Katie’s taking a back seat… but still producing winners

By Duane Ranger

When Dave Carville passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 2010, he and his wife Katie had 127 horses on their Ohoka property.

Now some 12 years later Katie says she is now down to one broodmare and one 2-year-old.

Ashley, Paige and Katie Carville with partner Shane

“It’s all about fun now and not being so serious. We pumped a lot of money into the industry over the years and it was always Dave’s great passion and I supported him as best I could, but I have a new life now and the interest has waned,” Katie said.

“It’s not cheap either. In saying that I think I would always like to have one broodmare and one racehorse. It will always remind me of Dave and how much he loved harness racing. My new partner, Shane, enjoys racing as well, and I like to have a broodmare on the property,” she added.

And it was Carville’s former broodmare – the 2000 Live or Die nine-win ($81,881) pacer, Millwood Touche that provided the Canterbury businesswoman with her latest victory.

That came via the Owen Gillies trained and Warren Rich driven Ohoka Achilles in race two at Cambridge Raceway last Thursday evening (September 8) – the Tidd Crane Up to R50 Amateur Drivers Pace. It was Ohoka Achilles’ eighth win in 76 starts ($80,958) since he made his race-debut third at Addington Raceway in January 2019.

The 7-year-old Art Major gelding is now owned by Gillies and his partner, Beth Judson. They got him off Derek Balle in 2020.

“He has had two front tendon injuries and two front suspensory injuries as well. He’s a lovely old horse and a pleasure to have around,” Gillies said.

Katie said she sold Ohoka Achilles at the yearling Sales.

“I think we got about $30,000 or $35,000 for him. That was about the price we always got for our horses. After the last Sales I think I’m all done there.

“But as far as Ohoka Achilles goes, apart from the first foal, he’s been the pick of the progeny,” Katie said.

The late Millwood Touche is the 10th foal (of 11) out of the Wayne Francis bred 10-win Boyden Hanover mare, Quiet Touche. She won Group One NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes, the 1986 Ashburton Cup, and placed in the 1985 New Zealand Messenger and the 1986 Taylor Mile.

“We leased her from Wayne and she left 12 foals between 2007 and 2019. Ohoka Achilles was foal number seven.

“The oldest foal – Ohoka Texas (2007 Christian Cullen colt) was the pick of them. He won some nice races in New Zealand before he was sold to the United States.

The 2011 Invercargill Cup and 2012 Pelorus Trust winner left New Zealand in November 2013 having raced 37 times for 12 wins and four seconds for $174,342 in stakes. He also won several races in the USA where he recorded a 1:50.2-mile rate.

“We are racing Millwood Touche’s 2-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven filly named Millwood Grace. She’s progressing nicely with Steve Dolan and is a beautifully gaited pacer.

“We sold the foal before her, a now 3-year-old full sister named Millwood Jesse through Gavel House for $13,000.”

But Katie said the only mare she was now breeding from was not related to Millwood Touche.

“Millwood Billie is a 4-year-old Art Major – Millwood Krystal (Falcon Seelster) mare, who only raced 10 times for a win and a placing.

“She is a beautiful young broodmare, who was served by Bettor’s Delight last November. I’m looking forward to that foal. I think I will have a year off breeding to allow for ‘Billie’ to be a Mum. Then I might go back to Bettor’s again, we will see,” Katie said.

A Mum of 24-year-old twins Ashley and Paige, Katie works in a high-powered financial job where she oversees large accounts throughout New Zealand as the Job National Key Account Manager for a food service company.

“That job keeps me very busy, and with my girls and new partner that’s where my energies lie now. There’s a bit of travel involved so I live a busy life.

“But I am happy that I’ve still got a broodmare and a new foal on the way. And I’m racing a horse as well so I’m hanging in there,” Katie said.

Over the years the Carvilles won numerous Group One races. Katie said the best of them was the 27-win Bettor’s Delight -Millwood Minisota (Christian Cullen) gelding, Ohoka Punter.

“He was an amazing horse who won more than $1.1 million, but it was Ohoka Arizona (Christian Cullen – Millwood Krystal) that provided me with my best memory in the sport.

“That was when we took the bus down to Ashburton and Ohoka Arizona won the Group One ($200,000) Jewels Final for 2-year-olds.

“He was favourite that day and Blair Orange drove him for Mark Purdon. That was a special occasion and very happy memory,” Katie said.

Footnote: Katie bred Braeview Kelly to win the Group Three Ladyship Stakes at Tabcorp Park Menangle on 10 September). The Bettor’s Delight 4-year-old mare recorded a 1.50.9-mile rate.

“Braeview Kelly, who has now won four of her five starts in Australia, is the second and most successful foal so far out of the American Ideal mare, Idolise. I have a full brother in the sale next year,” Ka