Sales reject provides big thrill
Waikato breeders Bruce and Marie Brodie experienced a breeders’ nightmare long before Kango powered to a tough win in the Group 2 Franklin Cup.
Kango (American Ideal-Dana Maguire-McArdle) kept giving in the lead for driver David Butcher in the Group 2 feature to break through for his first black-type win for trainer Arna Donnelly.
Kango winning Franklin Cup – Trish Dunnell
The win delivered a big highlight for the horse’s breeder-owners, but it may not have come if yearling sales buyers had taken a liking to him.
“We took him to the yearling sales and we couldn’t get a bid on him,” Bruce Brodie said.
Four years later, the Brodies have enjoyed plenty of highlights with Kango which culminated in their biggest victory as owners and breeders on New Year’s Eve.
“The first win with him was good but that was the biggest win we have had.”
“We are just hobby breeders, we only have one mare.”
“I used to read the Harness Racing Weekly and there would always be these older fellows getting a really good horse towards in their older years.”
“Now I am one of them.”
Brodie has put full faith in Arna Donnelly and David Butcher and they have repaid him by shaping his form sales ring reject into a serious open class horse.
“David Butcher has stuck with him really good and been patient,” Brodie said.
“Arna has done a great job, as well as her father (Brent) who broke him in – they have had him all the time.”
“He has only been home once since he was broken in.”
“I said to Arna you are the trainer, there is no point in me butting in and she treats him like he is her own.”
Kango is from Dana Maguire who Bruce Brodie trained after her purchase at the National Yearling Sales.
In just two starts the mare couldn’t add to the Ohaupo horseman’s winning tally of seven.
But she has proven to be something of a broodmare gem.
Her first foal The C E O (Gotta Go Cullect) won four from 28.
Next came Henry Hu (American Ideal), a full brother to Kango, who has won six in New Zealand and Australia, taking a mark of 1.52.
The mare has also left a He’s Watching colt and she’s back in foal to American Ideal.
“I have got a half-brother to him by He’s Watching who has just turned three and I have got her in foal to American Ideal,” Brodie said.
“They have won about 18 races the first three foals.”
“The C E O was a lovely pacer but he had a wind issue at the end of it and being a syndicate horse he was retired.”
“Henry Hu looked pretty smart early on and did a good job before he was sold to Australia.”
A close relation to Kango will be offered at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Karaka next month.
A Bettor’s Delight colt from Dana Maguire’s half-sister, Kelly Maguire (Christian Cullen) will be offered by Breckon Farms.
Article – Jonny Turner Image – Trish Dunnell
