A breeding plan hatched more than 20 years ago is finally starting to bring rich rewards for Mount Scobie (near Kyabram) dairy farmers and hobby harness breeders Phillip and Tracey Wade.
“We raced a mare called Ceratophylla in a syndicate with Faye McEwan. She won 16 races. After she retired from racing we bought her as a broodmare,” Phillip said.
“She’s the grand-dam of all the nice horses we’ve got at the moment.
“We kept all the fillies out of Ceratophylla. She didn’t throw much herself and Phirey Philtra was probably the pick of them.”
Phirey Philtra won six races and became the dam of one of the stars of the winter racing at Melton in Hoorah Philtra.
The Betterthancheddar gelding began his career as a two-year-old with respected Kyabram horseman Mick Blackmore, who won seven races with him.
A few months ago the Wade’s made the bold decision to transfer Hoorah Philtra to the Lexton stables of Ashleigh and James Herbertson.
“We thought that there was too much travelling from Kyabram to Melton every week or fornight. ‘Hoorah’ was not a good traveller and that’s why we think he’s improved. It’s been the best move we could ever have done,” Phillip said.
Hoorah Philtra has started on eight occasions for the Herbertson’s for three wins and five seconds.
The five-year-old gave a further sample of his class when he finished strongly along the passing lane to capture the Hygain Edge Free-for-all at Melton last Saturday, leaving top horses the calibre of Catch A Wave, Triple Eight, Some American and Storms Collide in his wake.
“We thought he would improve when he went to Melbourne but we didn’t expect this,” Phillip stated.
“Hoorah’s definitely the best we’ve bred.
“We’ve got a fairly big opinion of Crackin Philtra, who won at Bendigo at his second start, and we believe the filly Pearl Of Philtra has got a bright future.”
Among the smart performers they have brought out over the years are the Menangle winner Dee Double You, Philtra Phella (20 wins), Eye See Philtra, Cheeki Philtra, Sporty Philtra and Sneaky Philtra.
The ‘Philtra’ horses are raced by Phillip and Tracey, their daughters Paige and Chloe, Paige’s partner Jordan Souter and Chloe’s husband Tom Henger.
“The grandkids name all the horses. They love doing that and they follow them all. It’s a good family interest,” Phillip said.
However, the Wade’s are gradually reducing their breeding numbers as they approach retirement after 40 years working on the farm.
“We’ve only got two broodmares at the moment – Inphiltrate, the dam of Dusty Philtra, who’s going to Always B Miki this season and Phlying Philtra, a daughter of their foundation mare Philtra Girl.
- Harness Breeders Victoria committeeman Dr Hugh Cathels and his wife Lorraine bred trotting winners on consecutive nights in Sebastian’s Waiting (Kilmore) and Lord Logan (Melton), both out of American-bred mares
- Archaa, who completed back-to-back successes at Kilmore, was bred and is raced by former HRV board member Carl O’Dwyer and respected Wallan horseman Noel Shinn
- Captain Groove, a four-year-old winner in 1:51.5 at the midweek Menangle meeting, was bred by well known Ballarat identity Louise Toulmin
