A faith in the breeding background of a yearling colt bought by Parwan trainer Craig Demmler on behalf of stable client Peter Chambers at the inaugural Nutrien Equine yearling sale in 2021 was realised at Kilmore on Monday afternoon.
Now racing as Northolt, the What The Hill colt out of the Group 1 winner Shezoneoftheboyz made a winning debut leading from the outset and showing exemplary manners to score by 5.8 metres.
“I trained his mother and she did a good job,” Demmler said.
Shezoneoftheboyz, who was also raced by Chambers, won five of her nine starts in New Zealand including the 2010 NZ Trotting Derby and Hambletonian and three out of four in Victoria including one at Melton.
Chambers bred three foals out of Shezoneoftheboyz and two were successful. Her first foal, I Am Who I Am (by Muscle Hill), who was unraced, left the 2019 Vicbred champion and Australian 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year, Jaxnme.
Shezoneoftheboyz was later sold to Pat Driscoll’s Yabby Dam Farms as part of the dispersal of Chambers’ breeding stock.
Northolt is the second foal and winner bred by Driscoll from the mare.
A $45,000 yearling, Northolt, who is Vicbred eligible, is showing the benefits of a lengthy and diligent training program.
“He’s such a big horse that he’s taken a while to come around, but he’s now starting to put it altogether,” Demmler said.
Northolt is continuing the strong bond between the Demmler and Chambers families.
“Dad (champion driver Ted Demmler) trained and drove Pat’s Sun for Peter’s late father John Chambers,” Craig said.
Pat’s Sun won 15 races at Moonee Valley including the Freestone Cup and several free-for-alls and, in all, 40 races in New Zealand, Australia and North America.
“It’s good to see Peter back in the game. He’s always loved the horses, especially the trotters,” Craig said.