Two Group races for fillies and mares in Adelaide last Saturday proved a breeder that is committed to a particular family or stallion can achieve G1 success, you just have to stick at it long enough!
The late Paul Geard and his wife Elizabeth have been a fixture of Tasmanian racing and breeding for many years with over 400 horses carrying their famed Geegees prefix and until Saturday no Geegees horse had ever won a G1 race.
The Group I SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) changed that, with victory going to the Mark Walker trained Geegees Mistruth, who started her racing career in Tasmania, read about her here.
The Geard’s do not believe in spending vast amounts on expensive racemares to expand their breeding operation and they also believe that if you get a good stallion you stick with him and those two principles have given them Geegees Mistruth.
She is the first G1 winner among eight stakes-winners sired by their Testa Rossa stallion Wordsmith, who will turn 23 this year and in recent years has covered only a handful of mares.
For the record, he runs at 62.5% winner to runner and 2.9% SW to runner and th emajprity of his offspring are Geegees horses.
The dam of Geegees Mistruth made $250 at the 2013 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock Sale and Miss Mana duly made her way to Tasmania. After slipping her first two years to Clangalang has had a long and happy relationship with Wordsmith, who has sired all of her living foals.
She has had four to race and all have won multiple races with her three year-old Geegees Missile also stakes-placed and there is more to come as Miss Mana has a yearling gelding, a weanling filly and is back in foal to him again.
Miss Mana might be an unplaced daughter of an unfashionable sire in Jetball, but she’s been a wonderful producer and if you go back far enough it’s a great family – fourth dam Yvette (Sovereign Edition) spawned a successful Black Type dynasty that includes names like Away Game and Jacquinot.
The Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks (2000m) was won by Panova, who was bred and sold by John Ramsey, the son of respected Hunter Valley breeder Stuart Ramsey, whose Turangga Farm has produced countless good horses over the years, read about her here.
Panova is the second G1 winner for Snitzel stallion Trapeze Artist, who was a Champion 3YO Sprinter, but has shown through his progeny the ability to add some stamina to the mix with his previous G1 winner being Caulfield Guineas winner Griff.
She is first G1 winner and third SW for Tale of the Cat (USA) stallion Trusting as a broodmare sire and what is really interesting is those two other stakes-winners are also by Snitzel and one of his sons – Queensland Derby contender Matias (Snitzel) and G3 Launceston Cup winner Distrustful Award (Shamus Award).
Panova is from a family nurtured through three generations by the Ramsey’s going back to third dam Niagara Falls, who spent much of her stud career at Turangga Farm.
There have been winners galore come through this family and SW’s like Elite Falls and Charge, but Panova has lifted the standard!
