Our Owner of the Month award winner for April is Jenny Francis part owner of Addicted To Wealth, we asked Jenny to provide us with some background information:

Fifty years ago, we bought our first horse in Millicent, marking the beginning of a long and rewarding journey in the racing industry. Over the past five decades, we have been deeply involved in racing, with notable achievements such as breeding and winning the Goodwood Handicap in 2002 with Zip Zip Aray.

One of our memorable acquisitions is Hooked on Wealth, who was bought as a yearling out of the paddock. This horse has notable relations, being connected to Fancy Rumble and Ultimate Addiction.

In addition to our involvement in breeding and racing, we have also established a training facility at Finniss, which has become a hub for preparing horses for competition. The training operations are a partnership between my husband Wayne and Glen Kent, who both bring their expertise and dedication to the facility. This comprehensive approach has allowed us to achieve success and maintain a strong presence in the racing community.

As Jenny says Hooked On Wealth is well related, he is by Reward For Effort out of the Dolphin Street mare Addicted To Wealth. He has won 2 races and placed on four other occasions from twelve starts and totalled $47,000 with Racing Rewards bonuses of $7,600.

The dam Addicted To Wealth won four times and earned $50,600 from 26 starts with thirteen minor placings racing predominantly in Queensland. She has left handy performers as well as Hooked On Wealth including his full sister Fancy Rumble who was able to win five and earn close to $200,000 and was owned by Wayne and Jenny Francis. She has in turn foaled Major Rumble (by Capitalist) who is yet to race and is in foal to Yes Yes Yes. In addition, Addicted To Wealth is the dam of Ultimate Addiction (by Rich Enuff) who had one win from seven starts when raced by Wayne and Jenny.

The granddam is Rich Addiction (by Last Tycoon) who was served five times by Dolphin Street producing notably Dolphin Tycoon winner of six, Miss Sarah Jane who won eleven in NSW Country. Her other progeny include On Eagle Wings (by Danasinga) producer of Bon Elise (by Bon Hoffa) who won eight races.

Going back one more generation we find Certain Habit (by Ashabit) who just happens to be the dam of 21-time Stakes winner Rough Habit (by Roughcast) – eleven of those stakes wins were at Group 1.

As Jenny told us, she and Wayne have developed a great racing establishment at Finniss Lodge and they are certain to have continued success. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge the support that the Francis Group has given SAROA over many years.

Our Owner of the Month award winner for March is John Atkinson part owner of Bona Fide Star, he gave us his thoughts on the experience of owning a racehorse:

Being a co-owner in a promising horse from the Richards Moyle stable is not just about the thrill of the races but also about the chance to be part of a great group of owners.

As a part owner, you’re not just a spectator, you are kept well informed by the trainer(s) but also a beneficiary of Bona Fide Star’s journey to success.

Owning a share in Bona Fide Star along with my other horse ownership hobbies, (“Investments”), opens doors to the vibrant community of horse racing enthusiasts and connects me with like-minded individuals who share my passion for the sport. Whether it’s cheering together track side or celebrating victories, the camaraderie among the other owners adds a special dimension to the entire experience.

As we can easily see John very much enjoys being a racehorse owner. Bona Fide Star landed his maiden at Clare and at the time of writing he has raced 12 times for a win, two seconds and three thirds. He has earned just over $47,000 including $14,000 in Racing Rewards bonuses for his owners.

Bona Fide Star is by the Snitzel stallion Stratosphere out of the Flying Spur mare, In Theory. The dam In Theory who was unplaced in two starts, has also left a handy race mare in Indigo Girls (by Mawingo) winner of a touch over $85,000.

The granddam My Chestnut Girl (by Horse Chestnut) was imported from the United States, her other progeny include Jenni Espirt (by Bel Esprit) winner of four races to date and over $90,000.

The third dam the Nureyev mare Mien produced the mighty dual derby winner of five stakes races, Big Brown (by Boundary). Big Brown was able to win two legs of the famous US triple crown saluting in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He then suffered a cracked hoof prior to the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes and while attempting to win the race, was eased down and failed to finish the race. He recovered to win another Group 1 and came to Australia where he stood for four years with some success.

Bona Fide Star seems to be on the up and up and we wish John and his racing colleagues the best of luck for the future.

Our Owner of the Month award winner for February is David Irwin owner of Vexatious Dancer, the nomination from his wife, trainer Nichole Irwin follows:

I would like to nominate David Irwin for owner of the month for February and his cracking little filly Vexatious Dancer

David saw Pink as we call her on bloodstock auctions early in 2023.  We had previously had a fair bit to do with the mare Choose to Dance and her early progeny and thought the cross to Hualalai would work – we did not think we would only pay $600 for her!!

After being broken in and spelled she started her first prep and impressed us all with her professional attitude and speed – so much so that we also purchased the full brother late last year. (He has been named Vexatious Choice).

Her first start was a bit of a train wreck with bumping and shifting in front of her and no run to be found, even so she wasn’t beaten far in a city 3yo maiden.

She gained a start at Gawler after that in an open maiden and Dom Tourneur picked up the ride at 54kg. She sat wide and didn’t have much of an idea but fought hard to line to narrowly beat another very nice 3yo in Proven Correct.  

She then went on to have a couple of short spells and a few unlucky starts, a nice win on Boxing Day and another short spell.

After trying her over longer distances unsuccessfully, we dropped her back in distance and back to her age for an amazing win on the 24th of February where she lead all the way and ran the fastest 600m of the day!!

We are very excited about her future!!

David is a big believer in SA bred horses – not only the ones we breed ourselves but also when buying horses, we look for good solid SA pedigrees and I think he deserves to be the owner of the month prize!

Vexatious Dancer is by Hualalai out of the Choisir mare Choose To Dance. At the time of writing, she has won three races and placed once from seven start and her earnings sit at $136,100 with $49,050 of that coming from Racing Rewards bonuses.

Her dam has produced several other progeny but none have raced to this date. The granddam is Shabet (by Amen Brother) who produced three times stakes winner Shablec (by Blevic) who won up to Group 3 and over $375,000 in prizemoney.

Shablec was a prolific producer at stud with Border (by Racer’s Edge) with 40 starts for 9 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds and stakes of just short of $110,000 and Kenshou (by Tayasu Tsuyoshi) who started 38 times for 7 wins, five seconds and 3 thirds and winnings of almost $120,000 being standouts.

We have every reason to think that Vexatious Dancer will continue to race successfully with plenty of others in the stable racing in form as well.