Stellar Riccarton day for Wilson family

[Wandering Eyes]

Bevan and Robyn Wilson celebrated an almost perfect day at Riccarton with a family that has served them so well for decades.

The Ashburton owner-trainers won races on Saturday with homebred half-brothers Victor Rouge and Victorian Charm while their half-sibling Lord Darci finished runner-up.

“We were very pleased with the way they all went, they had been racing well apart from Lord Darci who had a bit of a hiccup in the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m),” Bevan Wilson said.

“It was nice to see him bounce back in a bit weaker company.”

Burgundy’s son Victor Rouge is now a five-time winner, Charm Spirit gelding Victorian Charm has struck twice while Lord Darci, by Darci Brahma, has won four times and was runner-up in the 2023 Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m).

The trio are out of the High Chaparral mare Madam Victoria who was successful on eight occasions for the Wilsons.

Her record featured Listed victories in the Warstep Stakes (2000m), NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) and Timaru Stakes (1400m).

“We’ve been involved with the family right from the start when my father and I bought a filly at the old Claudelands Sale,” Wilson said.

“Her name was Regalitas, she was trained by Pat Corboy and I was too young to be in the book so it was in my mother’s name and the family has all come from there.”

Regalitas won five races in the mid-1970s and is the fourth dam of Madam Victoria.

Other black type performers from the family they have enjoyed success with are the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) winner Nearly Pal’s and his dual Listed winning half-sisters Bashful Lady and Royal Miss.

Madam Victoria also has a daughter of Belardo and last season produced a filly by Circus Maximus before missing to Windsor Park Stud’s three-time Group One winner.

“We just had to give up on the Belardo and she’ll be a broodmare,” said former All Black Wilson.

“She was difficult but a lovely strong type, but there is a wee bit of a streak in them and she’s got every bit of it.

“Madam Victoria is up at Windsor Park and we’ll decide whether we sell the Circus Maximus or bring her home and the mare will go back to the stallion this year.

“We’ve got two or three more broodmares, but we will cut down. We’re just a bit far away and it’s tough going for a small breeder.

“We would like to keep involved with this family, but we will also probably drop out of the training soon.

“It’s a big tie and while we enjoy it, there are other things we’d like to have a crack at in retirement.”

Wilson’s wife Robyn also has a lifetime involvement in the racing industry as the daughter of the late New Zealand Hall of Fame trainer Rex Cochrane.

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