Southern reared through and through
Rob Courtney
When you have bred so many foals in a 40 year period you can’t remember the exact total, and when that racing ‘bug’ is strong to the Southland core and when you accept that you are only on this earth for a short time, a little ole road trip from Edendale in Southland to see your horse race at Addington in Christchurch is hardly something you would think twice about.
Al Sinclair on course at Addington for Lakesla’s recent win
And so, Al Sinclair was on hand to see his Captaintreacherous mare Lakelsa, that he bred & co-owns with older brother Bruce, impressively bolt away from a handy maiden/F&M field in the hands of top reinsman John Dunn by some 5 lengths on 19th July. [Lakelsa also won her next start at HQ on the 28th July.]
“We get so much fun out of racing our horses and this was just a joyous occasion for the whole family,” remarked Al after enjoying the hospitality of Addington’s Breckon’s ‘Winner’s bar.
The win was not unexpected after a close-up 2nd at her previous start. She was an even money favourite on the tote in just her 3rd raceday start.
Both Al & Bruce Sinclair reside in Edendale and while the family farm has recently been sold, a small block has been retained to keep a small band of mares and the intention is to keep their harness racing involvement going “as long as they can draw breathe”.
This involvement began with a friendship with Edendale identity Ray Todd (the same Todd family that was associated with the mighty Cardigan Bay).
When Ray passed on, the harness connection was transferred to Brendon ‘Snow’ McLellan who took over his Southland stables. Speights On Tap (4 wins) & Pass The Speights (8 wins + 1:52.3) were good horses raced by the Sinclair/McLellan partnership after Bruce Sinclair had gone to the Christchurch yearling sales and bought their In The Pocket dam, aptly named Miss Optimistyx
Named after three of their nieces (Latasha, Kelsey & Alana), Lakelsa is the first foal of the unraced Oh Tara (Real Desire – My Sharona). There is a half sister by Fear The Dragon with Kirk Larsen being jogged up after some earlier setbacks and Oh Tara is in foal to new season sire Pebble Beach.
The breeding side of things is all handled by Macca Lodge when the time comes.
The Sinclairs also bred My Sharona who left them handy winners in Leigh Major (7 wins) & Mr Handleman (5 wins), both trained by McLellan. This is a well known Southland breed developed by the Sellars family going directly back to the cup class mare in Glen Moria (10 wins)
Leigh Major & another daughter of My Sharona in Times Ticking, also by Art Major, both missed to Pebble Beach last season.
“Bruce & I normally pick a stallion each for each respective season but he’s the older brother so I’m normally going along with what he decides” Al quipped.
Al confesses to liking Sweet Lou & Always B Miki with a new breeding season just around the corner.
Their latest winner has been an ongoing project.
“She can be a bit touchy when things don’t go her way and she has destroyed the odd bit of gear but Goose (Robbie Close) & Regan (Todd) have done a great job in getting her sorted out. We leave her race plan up to Regan and whatever he decides is fine by us”.
Trainer Regan Todd is of course from Southland himself and he got his early ‘harness education’ from Snow McLellan.
The style of those recent wins by Lakelsa suggests that the Sinclair brothers are going to be travelling ‘north’ much more in the very near future and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Winning Owners’ Bar should at least know what they like to drink!