Philippa Hanley – Horse ‘Lover’ extraordinaire
Rob Courtney
The very genial but modest Miss Hanley was quick to point out that her name Philippa translates to ‘horse lover’ and although her father had shares in gallopers back in the day, her love of the standardbred goes back a long way, when she was quite young in fact.
Her association with Aylesbury trainer Stephen Boyd also goes back along way and the partnership was at it again during Cup week when Catchafire (2g Bettor’s Delight – Sabellian) duly obliged at Ashburton in the hands of Aussie reinsman Greg Sugars at just his 2nd start.
Catchafire winning at Ashburton
Play It Cool (3g Bettor’s Delight – Cool Sandy) placed 3rd on the same programme (2 starts for 2 placings) and looms as a likely ‘next winner’ for the Hanley/Boyd partnership
Hanley is quite unique in the modern ‘game’ as she not only breeds her own stock but races them under her own name all by herself with Boyd as her professional horse trainer.
“I have a 30 -cre organic farm (no chemicals) here in Geraldine and with the good rainfall we get, the farm grows great grass and the horses get spoilt to be fair, Hanley proudly shared.
“I have the five to six broodmares and up to 20 horses at any time,” she added while managing a pet food operation out of the port of Timaru.
Even after entering earlier breeding arrangements with the likes of Studholme Park principal Brian West, Hanley still rates herself a ‘beginner’ in the world of breeding standardbreds, but after her teenage years spent show riding, she readily recognises what type of foal she is trying to produce.
*** Hanley & West bred True Fantasy (11 wins + $478k) together.
“Brian taught me to go to the best stallions available to give my mares the best chance of leaving a good horse but in my own mind the stallion selection has to do with producing a foal that is well muscled & quite nuggety. That is my preference as I don’t tend to follow trends,” she explained.
True Fantasy as a Yearling
And Hanley has some well-bred stock to explore her physical visualisations.
Porscha (American Ideal – De Lovely), who ironically has just been sold, dropped her first foal this season and this Captain Crunch filly will be retained for racing & breeding.
The Future (Majestic Son – Cabaletta) has left an outstanding colt by Tactical Landing as her first foal and being from such a commercial trotting family, could be a ‘sales contender’ in 12 months time.
Who Made Who (Sweet Lou – Arden Banner) has had a colt by Stay Hungry, a stallion that Hanley especially likes in terms of his conformation and the resulting foals from that stallion that she has bred so far definitely vindicate her opinions around the son of Somebeachsomewhere.
Hannah Sue (Bettor’s Delight – O Baby) is due anytime to Bulldog Hanover for Stephen Boyd and is likely to go back to Rock N Roll Heaven this season.
There is an Art Major – Hannah Sue rising 2yo gelding due back at the Boyd property, the mare already leaving the handy What A Minx (6 wins + $94k) as her first foal
Hanley modestly dismisses any ‘sales toppers’ within her breeding programme and remains clear about fitting into the ‘middle’ market of the sale arena.
“If I can sell one horse a year in that middle market, that seems to be enough to keep my passion afloat although I don’t imagine (like many) I’m ahead on the balance sheet.” Being able to keep the mares at home certainly helps and Stephen has been great to deal with in exchanging grazing for training fees on occasions.”
Generally, Hanley seems upbeat about the state of the industry with its recent improvements.
“The TV coverage has been superb and I’m really enjoying the Friday Night Lights coverage,” she remarked.
There are some reservations about the current handicapping system and she believes still more has to be done to have owners retain their stock in NZ as opposed to selling to Australia in particular.
As for now, Hanley will keep doing what she does best…..loving her horses !