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The Grinfromeartoear broodmare Kateeshar pulled off a rare feat for Melbourne breeder Kevin Clark, producing three harness racing winners in the space of 48 hours including a double at Melton last Saturday night.
Shaq, who was bred and is raced by Kevin and trained by good mate John Tormey, opened the batting for his dam, winning at Kilmore and sending his stake earnings over the $100,000 plateau.
Two nights later, two of Kateeshar’s offspring, Byrneside Boom (Sportswriter) and Arggghhh (Rock N Roll Heaven), both saluted on the same card at Melton.
Having only his second start, Byrneside Boom came from absolute last with a stomping three-wide run to capture the $40,000 APG Gold Bullion 2YO Consolation Final.
A few hours later, Arggghhh, a seven-year-old gelding, sat parked throughout in the Dynamic Print Pace to notch his 12th lifetime success and boost his stake tally to $147,030.
In all, Kateeshar has left nine foals of racing age for eight winners – by seven different sires – and they have won 62 races and $480,100 in stakes between them.
Other winners out of her have been Sheer Strength (17 wins), Courageous Katee (12 wins), My Ultimate Tommy, Neishars Jet and Swift Fantasy. Neishars Jet’s first two foals are now winners in Jets Art and Azterian.
“My Ultimate Tommy could have been the best of them. He won his only two starts but broke down and was retired,” Kevin said.
Clark bought Kateeshar, a daughter of the four-time Group 1 winner and 2004 Australian 3YO Filly of the Year Nemeeshar, for $12,000 at an Alabar Bloodstock mixed sale in 2009.
“She was my first serious foray into the breeding side of the industry. I loved Nemeeshar as a racehorse,” Kevin said.
Since producing Byrneside Boom in 2020, Kateeshar has left a yearling filly by Poster Boy which has been broken in and will be retained by Kevin and a colt foal by Captain Crunch. She is carrying a positive test to Huntsville.
Clark currently owns or part-owns six broodmares. Three are based at Dean and Blanche Poole’s Rhiannon Park, Congupna, near Shepparton and three are in New Zealand with Cran and Chrissie Dalgety at Christchurch.
The NZ trio are Gemma Mac, a winning sister to champion three-year-old and Great Northern Derby winner Merlin, Shards In Manhattan, a Bettor’s Delight mare closely related to Smiling Smard and Sly Flyin, and Fastnfabulous, a half-sister to Five Star Anvil and Let’s Elope.
“I get a great deal of satisfaction out of breeding them,” Kevin stated.
HOOFNOTE: Clark bred a fourth winner for the weekend in Alakazam, who won at the Port Pirie twilight meeting. The Well Said gelding was bred by Clark along with close friend, the late Gary Hoban.
Alabar Bloodstock stallions occupy the top three positions on this season’s New Zealand two-year-old sires’ premiership with Always B Miki (first), Art Major (2nd) and Vincent (third).
Of the six two-year-old stakes races conducted in NZ so far, Alabar sires have won all bar one.
Lauriston Bloodstock’s Bill and Anne Anderson have won the Victorian Breeder of the Year award for a record fourth time.
During the season they bred the winners of 75 races and almost $1.9million in stakes including Ladies In Red, Honolua Bay, Just Hope and School Captain.
Entries for Nutrien Equine’s Winter Woolies Online Sale close on Friday. The sale will run from June 5 to 8. For entry blanks and further information visit the website.
by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria
