Our Owner of the Month for June is Tina Fox for River’s Lane. As some of you would know River’s Lane, also part owned by former SAROA president Paul Kristoris, has just turned 10 and as such is one of the oldest horses racing on the flat in South Australia. Recently having his 101st start Rivers won at Morphettville Parks over 2400 metres – since then he has raced twice more for fourth placings at both Morphettville and Flemington. River’s Lane has won 14 times, with 16 seconds and 11 thirds and earnings of $678,890. He is by this year’s Australasian Leading Sire for prizemoney earned in the late, great Street Cry. He is out of an unraced Made of Gold mare Star Maid, who is owned by some of River’s Lane’s owners. Star Maid has also mothered To Cry For (also by Street Cry) who has won over $100,000 and has proved to be nearly as hardy as Rivers having started 98 times. Star Maid is a full sister to three times stake winner Cosmic Strike who won the Gilgai Stakes and over $340,000 in the early 2000’s. During his long career Rivers has been the model of consistency winning a least one race every season. His first win was over 1050 metres at Morphettville as a two year old way back in January 2009. Then followed a bit of a drought (albeit with places in Group Company) until February 2010 when he saluted first up over an unsuitable 1200 metres, again at Morphettville. Roughly a year later Rivers really hit his straps winning three metro races in the space of four starts culminating in winning the listed Birthday Cup. Good performances kept on coming with placings and wins until he won his second listed race in the C.S. Hayes Memorial Cup in March 2014. Even last season as a nine year old, this iron horse was able to win 2 races and a stack of cheques on metro tracks both here and in Victoria. It is quite amazing that since his first win way back in 2009 he has won at least once in every calendar year. I guess the question remains as to how long he can keep racing but I am sure his connections will only pull the pin on his career when Rivers tells them to. So to part owner Tina Fox, Tina has been a strapper with the Balfour stables for many years and had strapped River’s Lane since he was a baby. After injuries sustained in a serious car accident meant that Tina could no longer work as a strapper, she took up a share in her favourite horse and has been along for the ride with him for his more recent successes. Who knows whether Rivers can win again but I am sure all associated with him will feel privileged to have been around him. I thought it might be interesting to list the jockeys who have tasted success on the almost black gelding. The story starts with Amy Hermann; followed by Michelle Payne; Jason Holder; Todd Pannell (who netted 4 wins on Rivers); Paul Gatt; Joe Bowditch (with 3 wins); Scott Westover; Damien Oliver; and Dylan Caboche.

Our Owner of the Month for May is Bob McKay for his two horses Autumn Sunset and Autumn Street which both won races during the Mt Gambier Cup carnival. Bob was kind enough to share these details with us. Thank you for the selecting me as owner of the month for May. Autumn Sunset by Reset/Autumn Jeuney has worked her way through the grades to win the 1200m Open Hcp on Mt. Gambier Cup day, giving her a total of 6 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 15 Starts (and prizemoney of almost $72,000). She is a small lightly framed mare with a big heart and loves her home track at Mt. Gambier where all of her 6 wins have taken place, thanks mainly to her trainer Michael O’Leary and her favourite jockey Emily Finnegan. Autumn Street by Street Sense/Autumn Jeuney is a promising mare who is lightly raced due to injuries sustained while being broken in as a yearling. She has had 12 starts, 3 wins 2 seconds and 3 thirds (and earnings of over $30,000). Both these Mares are daughters of Autumn Jeuney (Jeune–Autumn Moments by At Talaq) who I purchased on the Gold Coast as a weanling. She won 2 Group 3 races, a Listed race and was Group 2 placed and I am still breeding from her. In fact Autumn Jeuney – who won a touch over $320,000 carries the blood of two of Colin Hayes’ Melbourne Cup winners in Jeune and At Talaq both of whom have proved to be very go od broodmare sires. Unfortunately Autumn Jeuney, after her two promising initial progeny Autumn Sunset and Autumn Street, has been unlucky losing three sets of foals including twin foals. Bob McKay has had a long and successful association with that wily old conditioner Michael O’Leary and we wish them both further success with these two promising mares.

