The stocks of former NZ 2YO Colt of the Year and Grand Circuit harness racing star Highview Tommy have received a timely boost at the outset of the 2022/23 stud season.
The handsome Bettorās Delight stallion, who originally stood at Woodlands Stud and is now standing at Yanko Lodge, near Leeton, of Mal Diebert, has been represented by a number of smart winners in New Zealand and Australia over the past few weeks.
Among the winners have been Tommy Bligh (1:56.7), a winner at Cranbourne and Yarra Valley, the three-year-olds Benji (1:56.1), Joshing Oliver and Tiger Tommy NZ, Kuzma (1:57), who won three in Tasmania and finished second in the Sheffield Cup, Glen Elgin Tomson NZ, the Addington winner Refine (1:57) and Follow Me Fantasy.
Highview Tommyās oldest stock are six-year-olds and from limited opportunities at stud, he boasts a creditable winners-to-foals ratio.
A winner over all distances from 1609 to 3200 metres, Highview Tommy was one of the best and most durable horses of his era. He won 17 races ā including eight at Group level – with 27 placings and finished up with a stake tally of $1,021,904.
His major successes included the Harness Jewels 2YO, NZ Welcome Stakes, Ballarat Cup, Franklin Cup, Invercargill Cup, The Pure Steel, Inter Dominion Consolation, NZ Superstars 4YO Championship and Southern Supremacy Stakes, while he was twice placed in the NZ Cup.
On the score of blood, Highview Tommy lacks nothing. Apart from being by Bettorās Delight, and one of his third crop, Highview Tommy belongs to a maternal family that produced horses the calibre of The Falcon Strike, Hilarious Guest, Fiery Falcon, Jackās Legend, Garry Rowan and Oaxaca Lass, and more recently, Krug, Encipher and Wrapperās Delight.
Highview Tommyās distaff side boasts the blood of Christian Cullen, Smooth Fella, Sly Yankee, U Scott and Dillon Hall, all champion sires and broodmare sires.
Highview Tommyās service fee is $3,000 including GST and all costs ā veterinary, agistment and handling. His progeny are eligible for the $500 Colonial Stallion Rebate and the enhanced True Blue Series.
by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink