Chief Stipe Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Bettor Joy has won two heats of the Blue Chip Match Maker Series at Yonkers recently. Photo: Race Images. Kiwis dominate Yonkers series New Zealand bred mares are kicking some serious goals in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, which is currently running at Yonkers Raceway in New York. Kiwi exports have won seven of the 13 heats of the rich series, which has run three rounds of heats, so far. There are still two more rounds of elimination heats before the final on April 20. At first glance, the natural reaction is generally that New Zealand should be proud of such brilliant results. We only have a tiny representation in this series, but our mares are cleaning up! The first round of heats produced wins by Delightful Memphis, Seaswift Joy, and the mighty Shartin. Round two was a little quiet, with Bettor Joy the only New Zealand bred mare to strike. However, round three was a Kiwi procession. Bettor Joy was at it again, with Seaswift Joy and Shartin also picking their second wins of the series. SHARTIN N ($2.20) gives @tetrickracing @JoannKi32885615 two wins in the Blue Chip Matchmaker tonight, after drawing off to take the 4th division (Leg 3) in 1:52.2 – Kaitlyn N 2nd, Caviart Cherie 3rd 3-2 EX $4.703-2-4 TRI $27.80 3-2-4-1 SUPER $249Mike Lizzi photos pic.twitter.com/W384s0IfvL — Yonkers Raceway (@YonkersRaceway) March 30, 2019 It is undoubtedly a massive positive for the New Zealand breeding industry and our export market to have these mares doing so well. However, I have two other thoughts when I see these results. The first is a pretty obvious one. Gee, it would be great if these mares were still racing in New Zealand. It’s unrealistic to think they could stay here, given this country’s harness racing industry relies so heavily on the selling horses just to keep owners and trainers in business. That is never going to stop. However, apart from Shartin, these mares did not leave after trialling sensationally as young up and comers. They were established top-bracket mares. That has me wondering whether New Zealand has lost all ability to retain quality race mares for breeding. And that leads me to the my biggest concern. SEASWIFT JOY N ($5.20) @MarohnRacing @CaptainT149 took the 3rd division of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series (Leg 3) over Bettorb Chevron N – after the winners circle photo was taken, Marohn said "her strongest point of the race was at the wire"5-2 EX $95-2-3 TRI $14.40Lizzi pic pic.twitter.com/dKIM2Z9Jye — Yonkers Raceway (@YonkersRaceway) March 30, 2019 What an absolute waste of premium genetics it is having these mares in America. Apart from in rare cases, these kind of horses never return to New Zealand. There is the odd one that comes back and there is the odd American mare that will show up Down Under. But, New Zealand is definitely on the losing side of the equation. If Delightful Memphis, Seaswift Joy or Bettor Joy were mated with a top commercial stallion their progeny could potentially hit the top bracket of a yearling sale. Instead, there is a good chance those genes will never be seen Down Under again. What a waste. BETTOR JOY N ($6.50) @tetrickracing come from off the pace to take 3rd div. of Blue Chip Matchmaker for trainer Jim King Jr @KingHoofBeats in 1:53.4 – Ideal Lifestyle A 2nd, Gold Orchid N 3rd5-3 EX $13.805-3-4 TRI $355-30401 SUPER $85.50 Katy Gazzini photo pic.twitter.com/nx3G5RCm6q — Yonkers Raceway (@YonkersRaceway) March 23, 2019 Lazarus silence There is one obvious case where New Zealand genetics will be returning here from North America. Lazarus is at microscopic odds to be available to New Zealand breeders next season. Whether he stands here, or is available here while standing in Australia, is the big question. Unanswered questions about the New Zealand bred champion are about all we have at the moment. It is incredible how much the hype around Lazarus has died down. Of course, that is understandable, given the horse is not racing any more. The bizarre ending to his career, where he seemed to be sick and then not sick and then sick again will not have helped, either. I think it is fair to say that interest in the pacer has slipped to an all-time low. The question is, will it be able to be resurrected when a deal is finally done and his Down Under stud career is set in stone. It is going to be a decent task to do so. The raging success of the national yearling sales will have given breeders the confidence to breed to commercial stallions in the hope of cashing in on a strong selling market. The sires that set the sales ring alight earlier this year will be at the top of those breeders’ lists. An unproven colonial-bred is unlikely to be high on their lists. It looks like the little champion’s biggest test to date may be off the race track. Brilliant Scheme While I am talking breeding, it is an appropriate time to mention a brilliant initiative from Harness Racing Victoria. The organisation has just announced it will hand out A$115,500 in breeding certificates in May and June. Breeders of race winners will receive a $1000 breeding credit and owners will receive $500. Those can be used for service fees for Victorian based mares. What a brilliant scheme. If you want to be highly critical, it would be good if it ran for longer and was part of permanent scheme. But, who is to say it will not develop in to that. Good on you Harness Racing Victoria. Lets hope something similar could happen here one day. #ICYMI Harness Racing Victoria yesterday announced a $115,500 stimulus for breeders and owners during May and June. Full details at #TheTrots: https://t.co/rTL0mwbq7Y pic.twitter.com/jcWH6M7fkX — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) March 28, 2019 View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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