NZ publisher writes his own headlines
By Peter Wharton
“This is the ultimate.”
Christchurch newspaper publisher and hobby breeder Les Whiteside was speaking after his homebred filly Madam Publisher’s decisive win in the Group 1 $150,000 Western Australian Oaks at Gloucester Park on October 4.
Madam Publisher after her Group1 success at Gloucester Park
Image (c) RWWA
It was the Rock N Roll Heaven filly’s seventh success from 11 starts and she soundly defeated the best three-year-old fillies in the State despite having nothing in her favour, drawing the inside of the back row and being checked twice in the last lap. She is a very good filly.
The Madam Publisher story actually began at the National Yearling Sales at Karaka in 2015 when Whiteside bought her dam, Hot Off The Press.
She was a Bettor’s Delight daughter of the top flight racemare Classical, a winner of five races and $294,416 including the NZ Sires Stakes’ 2YO Championship, Caduceus Club Classic and Yearling Sales Series Final.
“Ken Barron bought Hot Off The Press at the sales for a friend of mine, Steve Gallop,” Whiteside said. “I was watching the sales online and I rang Ken saying: can I have a share of her?
Hot Off The Press with Its Electrifying
“He told me to phone Steve as I bought her for him. Steve told me if you want her go for it and Ken can buy me something else, which he did.”
The purchase price was $30,000.
Hot Off The Press won three races and $22,860 in stakes and took a record of 1:59.9.
“She was very well gaited but just lacked a bit of speed. She just needed an injection of speed, so that’s why I sent her firstly to Captaintreacherous,” Whiteside said.
The result of the union was a gelding named Stubing.
“I sold him as a weanling to Harvey Kaplan during COVID,” Les said.
Stubing has won only once with three placings from 17 starts to date.
“A good friend Brad Reid (who owned Classical) and I had a chat as to which stallion would be Hot Off The Press’s second consort. There were two or three that Brad suggested, with a preference for the Rocknroll Hanover line. I ended up sending her to Rock N Roll Heaven,” he said.
The following spring Madam Publisher arrived.
She was broken in by Rangiora horseman Mark Smolenski and qualified at the Rangiora trials in January 2023 as a two-year-old. Mark and his old mate Harry Webber thought she would make the grade with Harry saying she had a big heart. .
“We decided there and then that we were going to send her to Barry Purdon at Auckland, but he told us that he already had four good two-year-old fillies,” Les said.
“I then had a chat with Gary Hall Senior. Snr had been telling me for five years or more that he didn’t want two-year-olds racing.
“But he relented and said to send her over with the other two.
“Gary Hall Snr had 40 in work when they arrived and couldn’t give her the individual time that she needed.
“Stuart McDonald, who works for Gary Hall Snr, then asked if he could have a go with her and I agreed.”
Madam Publisher won her first two starts as a two-year-old at Northam and Bunbury.
Following a lengthy spell, the filly has taken all before her in her second season of racing, notching five wins and two placings from eight starts for $111,837.
McDonald and Whiteside are now contemplating setting Madam Publisher for the $200,000 WA Derby on November 1.
“I decided six months ago I was going to watch her in the WA Oaks, but ended up having a health issue that stopped me. I will be at the Derby if she runs,” Les stated.
“Stuey thinks the world of her and he won’t do anything that he doesn’t think she can’t cope with.”
Sent back to Captaintreacherous in 2020, Hot Off The Press produced the colt Its Electrifying.
He was knocked down for $65,000 to Queensland owner Dean Shannon at NZ Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Christchurch in 2023.
“I thought he might bring $100,000 at the sale, but I think Dean scared everyone away!” Les said.
Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Its Electrifying won at his fourth attempt as a two-year-old at Cambridge Raceway on September 24.
Whiteside sold Hot Off The Press to Oxford beekeeper Simon Pulley in 2022.
“I was downsizing and I didn’t need any more broodmares,” he said.
Les is also breeding from the bonny Badlands Hanover matron Neverland Franco.
“I have never had a dud out of her,” he said.
Neverland Franco has left five winners – four inside 2:00 – including the prolific Gloucester Park winner Master Publisher.
“I’ve got a two-year-old out of her named Captain Publisher that’s going to Hayden Cullen’s stables this week and according to Mark Smolenski he’s the best one that I’ve bred,” Les said.