Glengarry Moonlight – victorious at Nelson

Glengarry breed keeps on delivering for Van Rooyens

By Jonny Turner

Kaikoura couple Joe and Angela Van Rooyen have produced a quality horse in Glengarry Moonlight from a family that keeps on producing winners.

Glengarry Moonlight (Auckland Reactor-Glengarry Lass-Live Or Die) ran a tidy second on the first day of the recent Nelson circuit before running to victory for trainers Greg and Nina Hope and son Ben on day two.

“We had him down at Greg and Nina’s last year but being an Auckland Reactor he needed a bit of time,” Joe Van Rooyen said.

“So we gave him some time in the paddock and brought him back up.”

“He is still running a bit green, but we are more than happy with him.”

The four-year-old became the third starter and third winner for his dam Glengarry Lass, who was also bred by the Van Rooyens.

Though the Live Or Die broodmare has six New Zealand wins to her name, that hardly tells the story of her time at stud.

Glengarry Rose (Real Desire) won two in New Zealand before winning 11 more and taking a 1.52.4 mark in Sydney where she is still racing.

Second foal, Glengarry Knight (Changeover), has gone even faster after winning three races in New Zealand.

The pacer has a 1.49.1 mark to his name in North America where he has racked up around US$200,000 in earnings.

“Glengarry Knight has done well, he has won about $US250,000 and Glengarry Rose has just ticked over the $100,000 mark in Australia,” Van Rooyen said.

“She has been a good mare.”

“Glengarry Moonlight is her third foal and we have a Sweet Lou yearling filly from her too.”

“She is going down to John Versteeg’s next week.”

Glengarry Lass is from another generation of Glengarry horses.

The broodmare was bred and raced by the Van Rooyens.

She is a full sister to 16-race winners Glengarry Sunrise.

The Glengarry prefix the Van Rooyen’s horses carry comes from the couple’s family farm which has been in Angela’s family for more than 100 years.