This month we had three nominations – coincidentally all from committee members: Wendy Daken for Divine Weaver, Richard Stafford for Cyclone Stryker, Bernadette Ward for Ilovewhatsebrings. Our nomination for Owner of the month for January is Bernadette Ward for her winner – Ilovewhatsebrings on 16 January 2016. This horse is co-owned with A J Hilder, H C Webb, J A Coleman, T G Watkins, T R Koch, M S Taylor, C J McCormick, J C O’Hanlon, M P Rochford, A Walsh, J A Webb, J H Hilder, S P Maguire, K M Lindsay, C A Graves & M R Hunt and trained by Ryan Balfour Racing (RBR) at Glengowrie. So our our winner for January is Bernadette Ward. Bernadette has provided us with the following story about the involvement she and husband David have with racing and with Ilovewhatsebrings in particular: Bernadette and her husband David co-own three other horses with Ryan Balfour Racing (RBR), namely El Prado Gold (7yr old Gelding) and Sweet Schilly (3 yr old Filly), and Typhoon Rose (1 win, but now retired), they are both owners who are dedicated to the RBR stables, visiting up to 3 times a week to spoil the horses with a pep talk from Bernadette and a treat of carrots, however, when asked who named this winning filly Ilovewhatsebrings, they are not sure but probably think Robyn Balfour. Ilovewhatsebrings is a 4 year old Bay Filly from (Sebring – Crimson Sakura by Bite the Bullet), whom David Balfour selected, at one of the last sales prior to his passing. She has won 3 races and run second twice in her last six starts. Her full race record is 15 starts for 3 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds and prize money of over $79,000. Her two most recent efforts were a second on 9 January and then followed by a win at Morphettville on 16 January with both runs over 1600m. After her recent win Ryan mentioned, “She has matured and is looking for more distance, possibly 2000m, she is a promising horse that could possibly win a stakes race as she’s by Sebring.” Bernadette and David would like to thank the late David Balfour and his wife Robyn for the best possible introduction to SA Racing and Ryan for his dedication to his horses and for his personalised service to his owners and for the great friendships the whole Balfour family have provided for us. We’ve become such a close knit group of horse owners that love thoroughbred racing, Bernadette said,” I was excited when Ilovehwhatsebrings won her first race because I could become an SAJC member”. I am so blessed with a great selection of horses that David and Ryan Balfour have provided for us, as we’ve had many wins with our horses, and I owe my love of racing to David Balfour who funnily enough was a jockey my dad would mention when I was a kid, so when I met him as the trainer, “I was so rapt”. We both want the best for RBR and Robyn’s Book Club who meet weekly to discuss racing and provide support to the “Tower of Knowledge – David Balfour’s wife”. RBR have many promising horses in the stable and a great bunch of owners whom we wish all success in the future. I also remember as soon as we owned our first racehorse El Prado Gold, David signed us up for membership with SAROA and it’s been a great social life and now we enjoy SAROA functions and as a committee member, I’m dedicated to helping others become responsible thoroughbred racehorse owners, whilst keeping them updated with any industry issues. I would like to thank my colleagues at SAROA and the SA Racing Industry for the best fun ever. There really isn’t anything better than watching your horse win on a “Day at the Races”. We really could not agree more with Bernadette’s final comments – “the joy of a winner is such a buzz. Let’s hope we can all experience it many more times”.

