Racing: Novice breeders hit right note on Soldier Blue

By PAUL GUEORGIEFF

Thoroughbred novices can take great heart from Soldier Blue.

The winner of the $160,000 New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton reaffirmed that great sums of money or vast amounts of knowledge are not required to be a successful owner-breeder in racing.

Instead it showed being in the right place at the right time is as important a factor as any.

Soldier Blue was bred and is owned by Waikato farmers Alistaire and Isabel Barker, of Te Awamutu.

Isabel Barker explained after Saturday's group two win how a remarkable set of circumstances led to Soldier Blue becoming the first thoroughbred she bred and the first she had owned.

Soldier Blue's dam Va Bene was given to Barker for free.

Barker is involved in endurance racing and was inspecting a likely prospect when she noticed a broodmare in a nearby paddock.

"I just liked the look of her," Barker recalled.

"I said what are you doing with her?."

Nothing special was planned and it was agreed Barker could have the horse for a year and would put her to an Arab stallion to breed an endurance horse.

But the following year Barker received a letter from Va Bene's owner saying she could keep the mare.

"She said her circumstances had changed and she couldn't take the mare back," Barker said.

It was suggested Barker should return Va Bene to thoroughbred breeding but that placed her in a field she was totally unfamiliar with.

"We knew nothing about breeding," she said.

She was told Va Bene would cross well with Sir Tristram. After an inquiry or two Barker plumped for Sir Sian, a son of Sir Tristram. The result was Soldier Blue.

On Saturday the seven-year-old gelding was having his 29th start for a record of six wins, three seconds and two thirds.

The New Zealand Cup winning purse of $100,000 took his stake earnings to $163,000.

Waikato trainer Royce Dowling is planning to keep Soldier Blue on the cups' trail.

He said the next target could be the group two $100,000 Waikato Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on December 15 followed by the group one $270,000 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 26.

Soldier Blue was ridden by Gary Grylls, who had the horse handy all the way. He was outside the leader Emayr with a round to go but soon after surrendered that position to Eye Chance.

When Eye Chance ran off around the home turn, because his bit had slipped through his mouth, Soldier Blue again went up to Emayr.

They dominated the race by edging clear early in the home straight and Soldier Blue, the second favourite, got the upperhand near the finish to score by a length.

Emayr held second by 1 1/2 lengths from the fourth favourite On Call, who made up a lot of ground after being at the tail of the field most of the way.

There was three lengths to the favourite Classic Babe, fourth. She also got well back, was wide on the turn and battled fairly.

Rider Lance O'Sullivan believed the firm track conditions counted against Classic Babe.

"She's run very well but if anything was against her today, that track was just too hard for her," O'Sullivan said.

The third favourite Elevenses was a battling fifth, seven lengths from the winner at the finish.

Gabla, from the Wanganui stable of Kevin Myers, blew his chances when missing the start by about six lengths and afterwards was near last most of the way.

- NZPA