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Mount Gambier breeder-owner Des Glynn, the Australian Standardbred Breeders Association’s Breeder of the Month for April, admits to being ‘fairly lucky’ in his 50 year involvement with harness racing.
“I’ve always managed to have a handy horse,” the owner of horse-of-the-moment Majestic Cruiser said.
A dairy farmer and hobby breeder, Glynn tasted his first success with the Greenwald gelding Green Fire at Murray Bridge on August 27, 1978.
“I raced him on lease and he won four races for me,” Des said.
Kalama Rio, a gelding by Kalama’s Peak, won 11 races at Mount Gambier and western Victorian tracks, the Globe Derby Park winner Major Cruiser (9 wins) and the siblings Miss Atlanta (6 wins), Magic Cruiser (6) and Viking Cruz were among other winners for Glynn.
Miss Atlanta is currently being bred from by Des and his wife, Heather.
Another astute purchase for Glynn was Eljulio, an Elsu gelding from the Exotic Earl mare Tiz Herself whom he bought from Bendigo breeder Rick Hasty at the Victorian yearling sale in 2009.
Eljulio went on to win 11 races in South Australia and Victoria.
“Rick stayed in touch and one day he told me that Tiz Herself was on the market,” Des said. “At the time Tiz Herself was in foal to Rocknroll Hanover. I told him if she had a filly I didn’t want her, but if she produced a colt then I would buy her.”
Tiz Herself subsequently left a colt and Glynn purchased the package for $25,000.
Named Rocknroll Cruiser, the youngster that was at her side became the winner of four races.
The following year Tiz Herself was joined to Art Major and the resultant foal was none other than Majestic Cruiser.
The gelding had only one start as a two-year-old.
“We were setting him for the Southern Cross, but he curbed a hock on the eve of the series and was spelled. In the long run it probably proved a blessing,” Des said.
Trained originally by Geoff Webster, Majestic Cruiser won 14 races including six at Melton and was placed in the 2021 SA Pacing Cup and several Victorian country cups.
Last June the gelding was transferred to Inter Dominion-winning trainer Jason Grimson at Menangle and he’s gone to another level. From 20 starts he has won seven races with four placings for $329,975 in stakes.
Among his successes have been the Kevin Newman Cup, the Joe Ilsley Cup and two Free-for-alls at Menangle, while he finished second (beaten a neck) in the $860,000 The Grins at Cambridge Raceway, New Zealand, fourth in the $1 million Miracle Mile and sixth in the $500,000 Inter Dominion Championship Final.
Majestic Cruiser has now won more than $500,000 during his career.
“Even though he’s had over 100 starts I feel he’s still getting better. He loves the big, roomy track at Menangle,” Des stated.
Majestic Cruiser’s ultimate goal is the Inter Dominion being held in Victoria in November and December.
Since producing Majestic Cruiser in 2014, Tiz Herself has left the SA Golden Nursery placegetter Strongnbold (by Courage Under Fire) and a yearling filly by Cullen’s Hope currently being broken in by Hamilton horseman Rod Barker. She is carrying a positive test to Major Secret.
