EMOTIONAL GROUP ONE FOR BRECKONS
Breckon Farms was producing winners just about everywhere last week, but one victory was particularly special for the Breckon family.
The northern breeding base took the major honours on a massive night of harness racing at Alexandra Park with Bettor Twist (Bettor’s Delight-Twist N Twirl-Artsplace) winning the Group One Rosslands Stud Queen Of Hearts and Hot And Treacherous (Captaintreacherous – Hot Hooves -Bettor’s Delight) impressing in the Group 3 Thames Goldfields Summer Cup.
Clinching breeding wins in both black-type races wasn’t where the winning ended.
Regal Attire (Muscle Hill-Regal Volo-Malabar Man) also saluted at Addington and I’llavabubbles (Always B Miki-Delightful Dale-Bettor’s Delight) won at Cambridge.
To many, Bettor Twist’s win was just a regulation win by an All Stars favourite in a big race.
But it meant a lot more to Ken Breckon than that.
“I lost my stepdad (George Leslie) and we managed to have the funeral the day before shutdown,” Breckon said.
“We buried the stepdad’s ashes to coincide with the Group One because he loved the races”
“It was lovely to have the whole family together and at the races.”
Bettor Twist added another chapter to the incredible legacy of her dam Twist N Twirl with her Group One victory.
It is a legacy that is now partially in the hands of surrogate mares.
The champion-producer, soon to be the dam of a freshman sire with King Of Swing (Rocknroll Hanover-Twist N Twirl-Artsplace) who is set to retire in the new year, lost her foal last season and suffered complications.
“We lost a foal last year and sadly it took a hell of a toll on her and she is only an ET mare now,” Breckon said.
“We were fortunate to get the surrogate mare in foal to Bettor’s Delight and she is due in the coming days.”
“Fingers crossed for her, but it is very exciting.”
Breckon Farms sold Hot And Treacherous at the National Yearling Sales to Brian Hughes who trains in partnership with son Gareth.
Breckon is full of admiration for the way the Hughes stable has handled the talented three-year-old.
“Bunty Hughes has done a very similar job to our horse South Coast Arden.”
“One is by Somebeachsomewhere and the other by Captaintreacherous, they are both big horses and both trainers have had them in and out.”
“They’re big horses and they haven’t been rushed, they’ve just needed a bit of time and Hot And Treacherous looks like he might be a bit special.”
Relatives to each of Breckon Farms’ New Zealand winners over the past week will go under the hammer at NZB Standardbred’s National Yearling Sales at Karaka in February.
They’re among a total of 36 yearlings that the Breckons will offer.
“We will be back into it getting these horses ready for the sales.”
“We have just got our videoing done and the photos will be done early in the new year.”
“With the Aussies unable to come any content you can put up is important, you’ve got to get it done.”
The Karaka sale is scheduled for February 13.
Article by Jonny Turner | Image by Charlotte Mooney MASH NZ
