A deal arranged by legendary Goulburn Valley trotting scribe Gus Underwood and leading nursery Llowalong Farms about five years ago paved the way for the APG Yearling Sales Vicbred Super Series Silver 2YO Trot winner Hallebesofine.
“We struck a deal with Gus where I looked after his mares and their foals for one year and we split the proceeds of the foals from the yearling sales and then I could keep the mares to breed from,” Dr Kath McIntosh, the principal of Llowalong Farms, said.
One of the mares was the Wind Cries Maori matron All Finesse, the dam of five winners including the former trotting queen and triple Vicbred champion Claudys Princess and the cup class trotter Claudys Prince.
“The foal she had on her at the time was a colt by Centurion ATM,” Kath related.
The colt was never raced.
Two years later All Finesse, to the cover of first season Llowalong Farms’ resident stallion Pastor Stephen, produced Hallebesofine.
The filly was knocked down to western districts trainers Daryl Crone and Tina Ridis for a modest $12,000 at the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale in 2024.
Hallebesofine has proved a model of consistency during her short career, winning twice with six placings from 11 starts. She was placed in both the $75,000 Nutrien Equine Classic and the Graeme Lang Aldebaran Park Trotting Mile.
“She is getting better and better all the time. The whole breed take time to mature,” McIntosh said.
All told, All Finesse’s offspring have won 47 races and almost $650,000 in stakes between them.
- Alrighty, the sensational winner of the Vicbred Silver 3YO Trot, was bred and is raced by Bryan Healy, who drove the mighty Maori’s Idol throughout his decorated career
- Bendigo horseman Leigh Graham bred winners on consecutive nights at Melton with Quirky Character (Vicbred Silver 4YO Trot) and Avant Guard
- Double The Hunter, a last-to-first winner at Maryborough on Monday, was bred by well known veterinarian and studmaster Dr Greg Hargreaves
