March country cups winners leave a legacy

The Trots Country Cups schedule for March 2021 is already underway, with the Wangaratta and Birchip Cups all run and won – though unfortunately, not by mares.

This is a big month for big regional races, with the features for five clubs taking place.

Here we look at the previous winners of these prestigious races where they have been mares, and track forward to see where their bloodlines are today.

You can investigate past winners of a huge range of Victorian feature races with HRV’s Honour Roll selector on The Trots site.

Wangaratta Pacing Cup (7 March 2021)

The only mare since the honour roll started in 1980 to win is Shakahari (Courage Under Fire) out of a sister to Shakamaker ($2.2 million), who earnt $114,000 in her career but was not sent to the barn.

Wangaratta Trotting Cup

The trotters tell a different story, with ladies winning the event six of the eight occasions!

Karamboo, a Wagon Apollo mare bred by Harness Breeders Victoria member Daniel Kennedy, has most recently had a 2018 Bacardi Lindy filly – four of her five foals to date have been fillies! The one gelding is no slouch though, Kraze (Crazed, also bred by the Kennedys) has earnt over $43,000 and is back on track this season having most recently run second at Albion Park in a heat of the Jim McNeil Trot. Her daughters have bred on with Jubilee Charm (Skyvalley, unraced) the dam of Bacardi Bindi (Bacardi Lindy with four wins including one this season), and her full sister Lydia Hatbox (Skyvalley) who has followed the popular Bacardi Lindy cross to deliver a 2017 colt.

Conch Delight mare, Jingling Silver ($191,000) who claimed the silverware in 2012, is now being bred by Aldebaran Lodge and has three foals on the ground for them – a 2018 Skyvalley colt (unraced) named Aldebaranspartacus, a 2017 Majestic Son gelding named Hammer Son (unraced) and a 2019 Aldebaran Eagle filly. Her eldest daughter, Jingles (Skyvalley), first hit the track in November.

Charlton Pacing Cup (14 March 2021)

The earliest winning mare of the Charlton Cup, Brahms Lullaby (Brahman) had just the one foal, Emmylou (Endless Night) who was not bred from. The next winner though – Jilliby Magic (Safely Kept, $211,000) – has had great success in the barn (you can read about her progeny in our January Cups coverage). In something of a recent hoodoo for Charlton Cup winning mares, Group 1 winner Barynya (Blissfull Hall, $525,000) has never been bred from while Milly Perez (Four Starzzz Shark, $343,000) died prematurely – a loss to the breeding ranks, being one of five foals from Alta Calypso to race, and all winners including Charissa Tee – the dam of this year’s NSW Derby winner, Patsbeachstorm (Somebeachsomewhere, $177,000).

Charlton Trotting Cup

2010 winner Thepowerofhealing (Maori’s Idol, $143,000) – who also secured the Wangaratta Cup that season – has had just the one foal – but what a foal! Sky Petite, a daughter of Skyvalley, is the winner of over $251,000 including a Group 3.

Ouyen Pacing Cup (Sunday 21 March 2021)

Mares had a terrific record in the Ouyen Pacing Cup in early times but have been missing from more recent results. Natty Kiwi and New Kiwi took turns in the first four years of the feature, with Natty Kiwi’s bloodlines still in the capable hands of Harness Breeders Victoria members John and Christine Yeomans. They bred Of Course I Can (Armbro Operative, unraced), whose most recent offspring, 2017 filly Well Of Course (Well Said), hasn’t quite reached the track yet and her dam, Cana Kiwi Fly (What’s Next, $25,000), the mother of Yes I Can (Albert Albert, $100,000).

New millennium winner, Demiliner (Classic Garry, $80,000) was a handy broodmare, throwing star Christian Cullen filly Triliner ($184,000). Triliner had seven foals, including Supaliner (Mach Three, $184,000), but they were all colts, and with her sister Kathliner having only colts, and both Loveliner and Moreliner deceased, it seems that Demiliner’s line has ended.

Echuca Pacing Cup (Friday 19 March 2021)

Forty years on Paula Morley’s (Paulos Hanover, $31,000) bloodlines continue to the current day with her first foal, Queen Of Peace (Adios Vic, $61,000), becoming a prolific producer – 14 live foals, all bar one to race, and nine winners. Her handy daughter African Dancer (Safely Kept, $67,000) had a similar record – 10 live foals, eight of who raced for seven winners. Now bred by Harness Breeders Victoria members Redbank Lodge Standardbreds, African Dancer’s most recent foal is a 3YO filly who debuted in February (Africana, Art Major), while earlier progeny include successful racehorses Bamako Mali (Art Major, $259,000), Redbank Blaze (Rocknroll Hanover, $265,000) and Prophesy (Somebeachsomewhere, $152,000). Her Western Ideal daughter Lettucedance has most recently thrown an Art Major colt, while Bamako Mali, now bred by members Benstud, has a 2019 Downbytheseaside filly on the ground.

Horsham Pacing Cup (Sunday 28 March 2021):

The most recent mare winners of the Horsham Pacing Cup are both still active in the barn. Christian Melody (Christian Cullen, $212,000) has had six foals now, the most recent ones having just been named but not yet raced in Gypsy Princess (2018, Betting Line) and New Yorker (2017, Bettors Delight). Both her earliest foals have raced, and both won including Christian Major (Art Major, $90,000). Glenferrie Alexis (Courage Under Fire) has had three to the races for two winners, and has most recently had a 2019 Sweet Lou colt and 2018 Somebeachsomewhere filly.

Horsham Trotting Cup

Of the three trotting Cup winning mares, on 2010 winner Sharendoo Lass (Wind Cries Maori, $70,000) has contemporary runners, Love The Aces (Tennotrump, $28,000) and Just Stella Magic (Goodboytruscott), who both had starts last season. Her most recent delivery was a 2018 Skyvalley colt, Skyranger Sloane, as yet unraced.