Untried mare founded a top Southland family
By Peter Wharton
Bought cheaply after never being tried, the Butler B G mare Crying Game has proved an unqualified success as a broodmare for Invercargill owner, trainer, breeder and farrier Jeremy Douglas.
“I really liked her as a yearling but she ended up being retired without ever being tried,” Douglas said.
The first foal that Jeremy bred out of Crying Game was the Sands A Flyin gelding Surfin.
Surfers Delight wins at Menangle – Club Menangle photo
“We had him for one start for one win and then we sold him to America for a six-figure amount. He was a very good horse,” he said.
Surfin took a mile mark of 1:53, won 15 races and $67,046 in stakes.
Others from Crying Game to win were Surfin Superstar ($103,532), a multiple winner at Gloucester Park, Surfin Cees ($85,207), who won at Menangle and Albion Park, Surfin Tsunami and the Christian Cullen mare Surfin Swift, who won twice.
Surfin Swift, who was trained by noted Woodend Beach conditioner Robert Dunn, showed up as one of the best three-year-old fillies of her year.
“She was an Oaks contender but unfortunately she bowed a tendon,” Dunn said.
Surfin Swift’s first four foals were bred by Douglas and the next three by Dunn, his wife Jenna and veterinarians Marg Evans and Mitzi Taylor.
Surfers Delight (by Bettor’s Delight), a winner of four races at Menangle and 14 lifetime for $204,545, Wyatt Waller (by Bettor’s Delight), Gone Surfin (by Downbytheseaside) and Pro Surfer (by Bettor’s Delight) have all emerged successful.
Gone Surfin promises to be one of the best two-year-old fillies of the season, her first success being the Group 3 $37,200 Helen Pope Fillies Classic at Ashburton, which she won by 4-1/4 lengths in a 1:55.4 rating for 1700 metres with the last 800 in 55.4.
While Surfers Delight has won at his last two attempts at Menangle, outsprinting his rivals on both occasions.
Surfin Swift’s latest issue is the Bettor’s Wish yearling colt Swift Swimmer.
“He’s been broken in and looks a natural two-year-old type. He’s beautifully gaited and has a lot of class about him,” Dunn said.
“The whole breed have raw ability.”
Surfin Swift in due to foal to Sweet Lou.
“The Dunn’s keep asking me if I want her back but we have got enough horses to carry on with,” Douglas stated.
Douglas and his partner Megan Reidie, the president of the Southland branch of the NZ Standardbred Breeders Association, are currently breeding from two broodmares.
They are the Christian Cullen mare Petra’s Star, dam of the outstanding Western Australian pacer and dual Inter Dominion heat winner Galactic Star ($833,554) and the exported Tuapeka Trick ($280,930), and Lady Macandrew, a young American Ideal mare closely related to the four-time Group winner Beaudiene Bad Babe.
“Petra’s Star is due to foal to Downbytheseaside, while Lady Macandrew has just had a Sweet Lou colt,” Jeremy said.