This month’s committee selection for Owner of the Month for December was Lynette Day for Robocop. We asked Lyn for some information on her association with Robocop and she advised as follows: Robocop is by Al Samer from Dance on Tables (Straussbrook).Trained by Shane Oxlade, the five year old gelding has now won four races from thirty five sarlie by Blevic and Surf Cruiser who is by Good Journey. We expect Robocop to continue racintarts and placed thirteen times for stakes of $ 99,000. Robocop is a half-brother to Daydream Chg well as it seems the penny has dropped finally and he has now got the idea of what racing is all about. As Lyn has told us Robocop is out of the Straussbrook mare Dance on Tables, the mare was the first race horse that Lyn had owned and had an ordinary career as a racehorse unplaced from twelve starts. Straussbrook won at Group 1 level and also had two wins at Group 2 all in Sydney. He went on to be a quite successful sire in New Zealand siring six stakes winners of 16 stakes races, all but one in New Zealand. His best progeny was Batavian, winner of nine stakes events across the Tasman. Dance on Tables was bred in New Zealand but foaled in Australia from an imported English mare Northern Meeting. The other progeny of Northern Meeting (all by Our Maizcay) were exported, three to New Zealand and the other to Macau and as far as I can tell had very limited success. Despite Dance on Tables failure to impress on the track, Lyn has bred Robocop and his half-brothers Daydream Charlie and Surf Cruiser as well as Bella Catia, a maiden mare who has already produced two horses for Lyn. Daydream Charlie has been the most successful so far – the Blevic gelding is now a 9 year old, he is still racing and has a record of 6 wins 11 seconds and 5 thirds from 66 starts. Though Daydream Charlie is no superstar he has been very honest and netted connections almost $160,000 and provided lots of thrills with two of his wins being in the city. Surf Cruiser has only raced three times for one fourth but if Robocop is anything to go by, connections will need to be patient but successes should come. Best wishes to Lyn, her fellow connections and her brood of horses.

This month’s successful nomination for Owner of the Month are Ross and Jill Bourne for Wicked Tycoon. Ross wrote: “Our nomination for Owner of the Month for November are Ross and Jill Bourne for their winner Wicked Tycoon.” After a promising start to his racing career, winning his first start at Murray Bridge and a few country placings his form tailed off and the decision was made to sell him for what was a fairly modest amount. Negotiations with interested parties in Port Lincoln and Queensland fell through and he was sent to country trainer Kym Healy. His first run for Kym was a fast finishing third over 1200m at Port Augusta, which was followed by a convincing win over 1400m at the same track two weeks later. Wicked Tycoon had always been considered a sprinting type, but as he ran over more ground he kept improving and proved he could stay by winning at Morphettville over 1800m on Melbourne Cup Day 2014, ridden by Siggy Carr. During his next preparation it was decided to take him to Darwin as he had handled the dirt track at Port Augusta very well. He exceeded expectations by winning over 1900m by 3 lengths on Darwin Cup Day. The Darwin trip definitely improved him, he came back a different horse and won over 1600m (leading all the way ) and was then a close second over 1800m at Morphettville in October. On both occasions he was ridden by Caitlyn Jones who has a perfect understanding of the horse having a record of 5 rides for 3wins and a second. Caitlyn then rode him in his best win so far at Morphettville on the 7th November over 2038m. Wicked Tycoon has now had 8 wins and won in excess of $150000 in prize money for the lucky owners. A good story for owners not to give up on a horse. As the name suggests Wicked Tycoon is by Written Tycoon and is out of a Roi Danzig mare Heroic Dance. She is the dam of Mavross who was also a city winner for Ross and Jill. Ross and Jill, who race their horses in their distinctive orange colours, also had recent success with Wicked Promise. SAROA wishes Ross and Jill continue success with their “Wicked” horses.

This month’s successful nomination for Owner of the Month was Sam Scaffidi-Muta for Impulse Diavolo and Beluga Blue, both of whom won at Morphettville Parks on October 10th. Impulse Diavolo is by Myboycharlie from Elvish (Elusive Quality). Trainer by David Jolly, the 4 year old gelding has now won twice from nine starts and placed four times for stakes of $46,000. Since his win has picked up three cheques including in three starts. Lightly raced this gelding shows plenty of promise and it would be no surprise if he achieved more successes for Sam and his fellow owners. Beluga Blue, a 3 year old filly bred and part owned by another member Harry Perks is by Looking at Lucky from Choice of Colours (a Redoutes Choice mare). Her win at Morphettville Parks in the listed Hill Smith Stakes was followed by a game second to Ambience in the Wakeful Stakes (Group 2) at Flemington. Her record at the time of writing was 8 starts for 2 wins, 2 seconds and a third. She appears to be a promising staying filly and again is lightly raced. Beluga Blue is a half-sister to Burgundy Blast and is owned in similar interests. Since then the mare (Choice of Colours) has visited New Approach, Rebel Raider and has been served again by Burgundy Blast’s sire Bernadini. As mentioned both horses are lightly raced and we trust they will continue to provide excitement and success for their owners.

