cracker Jet was thereabouts, managing to earn over $56,000 with placings in two Group 1 races and the Group 2 Holmfield. Also prominent in the season were fillies Imamaorijet (TR2:03.1, $37,000) and Dizzysjet (TR1:56.1, $36,000).
2020 The Storm Inside @ Alabar Victorian 3YO Pacing Sire of the Year
A dominant force across the racing population, but particularly in the juvenile ranks, the late Somebeachsomewhere continues to deliver in Victoria. His 3YO crop in 2019-20 was as effective as any other, with a crop-to-winner strike rate of over 57%. It is no surprise then to see that his 3YO progeny earned over $1.47M domestically (of $5.46M in total for the season, and $22.1M total).
Headline performers for Somebeachsomewhere included Group 1 winner, Maajida (1:53.5, $185,000) whose victories included the GR1 Vicbred 3YO Fillies Final and the GR3 Breeders Crown 3YO Fillies Silver, along with Crunch Time (GR3, 1:49.6, $75,000), Adira (GR3, 1:52.6, $55,000) and Askmeilltellya (1:54.8, $44,000)