Success breeds success in juvenile features

The NSW Gibson family will scarcely know which way to look this weekend, with an astonishing lineup in juvenile features that evidences the impact their Success Stud has had on the harness racing breeding scene in Australia.

The family, based at Young, has been named honourees in this year’s 10-day Bathurst Gold Crown carnival, which wraps up with the series’ rich finals on Saturday night (Mar 30).

And the honor coincides with a remarkable racing achievement.

The family owns qualifiers in two of the Bathurst finals – the 2YO Gold Tiara and 3YO Gold Bracelet.

In the $150,000 AOK Gold Tiara Final, promising heat winner Kima (Captain Crunch) is bred and owned by Jackie Gibson and in $100,000 Nutrien Equine Gold Bracelet Final Libby Lou (Sweet Lou) is owned by Jackie, after being bred with Alex Smith and Russell Woods.

And further south, on Sunday (Mar 31) at Wagga Wagga, their legacy of promising juveniles continues, with two qualifiers for the $100,000 Benstud Standardbreds Riverina Championship.

Eye Keep Smiling (Sweet Lou), bred and owned by Jackie, and Not To Be Denied (Always B Miki), owned by Jackie, will contest the Benstud 4/5YO Mares Final.

The late John Gibson is remembered for his contributions to the breeding industry in over 50 years involvement, and the legacy has been continued by his wife Mary and daughter Jackie since his death in 2015.

John was a noted importer of stallions to Australia and was involved in bringing in more than 70 horses, including leading stallions. Success Stud also pioneered Artificial Insemination in breeding, a practice which has now grown to include embryo transfers and semen transported from the best stallions from all over the world.

“Honoured and humbled, are words I would use to describe this acknowledgement by the Bathurst club,” Jackie said.

“We absolutely love the Bathurst carnival and between my parents and I, we have been both proud to have had a strong involvement in it for all these years.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink