The fact that Victoria is the premier state for breeding was emphasized as four of the six major pacing Derby classics and three of the six major Oaks as well as all four trotting Derbies and Oaks run across the country in 2023 were won by Vicbred horses.
They won both the Derby and Oaks in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, along with the $150,000 Queensland Derby which fell the way of the Captaintreacherous colt The Lost Storm, who was bred and is part-owned by Ballarat enthusiast Justin Baker.
Petracca (by Captaintreacherous), who was bred by Bruce and Craig Cameron, captured the $200,000 Victoria Derby and Sweet Bella (by Sweet Lou), bred by Kaye and the late Dr Martin Hartnett, won the $150,000 Victoria Oaks.
In South Australia, the Vicbred gelding Our Vinnie (by Vincent), bred by Alabar Bloodstock, and the Bettor’s Delight filly Delightfull Tammy, brought out by Bruce and Vicki Edward’s Durham Park Standardbreds, took out the Derby and Oaks respectively.
Paradise Valley completed an Oaks double for the Edward couple and sire Sweet Lou when she effortlessly won the Tasmanian Oaks, while Celebrity Royal (by Sweet Lou), who was bred and is raced by Maryborough stalwart Peter Gleeson, annexed the Tasmanian Derby.
Interestingly, Petracca and Celebrity Royal belong to the same family, that tracing to the Windshield Wiper matron Larrakeyah Lady.
On the trotting side, the bonny Aldebaran Eagle filly Rockinwithattitude, who was bred and is raced by a syndicate managed by Michelle Arnott, was the clear standout, winning the Derby-Oaks double in both NSW and Queensland.
Bullion Girl, a Wishing Stone filly bred by Port Fairy breeder Pauline Matthews and her late husband Richard, took out the Derby-Oaks double in Adelaide.
Not As Promised, a pacing bred gelding by Betting Line and bred by Myrniong horsewoman Jess Tubbs, produced a real boilover in the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Derby, while the Creatine filly Shes Ruby Roo, who was bred by leading nursery Benstud Standardbreds, claimed the $75,000 Victoria Trotters Oaks.
Pas Guarantee, a four-year-old by former Victorian ‘Cups King’ Guaranteed, and one of his first crop, scored a runaway win in the $60,000 Lachlan Valley Cup at Cowra on Sunday. The gelding was bred by Rochester breeders Mark and Sue-Ellen Thompson, who also raced Guaranteed, now standing at the Eldarin Park stud, Pyramid Hill, of Mary Helen Pearce
Nakedtruth, who won at Bendigo and Shepparton last week, is the fourth winner left by trotting supermum Starcus this season. The others are the three-year-old Link In Bio, Trixy Nixie and Naked Ambition. In all, Starcus has produced nine winners by eight different stallions
Nonparreil (by Always B Miki), who came from near last to win at Melton, is out of the thrice Group winner Arms Of An Angel (1:49.5) and the first of her produce. Bred by Alabar Bloodstock, Nonparreil has now won nine races and just shy of $100,000 in stakes
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.