Zoe Ella delivers for longtime breeders

“She’s the best foal we’ve ever bred—and we’ve been breeding since 1982. She’s a lovely filly.”

That glowing endorsement came from veteran breeder Geoff Barnes, who, alongside his wife Lorraine, have been a familiar name in Australian harness racing circles for decades.

Geoff made those comments ahead of the 2024 APG Melbourne Sale, where the filly in question—Zoe Ella—was knocked down to buyer Marc Panton for $14,000. Fast forward to last Saturday at Elwick, and that purchase proved a bargain. Zoe Ella stormed home to win the $30,000 Fillies Division of the Tasmanian Sweepstakes in brilliant fashion.

Perfectly handled by Rohan Hillier, who had only recently taken over training duties for the series from Victorian trainer Rebecca Bartley, Zoe Ella enjoyed a dream run. She surged past favourite Ravishing Ruby, who was brave in defeat after a tough run, with Daisypea finishing in third.

By Stay Hungry out of Miss Dreamin (Lis Mara) Zoe Ella is the second foal from the mare, who herself won five races, recorded a best mile rate of 1:54.3, and placed third in the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 4YO Final. 

The maternal family adds significant depth. Zoe Ella hails from a potent female line cultivated by renowned international breeder Noel Simpson. This lineage includes Karamea Minna, Wooffer Karamea (36 wins including the Galaxy Grand Slam), and the recent standout Saveeon, winner of the 2022 NSW Breeders Challenge Blue for 2YO Fillies. It’s a family noted for producing both elite performers and influential broodmares—key metrics in any successful commercial breeding program.

Geoff and Lorraine Barnes, through their Balmain Lodge operation, are respected figures in the Australian breeding industry. In addition to their long-standing breeding activity, they’ve played a vital role in the logistics of semen transport across Australia—an often unseen yet essential component of the national breeding cycle. Lorraine Barnes has been honoured with both the Pearl Kelly Award and the Harness Racing Australia Meritorious Achievement Award for her contributions to the industry.

This season, the Barnes family also serves as the Australian contact for frozen semen from Helpisontheway—a stakes-winning son of Chapter Seven, and sire of $50,000 APG Melbourne Sales Graduate winner Harperseven.

by Gary Newton