Shya & Jonique do it again for the Enright family 

  By Duane Ranger 

The Invercargill-based Enright family have always been proud of their 16-year-old daughter and grand-daughter Shya. They also love the equine version named after the 16-year-old. 

This couldn’t have been more evident than at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club’s meeting on the Cromwell grass Sunday 26th February.

Shya before she became a successful broodmare

The 2007 three-win Grinfromeartoear – Victoria Globe (Silver Dollar II) mare, Shya, bred her fourth winner when her first foal, the 7-year-old Well Said mare, and race favourite, Jonique notched up her fourth win in 30 starts ($30,981) in the sixth event. 

Jonique is Shya’s second name and the equine version was bred and owned by Shya’s father Jason, and grandparents, Leo and Gaye. 

Amber Hoffman does the training at Waikouaiti. Sheree Tomlinson was the driver. 

Enright (Jason), a Southland horseman and current New Zealand Post Manager (Southland), is a former corrections officer, transport administrator and company auditor has now won seven more races as an owner thanks to Shya and Jonique. 

“Shya won three of her five races before breaking down and we bred from her in 2017 and Jonqiue was the result. 

Shya ( human namesake for the horse)

“Both Shyas were born in 2007. The mare has also left us a Poster Boy yearling colt named Samuel. This now gelding is named after my 8-year-old son Sam. 

“I’m currently educating him at this stage. He’s a sexy fast looking horse (so Sam says). The mare has been a shy breeder. Missing to Washington VC and I don’t think she conceived to Panspacificflight this season.  

Yokoloco, Dougie & Sam

“We went to Well Said because my dad knows more than me. I loved Poster Boy as a racehorse and that is where my breeding knowledge ends. Samuel is the only yearling by Poster Boy in New Zealand, so I’m going to treasure him. 

“Jonique is a wee character of a mare, and I hope can win another for Mum and Dad, as the are her number one fans. She’s seven now and although tiny is punching way above her height and Amber continues doing a great job with her,” Enright said. 

Enright said his family initially got into the Shya breed via his brother, Shane, who worked with fellow Southland breeder, Graeme Cooney, who bred Shya’s mother, the 1990 Silver Dollar II mare, Victoria Globe. 

Enright’s father Leo and Cooney then bred alternative foals from Victoria Globe, who had just one placing from six starts but had ability. She was a half-brother to the 1988 Rashad 21-win gelding ($202,378), Prince Rashad, who won the 1996 and 1997 Invercargill Cups as well as the 1996 Ashburton Cup.  

Victoria Globe left the duo 11 foals between 1997 and 2015, with Shya being the sixth of them. 

My Dad was great friends with the late Lex Thomas (the Foyle breed) and Dad always said, “Lex said you’ll get a good one” so I’m still waiting on Lex’s promise and still doing my little part breeding from Shya and Yokoaya. There have been some really nice horses scattered throughout the family over the years,” Enright said. 

“Hi Foyle comes to mind,” he added. 

That 1968 Hi Lo’s Forbes – Golden Legacy (Light Brigade) 13-win entire placed in the 1975 Auckland Cup, the 1975 Interdominion Grand Final, the 1974 New Zealand Free-For-All, the 1971 Kindergarten Stakes, and the 1973 Kaikoura Cup. 

In human terms Hi Foyle would be Jonique’s great-uncle four times removed. 

As for Enright (Jason) he said the best the family had bred from the line was Shya’s 1998 JC’s Suprimo half-brother, Sayonara. 

“He won both of his New Zealand starts at Forbury Park and Wairio before going on to win 21 races and $149,086 in Australia,” Enright said. Of note, Yokozuna was my favourite, a really good old statesman who compiled a fantastic record in a limited career.  

Jason Enright

For the record Enright no longer licensed had conditioned 29 winners as a hobby trainer since 1992. 

“I love the horses and harness racing and have done so for decades. My father, who is coming 80, and Uncle’s Fred and Stu Somerville (owned Armbro Wings 1980 Great Northern Derby) were good horsemen … well so the story goes.  

“There’s nothing like breeding a winner. Jonique’s win the other day was a real highlight for Mum and Dad because they are generally on course voicing their love for the wee mare,” Enright said.