Grant ‘Black Eyed’ despite latest winner

Rob Courtney

Andrew Grant’s journey & achievements within the harness racing industry has been quite like a number of industry participants of his specific age group.

The Springston based breeder, now 61, has been breeding standardbreds for 40 odd years. His father, who farmed just south of Timaru, established the prolific ‘Seafield’ breed and was lucky enough to have a couple of really good young horses in the late 50s & early 60s and there was a natural progression in that his son would also inherit that same ‘bug’.

Andrew Grant

“Dad (Ernie) never gave me a good one, so I had to go out and buy my own,” Grant said in a light-hearted manner.

That filly was Black Eyed Susan (Smooth Fella – Lyndal Hanover) and although unraced, would leave standouts in Black Eyed Bailey (12 wins) & million dollar earner Bailey’s Dream (23 wins).

This family has been a solid source of success for Grant over the years and he has kept a ‘Bailey’ granddaughter in Bailey’s Diamond (3 wins + 1:54.4) for breeding. She has a filly by Captain Crunch in the upcoming 2025 yearling sales, her first foal, and has delivered a colt this season by the same sire.

Some 20 years ago, Grant was part of a syndicate that raced the fine filly Life Of Luxury (12 wins + $476k) and through a strong connection with the Nevele R Stud, was able to establish another breeding line through a close relation in Lilac Franco (Live Of Die – Lady Barbara).

This of course traces directly back to Welcome Stakes winner Barbara Del from the family of broodmare gem Coo Doo who infamously left 17 foals in 17 seasons at stud.

The first foal of Lilac Franco was Lilac Splash (3 wins) and is the dam of Grant’s most recent winner in Lilac Luxury who was successful at the recent Rangiora meeting (8/11/24), her 2nd win for the breeder and his old South Canterbury rugby mate Wayne Frampton.

Another daughter of Lilac Franco in Lilac Becky (by Mach 3, 4 wins) has had a colt by King Of Swing as Grant likes to support the ‘new’ stallions as they become available.

The well bred Crackabella (Bettor’s Delight – Impish) who won four races, and is directly related to King Of Swing, is currently empty but also has a Captain Crunch filly in the yearling sales.

The two ‘sales’ fillies will be prepared by Ladbrooks trainer Dean Taylor.

“Our kids pretty much grew up together and I have had horses with Dean for along time. He’s one of my best mates,” Grant explained.

Lilac Star makes up the four strong broodmare band but is currently empty after having colts by Always B Miki (2022) & Vincent (2023)

By his own reckoning, Grant has won some 20+ races over the last 10 years.

But alas, even with four broodmares still in the paddock, he now sites the level of expense in breeding a horse as the main reason why he isn’t breeding this season and his future involvement remains in the balance.

“Back in the day, I would sell the colts at the sales and race the fillies and it was relatively self-funded as an operation. But after a run of fillies, the cost of breeding & racing the horses has far exceeded the return at the races,” he shared.

He refers here specifically to the stake money on offer.

“Its been quite a while where I have been able to clear a profit on any horse. I understand that things change and some things will never be the same again but with all this ‘top end’ funding recently announced, where is the support for the middle & lower end market?” he lamented.

Grant manages the irrigation unit at Nevele R Stud and reflected on a number of empty paddocks at the stud.

“Unfortunately breeding numbers are going to be down again this season and I am one of those who is not breeding due to the ‘add on costs’.

“No business can sustain continued losses and expect that things will get better without some degree of intervention & added support.

“Naturally, harness racing has been a passion of mine for a long time so I am keen to see what that ‘added support’ will look like over the next 12 months,” he added