NZ bred mare, Depend On Me NZ, is nothing short of harness royalty. She is by world-leading sire Bettors Delight from Splendid Deal, who is a half-sister to winners of more than $4.7 million in stakes.
Splendid Deal’s relatives read like a who’s who of Australasian harness racing – Christen Me ($2.2M), Have Faith In Me ($2M), Adore Me ($1.6M) and Dream About Me ($1.3M) head list but there are many more top flight winners.
Splendid Deal, a granddaughter of hall of fame broodmare Scuse Me, has produced winners of $700,000 in stakes, including NZ 2YO Sires Stakes (G1) winner Maxim (1.53.8, $510K) and NZ Oaks (G1) placegetter Splendour (P2,1.56.2, $148K).
These two stars are full relations to Depend On Me and Splendour is also the dam of WA Pacing Cup winner Magnificent Storm (1.52.5, $1.1M).
Depend On Me has produced two winners from her first three foals and is in foal to mega sire Art Major.
This cross (Art Major over a Bettor’s Delight mare) has produced an Interdominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo ($2.2M), NZ superstar Merlin ($1.4M) and million-dollar mare Our Princess Tiffany.
Merlin is also out of a granddaughter of Scuse Me and is very closely related to the foal that Depend On Me is carrying.
So it’s likely Depend On Me, Lot 52, will be one of the highlights of the APG Autumn Mixed Sale that starts on May 23.
She will be offered by Kody Charles from KTC Bloodstock and he said it was a tough decision to part with such a diamond.
But he said it was part of a plan to consolidate the broodmare band.
The mare is one of eight quality broodmares offered by the Charles family in the sale.
“To be honest, our numbers are just getting too high,” Charles said.
“The three lots I’m personally selling - La Stella Del Mare, Miss Madoff, and Depend On Me - are part of that adjustment.
“I’m getting more and more heavily involved with the greyhounds and currently in the process of building kennels at my place, so I’m running out of time to spend on the horses.
“I was really excited about Depend On Me, having bought her from NZ. Unfortunately, I lost her foal last year so that also really upset me.
“Her pedigree is massive – and being in foal to Art Major - she’s probably the horse of the sale, to be honest.
“A fantastic opportunity for someone, but I need to focus on getting these kennels up and running, so I’ve got to make some tough calls.
“Mum and Dad are also getting a bit older, and we kids are telling them to slow down a bit. Though I doubt they’ll listen.
“They’re planning a trip to Ireland this year as well, so it’s just the right time for us to cut back.
“All our horses are unreserved, except for Depend On Me, so it’s going to be a fantastic opportunity for buyers, including several in-foal broodmares to Foreclosure, Vincent, and Art Major.”
Highly respected nursery Soho Standardbreds will also offer a draft of promising youngstock and outstanding broodmares in the Autumn sale – some based in Victoria and some in WA.
Soho principal Robert Watson will offer regally bred broodmare Aussie Made Lombo (Lot 76) and her unraced daughter Soho Amazing Grace (Lot 46) in WA.
Both are in foal to Watson’s emerging sire Soho Tribeca.
Aussie Made Lombo (by Bettors Delight) won $578,000 and 22 races, including the Bathurst Gold Tiara. She was named 2010 Australian 2YO filly of the year.
She is out of legendary mare Tailormade Lombo (1.55.3, $1.3M), who produced 10 winners and was named Australian broodmare of the year three times after a stellar race career.
Aussie Made Lombo has produced three winners, including WA APG 2YO fillies sales classic winner Soho Interceptor (P2,1.55.9, $177K).
Her highly promising 2YO colt Soho Trump (by Captain Crunch) made an impressive debut at Menangle with a 1.54.5 win in February.
Interestingly, three od Soho Tribeca’s top four earners are out of mares by sons of Mach Three, potentially offering a strong cross with Soho Amazing Grace, who is by Mach Three.
Don’t miss your opportunity to pick up these nice prospects to help round out your stables for the upcoming season! Register as a Buyer or check out the full Online Catalogue today.
