Palomino pacer progressing nicely

A striking yearling believed to be the world’s only registered pacing-bred Palomino is going along beautifully as he begins his pathway to a what a new group of connections hope will be a successful harness racing career.

The colt, known as “Milky” was bred by Tourello Standardbreds in Tasmania, and attracted plenty of interest earlier this month at the Neds APG Melbourne Sale.

Leading Victorian horseman Mattie Craven bid $14,000 for the youngster, by Arctic Cat out of Rainbow Banner (Live Or Die), and offered shares in the colt after the sale.

There was no shortage of interest from potential owners keen to have a share in an eye catching racing proposition, with available shares snapped up.

“I obviously had a real good look at him prior to the sales. Everything is fine and he’s really nice type,” Craven said.

“Obviously he created a lot of interest, and there’s now 30 new people in the sport, having ownership shares in ‘Milky’ ranging from one or two percent up to 20 percent,” he said.

“We sent him up to Chris Lang Jnr to be broken in. Chris is happy with the horse so far as he’s doing everything that’s asked of him.

“He’s such a lovely natured animal. I guess the good part for me was that he’s out of a Live Or Die mare and they usually are pretty tough.”

The yearling colt is the result of two decades of dedicated work by Tourello Standardbreds, and three generations of selective breeding.

Studmaster Kerrie Hymers, who was formerly based at Clunes, in Victoria, decided to move the operation to Sheffield, Tasmania, nearly three years ago after wanting more acreage and a property that was set up.

Although “Milky” is the first palomino pacing-bred horse, Kerrie also offered a skewbald filly at the APG sale (Dawn Ofa New Day – Calico Cat (Command A Dance), which was purchased for $11,000.

“It’s something a bit different and that’s great – it makes people take notice and that means more people take an interest in the sport. Something different always brings people to the races – and we think Milky is quite promising,” Kerrie said.

Tourello Park also offered a skewbald at the sales last year, by A Rocknroll Dance out of Calico Cat. The filly was purchased by the Tindale family, and the now two-year-old is set to race under the name Shikoba. She had her first hit out at the trials earlier this month at Bacchus Marsh, finishing second.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink