Doug Lang-bred Full Of Desire to race on – for now

By Duane Ranger

Labour Day Monday’s Ashburton winner, Full Of Desire, has been booked to Sweet Lou, but her Sefton breeder, Doug Lang, says the 6-year-old Sportswriter mare’s future is entirely in the hands of her trainer and co-owner, Michael House.

But Prebbleton based House was frustrated, and said he now realised that horses like Full Of Desire, had no real place for racing In New Zealand

“I’m at wits end to get the low-class horses raced fairly. I have got to the point now where I’ve got to race Full Of Desire out of her class. This mare is better than her rating.

“Unless you are antagonist like me, and truly believe there is a racing God you just plod on, but those that don’t believe something good will happen just seem to be getting rid of their horses,” House said.

Doug Lang with grand children Josh and Taylor

“I think she could win another $50,000 – and yes she will get her chance, because she can trot like hell,” House said.

Breeder, Lang, said House’s Mentally Stable Syndicate owned Full Of Desire. He said her lease runs out in January 2025, and then he would put her to Sweet Lou – if not before.

“Everything is in Michael’s hands. He knows the horse inside and out and has done a brilliant job with her. His son Wilson drove the horse a treat. I’m proud of the three of them,” said Belfast freezing worker, Lang.

“I still own 20 per cent of her until the lease runs out. I’m enjoying the ride for now,” he added.

Full Of Desire notched up her seventh win in 80 starts in race 12 at Ashburton – the Gavin Douglas R35-50 Pace. She’s also placed 12 times and banked $67,275 since making her debut in the Brent Borcoskie colours back in October 2020.

“I thought she might have bred this season, but you can’t blame the Syndicate for wanting to race her on, especially after two thirds and a win in her last five starts. She’s the last of the three foals High Roller Lady produced – and the only mare I can carry the family on from,” Lang said.

High Roller Lady, a 2004 Barnett Hanover mare won three races for Lang and trainer Borcoskie. She is the ninth of 11 foals out of the 1986 Jiffy Boy – Jenny James (Local Light) mare, Jiffy’s Girl.

“I bought Jiffy’s Girl (1:56.6 USA) in foal to Tinted Cloud in 2001. She had already left seven foals before I bought her, and for a horse that had won 13 races and more than $150,000 ($152,493), I thought I got a good deal for $1,600,” Lang said.

“I remember I put the horse in my wife’s name. I knew she wouldn’t be happy,” he added.

Jiffy’s Girl was a small mare, who won the Group One Northern Oaks, the Group Two Ladyship Stakes – both in 1990, and the 1989 Delightful Classic. Lang said because of her size he put her to the biggest stallion he could find at the time.

High Roller Lady was the result in November 2004. But that three-win mare is only the second-best horse that Lang has bred. His best was the foal after High Roller Lady.

“Mr Murdoch (2007) went sore as a 2-year-old but then won three races here before going on to win four more in Australia. My late wife Isobel, who passed away about 15 years ago, co-bred him which makes it even more special,” Lang said.

“Her estate also bred the first foal out of High Roller Lady,” he added.

High Roller Lady only left two other foals before Full Of Desire. Lang said her 2011 Changeover colt named Neversayneveragain had tendon problems, while his full 2013 sister, Mist Fortune, never made it as a racehorse.

“I like to breed every two years, and I was really happy when Full Of Desire was born a filly. I enjoy breeding and am looking forward to her foals one day. High Roller Lady is 18 now. I gave her away as a hack knowing I had Full Of Desire to breed on from,” Lang said.

Born in North Canterbury and educated at Hawarden District High School, Lang has worked in the freezing working industry most of his life. He said he was looking forward to retirement in the near future where he could spend more time with horses.

“I’ve been around horses all my life and I enjoy helping out Brent. My father (clin) and grandfather (Harry) had gallopers and I actually used to ride trackwork, but it was while I was working briefly in Southland I learnt about harness racing from Ron Giles – and soon became hooked.

He is not breeding at present but is racing a Sweet Lou  pacer with Borcoskie at Sefton.

Lang is a widower with two children, plus four grandchildren which keep him busier than work and the horses.