Melbourne breeder and financial advisor Harvey Kaplan has been at the forefront of the standardbred breeding industry, both in his home state and New Zealand for more than 20 years.

Among the top flight performers he has brought out are Bling It On, Baby Bling, Mach Doro, Fly Like An Eagle, Flaming Flutter and Arctic Fire, just to name a few.

And, despite cutting back his breeding numbers in recent times, Kaplan remains a force on the racetrack and the yearling sales arena.

The results of feature races in two States last weekend further emphasizes this.

The 2012 Victorian Breeder of the Year figures as the breeder of Don Lou, winner of the $30,600 (Listed) Kevin Robinson Free-for-all at Menangle, and Dee Roe, who won a heat of the SA Pacing Derby at Globe Derby Park.

“I always thought Dee Roe had a decent race in him. Hopefully the SA Derby is his race,” Kaplan, who trades as Harshell Investments, said.

“Don Lou has certainly gone to a new level since moving to the Seaton Grima stable. He’s twice run sub 1:50 miles.” 

Don Lou is a five-year-old gelding by Sweet Lou from the Life Sign mare Flair For Life, dam of the exported American Zest ($384,946), while Dee Roe is an Art Major colt from Ark Monroe, a daughter of the 2008 Broodmare of the Year Ark Maree.

The Kaplan broodmare herd are domiciled at the Katunga (Vic.) and Crookwell (NSW) branches of giant breeding conglomerate Benstud Standardbreds, conducted by the Judd family.

“I have scaled back my numbers dramatically,” Kaplan said. “Three years ago I was breeding from 50 mares but right now I have 15 mares in Australia and six in NZ.”

The list includes thrice Australian Broodmare of the Year Alldatglittersisgold, Ark Monroe (dam of Dee Roe), the Group 3 winner Platinum Sparkle, Angel Of Heaven, full sister-in-blood to Rockstar Angel; Classical Music, half to Speak No Evil; Rushton, half to Spiritual King; Female Assassin, daughter of Nostra Beach; and I Choose, a half to She’s An Image.

Kaplan has nominated seven yearlings for sales in Australia and six in NZ next year including colts and fillies by leading sires Art Major, Captaintreacherous, Bettor’s Delight, Always B Miki, Downbytheseaside, Stay Hungry and Love You. They are closely related to top horses the calibre of Bling It On, Albert Kelly, Adore Me, Our Sixpence, Millwood Nike, Merlin, Gina Grace, Just Hope and Pembrook Benny.

Doug’s Tribe, the effortless winner of the two-year-old at Yarra Valley, is a Soho Tribeca half-brother to the former Vicbred champion Doug’s Babe, now racing successfully at the top level in America

A new free ebook tracing the history of the Geelong Harness Racing Club is now available online at https://classicfamilies.net/ebooklist  Highlights of the 670 page publication, written by noted historian John Peck, include all races from 1841 to the first Year Book (1967), more than 100 pages of stories on celebrity horses and people including an updated biography of Hall of Famer Pearl Kelly

Destrier, a longshot trotting winner at Melton on Saturday, was bred by well known Goulburn Valley breeders Geoff and Lorraine Barnes