When Melbourne publisher, printer and vigneron John Zapris bought the Kentucky mare My Tucky almost 40 years ago, little did he envisage that she would found a family that would produce one of Victoria’s most exciting young stayers in Coastal Drive.
“Dad always liked the idea of breeding and racing horses, and she was the one that set him on his course,” Zapris’s son Evan, who races Coastal Drive, said. “She set a track record at Wedderburn one day, and that’s what sparked his interest.”
Coastal Drive, who took his stake earnings beyond the $100,000 plateau with his hard-fought win on Geelong Cup night, is a fifth-generation descendant of his family.
The line has also produced the Victorian Grass Track Championship winner Uptown Cosmo and the multiple Melton victor Because I Can.
“Uptown Cosmo was an excitement machine. He was probably my father’s favourite horse,” Evan said. “But Coastal Drive is definitely the best one from the family. He’s a very versatile racehorse. Hopefully, he’s got a few more wins ahead of him.”
The Downbytheseaside entire is now being fitted for the rich Victorian Country Cups circuit.
“Michael Stanley (trainer-driver) has really made my experience in having Coastal Drive such a pleasure. He’s a very good communicator and a terrific horseman,” Evan stated.
Remarkably, the first five dams of Coastal Drive were all winners, with My Tucky winning five races, the fourth dam Star Of Athens (5), the third dam Drimos (3), the grand-dam Definite Girl (8) and his dam Artemede (2).
“Artemede only had six starts and didn’t realise her full potential. She ran second in the Vicbred Homegrown Classic to Maajida after coming from last. She fractured a sesamoid bone in trackwork and became so distressed that the vet told us she was only a 50/50 chance of surviving,” Evan said.
“I sent her to Downbytheseaside to get the Somebeachsomewhere bloodline, and Coastal Drive is the result.”
Artemede has since produced a filly foal by Downbytheseaside and has been served by Perfect Sting this season.
“We’re very pleased to have a filly, as I would love to continue my involvement with the family,” Evan said.
• My Mate Ace, who completed back-to-back wins at Shepparton, was bred and is raced by Albert and Ellen Davis, of Teela Park, Numurkah.
• When the three-year-old trotter No Repentance emerged successful at the midweek meeting at Ballarat, she credited her dam No Restraint with her fifth winner from as many foals.
• Promising three-year-old Rom Baro, a winner at Shepparton last Tuesday, is a half-brother to seven winners, including Charlene Gusman’s former crack juvenile He’s Charlie’s Angel.