This month’s successful nomination for Owner of the Month was received from Alistair McFarlane who nominated Peter Katelanis for his horses Into the Mist, Miss Adele and Exciting Prospect all winners in September.  Alistair wrote  I would like to nominate Peter Katelanis as owner of the month for September. Last Wednesday (September 9th) he kicked off when Into the Mist which he bred and races won race 6 at Morphettville Parks by 3 lengths.  Saturday (September 12th) on the Morphettville track, Miss Adele named after his lovely daughter and bred by a much better looking bloke, came from last and weaved her way through the field to snatch victory in the Hyland Race Colours Hcp by a short half head.  To top it off on that Sunday Exciting Prospect won its second race in Singapore for Peter.  Peter has been an enthusiastic and successful punter, owner and now breeder from his teens and now is a major sponsor at the SAJC through his company Medallion Homes.  I heartily recommend him to your committee for this recognition.  We thank Alistair for the nomination and agree that Peter is a worthy winner of the Owner of the Month award.  In fact Alistair’s nomination for Peter was received in mid-September, later in the month Into the Mist saluted again on the Parks track before going on to run second at Caulfield in October. She is by the mighty Redoute’s Choice from an Enosta de Lago mare De Lago Mist who is also the dam of the smart stallion Instinction raced by Peter and now standing at Eliza Park Stud.  Peter’s successes continued later in September when his filly Don’t Doubt Mamma won at Caulfield over 1400m. She is by Not a Single Doubt from Coconut Mamma (Fantastic Light) also dam of Peter’s stakes winner Risen from Doubt.  Miss Adele who has of course bred by Alistair is by Bel Esprit from Villa Lante (Filante) who is also the dam of Stella Lante and Stravinsky Code. Exciting Prospect is by Distorted Humour from Butters (El Prado).  We wish Peter continued success with his racing ventures.

Our nomination for Owner of the month for August is Wayne and Jenny Francis for their winners – Rocket Commander, Zipnotised and Cyclone Thomas. All three horses are trained by Wayne in partnership with Glen Kent (well known horse-breaker and accomplished rodeo rider). The partnership has been had a strong run of success in the last few months from their Finniss Lodge base. Of the three horses perhaps the most promising is Rocket Commander now a 4 year old (Court Command – Pinot Royale by Red Ransom). She has won 2 races and run second 4 times in her last six starts. Her full race record is 20 starts for 5 wins, 4 seconds and 4 thirds and prizemoney of a bit over $120,000. Her most recent effort was a very close second to Okahu Bay in the Gawler Cup, this followed a second at Morphettville and two wins (1 in August) on the Parks track, both over 1400m. The stable told us she was “a tough horse, not overly large but very game and has a big heart. Wasn’t expensive & we wish we had more like her in the stable”. Zipnotised is a six year old mare (Clangalang – Zipnotic by Monolith), she is a home bred, whose grand dam Eastern Charm left two stakes winners for the Francis family Goodwood winner Zip Zip Aray and Zipanese. Her recent record is quite solid having started 10 times this preparation for 2 wins, 2 seconds and a third. Her full record is 31 starts for 3 wins, 4 seconds and 6 thirds and stakes of $48020. Her win in August was over 1509m at Gawler. Cyclone Thomas started his career with David Jolly and has more recently transferred to the Francis Kent Stable – he is part owned by SAROA life member Fred Vella. He is a 5 year old gelding (Dylan Thomas – Concluding by Kenny’s Best Pal) and has won only the once over 1550m in a maiden at Morphettville Park. His record reads 12 starts for 1 win, 3 seconds and a third. He is well related being a half-brother to the four times stakes winner Moment in Time who was raced by other SAROA members in June and Bryan Terry and won almost $600,000 before being retired to stud. Wayne and Jenny have a number of other promising horses in the stable and we wish them all the best for the future and thank them for their continued sponsorship of SAROA.