Committee Notes
Recent events from the racetracks of Australia and New Zealand have showcased the strength and health of the breeding industry in Victoria. Heading the charge has been the amazing trotter Just Believe, bred in Victoria by Pat Driscoll’s Yabby Dams Farms. With Greg Sugars piloting, he’s blitzed the best that the Kiwis could throw at him winning three Stakes races with authority rarely. Then some 6,000km to the west, the Benstud-bred gelding Catch A Wave showed no fear of the half-mile Gloucester Park track with two outstanding victories in the $1.25m Nullarbor and the Group 1 Fremantle Cup. Victorian bred horses lit up the Menangle track on Ladies Night with trotters Keayang Zahara and Im Ready Jet taking home Group 1s; not to be outdone; the Peter Gleeson-bred filly Very Pretty was one of the easiest winners of the Group 1 NSW Oaks. Finally a brief mention of the Queen Elizabeth II Mile winner Aardies Express, who looks to be one of the most exciting mares to set foot on our racetracks. Although she was bred in NZ, all her family roots are based in Victoria. Her granddam Tandias Courage was bred by John Bagshaw in Victoria, whilst her third, fourth and fifth dams bred by the late Kevin Newbound. Congratulations to connections of these magnificent Vicbred horses.
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Nutrien Sales Melbourne
The Nutrien Melbourne sale grossed $4,094,500 for 126 lots sold for an average of $32,496, up slightly on last year’s average. The clearance rate was just shy of 70 percent. A total of 83 pacing bred yearlings averaged out at $38,054, while 43 trotters changed hands at $21,767 apiece. Nutrien Equine standardbred manager Mark Barton said: “Overall it was a pleasing result with sale averages similar to last year with a clearance now nearing 70 percent. “There was a good crowd in attendance with buyers from every Australian State as well as New Zealand." See a full wrap of the sale HERE and results of the Best Presented Yearling wards below. Click through to see photos from both the Parade Day and the Sales Day on our Facebook Page.
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2024 IRT Stallion Guide
The 2024 breeding season edition of the IRT Australasian Standardbred Stallion Guide will start production very soon - if you want to make sure your sire, product or service is seen by thousands and thousands of breeders this year, don't miss booking your advert with copies delivered to thousands of households across Australia and New Zealand. Details will be available soon but in the meantime, register your interest with the Stallion Guide editor HERE. |
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Breeder Education Opportunities
A proven way to get the most from your investment in breeding is to have a solid knowledge of reproductive health. These upcoming events in Shepparton and Ballarat are a MUST for breeders coming into the 2024 breeding season. The GV Equine Hospital has long been recognised as expert in this area and at $50, their two-day short course cannot be missed, while the Minitube Tech Day gets into the nitty gritty of the AI process, and is perfect for anyone thinking of working in the field. Our own Breed To Succeed event is being planned for August but these opportunities are a fantastic way of building your knowledge.
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Minitube Equine Tech Days
From breeding supporters Minitube: Equine Tech Days aim to bring together the respective parts of the horse breeding industry for discussion and further learning. From veterinarians, veterinary nurses, technicians, industry bodies and breeders, there is something for everyone! Download the information flyer HERE.
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Pat Driscoll named 2023 Metro Printing Ian Daff Memorial Award Winner
Harness Breeders Victoria (HBV) are pleased to announce Pat Driscoll of Haras des Trotteurs and Yabby Dam Farms as our 2024 Ian Daff Memorial Award recipient. Since 2014, this award has recognised significant and tenured contributions and service to the broader Victorian breeding industry and Pat joins such luminaries as Mick Lombardo, Graham & Helen Head and Kevin Newbound in being recognised in this way. Pat was presented with his trophy, kindly sponsored by Metro Printing, at the opening of the Nutrien yearling sales at Oaklands Melbourne on Sunday. Read more HERE.
Further season 2023 award winners will be announced at HRV's Annual Awards Dinner in June - more information and tickets here:
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The Quest is nearly over!
Thank you to everyone who sent in photos of their 2023 drop Vicbred stars - you can see a full album of entries in a dedicated album here on our Facebook Page. Stay tuned for the announcement of finalists and to watch our winner being selected later this month by a very special guest judge!
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Member Group Results
Benstud - Catch A Wave (GR1 The Nullarbor, GR1 Fremantle Cup)
Breckon Bloodstock - Kyvalley Hotspur (Bendigo Trotters Cup)
John Markham - Rainbow Jester (Nutrien Classic)
Harshell Investments - Dangerous (GR3 Mildura Cup)
Rhiannon Park - Prohibited Grace (Nutrien Classic)
Alabar - Bay of Biscay (Nutrien Classic)
Gary Toulmin - Maoris Mac (Nutrien Classic)
La Spina Family - Lux Aeterna (Nutrien Classic)
Atworthy Park - The Highlight Reel (Nutrien Classic)
Yabby Dam Farms - Derek The Jet (Nutrien Classic), Just Believe (The Trot, Lyell Creek FFA)
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An online sale of mixed stock - the perfect opportunity to find a broodmare for the upcoming breeding season. Remember, breeding in Victoria makes your foals eligible for a range of Vicbred benefits, including the 10% Vicbred Breeder Bonus, where as breeder you receive 10% of the advertised stake every time a horse you bred wins an age-restricted race in Victoria (2YO, 3YO + 4YO) even after you've sold the horse.
Keen to start hunting for a broodmare? You can also find mares and broodmares for sale on Harness Racing Trading Ring and future broodmares on the new Racehorse Ownership Opportunities site. |
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2024 Nutrien Melbourne Best Presented Yearlings
HBV in partnership with Hygain were proud to again sponsor the Best Presented Yearling program as part of the 2024 Nutrien Equine Yearling Sales at Oaklands. Congratulations to the following consignors and preparers:
Trotting Colt - #245 I Choose x Love You (Harshell Investments, Benstud Standardbreds)
Trotting Filly - #162 Yankee Princess x Pastor Stephen (Malcolm Shaw & the Pangrazio family)
Pacing Colt - #258 Ah La Vitesse x Bettors Delight (Benstud Standardbreds)
Pacing Filly - #250 In Her Memory x Art Major (Mataranka Park Standardbreds)
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2024 Member Renewals Due
The season is now well underway and we still have a number of members who have not renewed - simply return that form or use the new, easy direct-pay function via the link below to take up membership for the 2024 season and help support breeders across Victoria.
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Breed To Succeed - Mare Health & Placentitis
Brett Coffey (GM - Alabar) and Nick Hooper (Author, Stallions: Australian & New Zealand Foundation Sires) present two case studies in researching and matching sires to broodmares with Campbell’s Comments
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Harness Breeders Victoria Committee Meetings
The next meeting of the HBV committee is scheduled for Tuesday 21 May and a summary of proceedings will be posted on our website shortly after. We invite members and interested parties to submit papers or correspondence for consideration by the Committee by post or email. Please refer to previously summaries on our website to ensure the issue has not previously been addressed by the Committee. For consideration at the next meeting, members should email papers or correspondence no later than Tuesday 14 May.
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Headline image: Abercrombie Jess (Dream Away) and her A Rocknroll Dance foal, bred by Lyndon Turner.
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