Townley’s mare truly a Marvel!
By Peter Wharton
Respected Russley horseman Kevin Townley, who brought out trotters the calibre of Sundon’s Luck, Solar Fire and Sheemon, has long had a soft spot for the Monarchy mare Firenze.
The mare won five races with four placings for $31,000 in a brief racetrack career.
“She was a lot better than the five wins. Unfortunately she had a leg problem,” Townley said.
(C) photography credit; Stuart McCormick
“She was very fast. We were hoping that would come through in her foals and that seems to be the case. We think she will end up being an extremely good broodmare.”
Firenze’s first foal is the smart Victorian trotting mare Marvella (by Love You).
“We sold her to Brent Lilley as a two-year-old and kept a share. She was going really good at the trials and was ready to race,” he said.
“We expected her to turn into a good horse. I know she’s not top class but she’s done well.”
Marvella, now a five-year-old, notched her sixth success and lifted her stake tally to beyond $60,000 when she produced a barnstorming finish to win the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Silver Final at the all trotting meeting at Melton recently.
She holds a lifetime mark of 1:57.3.
The next foal, Father Time, has won four races and been six times placed from 18 starts for $134,742 and is rated one of New Zealand’s most exciting, young square-gaiting prospects.
The Father Patrick gelding finished runner-up to Keayang Zahara in the $500,000 The Ascent Slot Race and third in the NZ Trotting Derby and was subsequently named the NZ 3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding of the Year for 2024.
Next, to the cover of Muscle Mass, Firenze produced Tribbiani.
“We didn’t persevere with him as a two-year-old but he’s on the way up now and we’re hoping he will make a good three-year-old,” Kevin said.
Firenze has since produced a two-year-old colt by Propulsion and a yearling colt by Father Patrick which were sold at the last two NZB National Yearling Sales at Christchurch for $44,000 and $42,000 respectively.
“We sold the yearling but I’m going to get him to train,” Kevin said.
“She has a Tactical Landing colt at foot and is in foal to Volstead. We think enough of the mare that we are happy to go to the best every time with her.”
Firenze is the 12th and second last foal of the seven-time Group winner Solar Fire.
“She was a fabulous filly and an all-time favourite of mine,” Kevin stated.
“Unlike Firenze she had a chequered career at the stud but she did leave one real top one in Sheemon. He won a bunch of Group 1’s here and a heat of the Great Southern Star and was very unlucky in the Final.
“We’ve got the best daughter of Solar Fire. There’s no doubt that Firenze was the best.”
Fratellino, a brother to Firenze, was a useful trotter in NZ and Victoria, winning nine races and $91,000.
Townley’s association with Solar Fire began when his long-time veterinarian Bill Bishop entrusted him with her training after purchasing her at the yearling sales.
“When she retired to the stud Bill and his partners bred from her but they didn’t have much luck at all. Bill then invited us to go in on the breeding with him and take every second foal,” Kevin said.
“Every one we got was pretty much a success story and every one that Bill got was pretty ordinary!
“Bill is still breeding from Shell Seeker and she was a handy mare too. She left a smart three-year-old last year called Princess Sadie who measured up to the good fillies.”
Princess Sadie has won three races and was runner-up in the NZ Trotting Oaks.
