Southey rapt with his star broodmare, Our Sunny Whiz

By Duane Ranger

The 2008 Rowe Cup winner, Our Sunny Whiz (Sundon – Hanover Whiz, Gee Whiz II), is flourishing as a broodmare, and that was clearly evident at Alexandra Park last Thursday, when the 20-year-old bay produced her 10th winner from her sixth foal.

Four-year-old Love You mare, Share The Love, notched up her second triumph in seven starts when winning race nine by one-and-a-quarter lengths for her Pukekohe trainers, Dave and Clare McGowan. Todd Macfarlane did the driving.

Robert and Jane Southey 

Share The Love is owned by her breeders and siblings –Robert Southey of Snell’s Beach (north of Auckland), and Sheryl Lean (Waimauku).

“We were delighted with the way she won. Dave told us the ‘red head’ will come out in her every now and then but she is starting to show her mother’s temperament now.

“I said to my wife when she ran first, two starts ago at Cambridge (June 25) this one could develop into the best of ‘Whiz’s’ progeny yet – simply because she is a lot like her Mum,” Southey said.

If that’s the case, then Southey and Lean are in for a memorable ride. Our Sunny Whiz won 19 of her 45 starts ($348,781) between 2005 and 2009.

As well as the Rowe Cup she was also victorious in the 2008 City Of Sails Free-For-All and was runner-up to Allegro Agitato in the 2006 National Trot.

The daughter of Sundon and Hanover Whiz (Gee Whiz II) retired from racing on June 6, 2009. She then left nine foals between 2010 and 2021.

Our Sunny Whiz, who is based on the Southey’s and Lean’s Northland farm, missed to Father Patrick last breeding season. Southey said she is likely to be served by What The Hill or Majestic Sun next season.

Because she missed getting in foal last season and at her age, we would prefer to use live semen to frozen and she will again go to Woodlands Stud or Alabar to be bred. We are excited about that because she has left us some lovely foals.

“On paper I guess you would say her first foal – the 2010 Monarchy mare, Sunny’s Little Whiz, has been her best foal to date, but I still think in time this one (Share The Love) could develop into the top seed – simply because apart from being a chestnut she looks and acts like her Mum.

“Whether she can put it all together like her dam did on the racetrack is another thing, but Dave and Clare like her and she’s progressed well since she won her first workout for them back in February 2020.

“She has needed time and that’s what Dave and Clare have given her. She’s only four and in trotting terms that’s still pretty young, and she has plenty of time to keep developing,” Southey said.

Foal one–Sunny’s Little Whiz won two races in New Zealand before going on to win 18 from 48 ($150,000) in Australia, including the 2016 Group One Trotters Cup at Gloucester Park.

Then Our Sunny Whiz’s second foal, 2011 Angus Hall gelding, Angus Burga, won four of his 31 starts and just on $50,000 in New Zealand before breathing issues crept in and put a halt to a promising career.

“He had a lot of potential and so did the 2015 Majestic Son mare, Sunny’s Little Jestic. She won two races and then won 10 all up and more than $100,000 in Australia. She actually won last start at Pinjarra (August 1).”

He said foal three a Muscles Yankee filly named Our Sunny Rose in 2013, sold for $40,000 to Australian buyer, Domenico Martello, at the 2015 Australasian Classic Yearling Sales at Karaka.

Originally named Yankee Whizard, Our Sunny Rose, never raced in Australia but has since left three foals to Father Patrick, Pegasus Spur and Love You.

“The foal before Share The Love, the 5-year-old Majestic Son mare, Whimsical Whizard, has had two starts at Cambridge Raceway in June (6th) and July (9th) 2020. She has since retired.

“We will see how she goes, but she could go to Father Patrick next breeding season,” Southey said.

Southey said we sold foal seven, the What The Hill 2-year-old colt to Australia privately as a yearling for $20,000.

“We’ve also got a What The Hill yearling colt which is in the paddock. Ken Sefonte handled him when he was young and spoke very highly of him. That’s why we kept him.

“Our Sunny Whiz has also left us a striking What The Hill filly which is also on our farm,” Southey said.

Southey said he had his late father, Bob, to thank for Our Sunny Whiz.

“Dad passed away five years ago, and him and mum waited 40 years for a horse like ‘Whiz’ to come along. He leased Our Sunny Whiz’s mother, the 1992 Gee Whiz II – First Prize (Jersey Hanover) mare, Hanover Whiz, who won nine races ($42,838) with her between 1997 and 2001.

“Sadly, Hanover Whiz died suddenly (December 2007) and only left five foals. Our Sunny Whiz was the first of them and by far the best,” said Southey who with his sister owns a 47-strong fleet of trucks in New Zealand across four companies. Robert is married to Jane and employs almost 100 staff.

“Mum and Dad got me into harness racing, and I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember. I love watching them race but there’s nothing like breeding a winner,”said Southey who has been a member of the Auckland Trotting Club since he was 20.

“We love seeing his progeny win. It always brings back great memories of Mum and Dad,” Southey added.