What a grand performer New Zealand-bred Breeny’s Fella was in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He started his career with Kirk Larsen, winning three times before making his way to the legendary Ted Demmler in Australia as a three-year-old in late 1996.
He went right to the top, racing with distinction on both sides of the Tasman. While the bulk of his racing was in Australia, Demmler took him back to NZ on several occasions – winning the group 1 City of Auckland Free-For-All in 1999 after finishing third to Happy Asset in the Auckland Cup.
Breeny’s Fella’s biggest success in Australia came in the 2000 Victoria Cup, beating the likes of Shakamaker and Christian Cullen, with Courage Under Fire, Safe And Sound, Yulestar and Happy Asset among the unplaced brigade in a stunning line-up.
He followed that with a second to Shakamaker in the 2000 Inter Dominion Championship Final at Moonee Valley, really attacking the line as he continued to rapidly make ground on the eventual winner.
Bred by Graham Breen, Breeny’s Fella was out of Farm Timer mare Farm Maid. While she did not have another foal with anywhere near the ability of Breeny’s Fella (24 wins, $638,9000), there were six other winners.
They included Breeny Boy (Bo Scots Blue Chip, 14 wins), Breeny’s Trouble (Holmes Hanover, 11 wins), Breeny’s Crusade (Holmes Hanover, 4 wins), Kurt Hanover (Holmes Hanover, 4 wins), Breeny’s Lady (Falcon Seelster, 2 wins) and Breeny’s Lad (Holmes Hanover, 1 win). So where is Farm Maid’s family now?
She produced four fillies, with Breeny’s Maid the most productive at stud in leaving Breeny’s Passion (Live Or Die, 4 wins) and Breeny’s Luck (Holmes Hanover, 10 wins) among them. Breeny’s Passion has produced one winner in Breeny’s Cullen (Christian Cullen, 3 wins) and possibly more to come.
Breeny’s Lady has had three winners – Mysterious Quartet (Brioso Hanover, 9 wins), Illawong Lord (Four Starzzz Shark, 4 wins) and the latest, Illawong Parris (Pet Rock). Illawaong Parris brought memories of Breeny’s Fella flooding back when the three-year-old gelding registered his first career win at Mildura on June 5, and backed up at the same track on June 19. While a long way from the great heights that Breeny’s Fella reached, it is a small reminder of the career of one the modern era’s greats.
Originally published in Trackbred July 2020
