Cheval Rogue
(c) Monica Toretto
Cheval Rouge adds to versatile mare’s record
By Jonny Turner
Broodmare gem Winfield Invasion lives up to the old breeding phrase “she can leave them by anything”.
But as fortunate as Dunedin breeders Daryl and Anne Trainor have been with her progeny, they are not without their share of hard luck stories.
Cheval Rouge (Quaker Jet-Winfield Invasion-Armbro Invasion) added another victory to her dam’s impressive record when running to a stylish maiden victory at Winton.
Having left Group One performer McLovin (Monarchy) as well as handy performers Havehorsewilltravel (Angus Hall) and Say Your Pres (The Pres), Winfield Invasion has clearly matched with a range of trotting bloodlines.
With the way Cheval Rouge trotted to such an emphatic victory after having just two quiet trials it looks as though Quaker Jet is going to be another great match up for the now 23-year-old broodmare.
“She has always shown a bit,” Daryl Trainor said.
“We gave her nine months off, she had a bit of soreness in one of her fetlocks.”
“Pete Gillespie said to give her a couple of months off but we gave her nine because she is such a big mare.”
“She had shown enough for us to look after her.”
Though she has left plenty of smart types, Winfield Invasion has also provided the Trainors with some heartache through the loss of her foals.
“We lost a colt by Majestic Son colt last year to a paddock accident.”
“Drama Queen – we lost her, she picked up a bug and got really sick.”
“We have a good run and we have a bit of bad luck.”
At 23-years-old Winfield Invasion is still full of life and there is little doubt about how much Daryl Trainor spoils the grand producer.
“She is at home, she is my baby.”
“She gets looked after better than my wife, just about.”
“She still runs around and has a bit of a double-barrel every now and then.”
Trainor formerly trained at Forbury Park but these days he leaves the training to Amber Hoffman who produced Cheval Rouge for her maiden win.
But he keeps a hand in by going out to the stable when not busy with the commitments of his electrical business.
“I go to Amber’s every Saturday and have a play around and drive a few horses for them.”
“It is great for my mental health, so I make a point of getting there.”
With son Jack kicking goals as a trainer in Sydney, Cheval Rouge’s long-term future is likely to be in his stable.
Though he hasn’t put in a cheeky request for the mare to be sent across the Tasman just yet.
“He hasn’t yet, but we will see where she goes here first.”
“We want to have a bit of fun, she is not for sale or anything.”
“I would say that is eventually where she will go, the grading system over there really helps them out, being a mare you get concessions left, right and centre.”
With the way Cheval Rouge’s half-siblings McLovin, Havehorsewilltravel and Say Your Pres have gone in Australia she looks destined for good success across the ditch.
