Breeder will be watching the NZ Cup from Thailand

By Duane Ranger

When Brent Smith contacted Winton horsewoman Chelsea Faithful in 2015, little did he know back then, but that phonecall ultimately set him on the way to achieving every New Zealand standardbred breeder’s dream.

After 40 years of breeding the former Riccarton Park Functions Manager (32 years) will have his first starter in a New Zealand Cup at Addington Raceway on November 8.

Brent with Breeders chair Colin Hair at ‘21 Awards function

The Steve and Amanda Telfer trained, B D Joe (Roll With Joe Tact Aunty, Christian Cullen) , gained automatic entry into New Zealand’s most prestigious pacing event at Addington Raceway last Friday (September 30), when he and Benjamin Butcher led for most of the way in Group Two Canterbury Classic.

The 4-year-old Roll With Joe gelding was having just his second start this campaign after finishing second in the Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup on September 9.

B D Joe has now won nine of his 28 starts and placed in 11 others for $254,002. Last year he ran second in the Sires Stakes Final to Its All About Faith. He also won the 3yo Jewels Final.

“I’m so disappointed I won’t be in my old hometown (Christchurch) for the Cup, Show-Day or my 72nd birthday (November 25).

“I’d already booked a holiday to Vietnam and Thailand a long time ago and the tickets are too expensive to can’t change, unfortunately.

“I’ll definitely try and watch the race though. I still can’t believe I’ve bred a New Zealand Cup starter. This is every breeder’s dream. I’m very excited. It’s all a bit surreal,” Smith said.

“I’m so pleased I contacted Chelsea, who worked for Trevor Proctor and Di Dynes in Southland back then. I saw the broodmare was advertised in the ‘Weekly’ and that’s why I rang them. Now I live just half an hour from where I got her,” the Otautau-based breeder added.

Smith paid just $1,600 for B D Joe’s dam – the 2004 three-win Christian Cullen mare, Tact Aunty.

“I really liked her because she was out of a Soky’s Atom mare named Flash Tactics, who won eight races, including the Southland Oaks Final and the Central Otago Cup. She also placed in the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes,” Smith said.

He also liked that Tact Aunty’s first foal – the Proctor and Dynes-bred 2011 Badlands Hanover colt, Tact Ollie, won two races here and then three more in Australia.

“He boasts a 1:51 mile rate over there, so I knew the bloodlines were starting to come through. I’d been breeding since the early 1980s but was really excited when it came time to breed from Tact Aunty,” Smith said.

Smith put her to Big Jim and on September 30, 2016, B K Swy was born.

He sold that filly to Brent White for $6,000 at the 2018 Yearling Sales in Christchurch, and then a year later at the same Sale, Smith sold his 2017 Roll With Joe colt named B D Joe to Stonewall Stud and Stables.

“He was a lovely looking colt. I actually cried when I sold him because I only had a reserve of $15,000 on him and I got $65,000. I couldn’t believe it; I was over the moon.

“I still have no regrets selling. I get so much enjoyment watching him go around. I wish the new owners nothing but good luck and success. They are doing so well with him,” Smith said.

B D Joe as a yearling – Lot 31 2019 CHC sale.
Sold for $65,000

“I don’t even want to think what happens if he wins. I’ll be absolutely stunned. Just having a starter is big enough for me. All I know is the mare just keeps producing beautiful well-formed and well gaited foals,” he added.

After B D Joe, Tact Aunty left a dead foal to Courage Under Fire in 2019, and then the following year she missed to Rocknroll Hanover.

After having no success for a couple of years I decided to go for fresh semen and opted for Sky Major, and I’m still not sure if that was the right decision or not, but last year she left a beautiful filly named B K Sky.

“She’s in the back paddock here in Otautau. The mare is actually due to leave a Captain Crunch foal any day from today on (October 4).

“I’ve booked the mare into Lazarus,” Smith said.

Smith was born in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch Boys High School. He lived in that city up until five years ago.

“I sold my house in Christchurch within a week and before I know it, I’m living in a beautiful cottage and farm here in Southland. I’ve got horses and sheep and to be honest wouldn’t want it any other way,” Smith said.

He said he got the racing bug from his father.

“My Dad was a dollar punter and I started to get into racing when I was 14 and 15 and have had a keen interest since. I’ve owned a horse or two over the years and didn’t get into breeding until my early 30s.

“I really enjoy it. Breeding a New Zealand Cup starter makes it even more worthwhile. I’m looking forward to future Sales, even though I’m going to keep the latest filly to race and then perhaps breed from,” Smith said.

Smith is also breeding from his 2012 Majestic Son – Delcola (Chiola Cola) three-win mare, Delestic, and the 2012 Majestic Son – Anna Castleton (Gee Whizz II) four-win mare Juneamy Castleton

“They are from nice families as well, and are in foal to Bold Eagle (Juneamy Castleton) and Marcoola (Delestic).

He said would attend the Ashburton races on October 24 and watch B D Joe line up in his next race in the Group Two Ashburton Flying Stakes.