A feature of the Christmas meeting at Melton was the fact that three of the Final winners of the Vicbred Platinum Homegrown Classic in Captain Perfect (2YO colt), Looks Perfect (2YO filly) and Iron Women (2YO trotting filly, pictured) were all bred in the same region.
The trio all saw the first light of day in Victoriaās rich Goldfields district and all have close breeding ties to Vicbred series winners.
Captain Perfect was bred by Bruce and Vicki Edward, of Durham Lead, on the southern fringe of Ballarat, Looks Perfect was bred by Maryborough identity Peter Gleeson and Iron Women was brought out by Pat Driscollās Yabby Dam Farms, of Cardigan, north-west of Ballarat.
Captain Perfectās dam, Perfect Sense, took out the Vicbred 4YO Silver in 2018, while her brother Narutac Prince won the Homegrown Classic 3YO in 2021 and her sister Treasure captured the Vicbred Silver 2YO in 2019.
Another close relative of Captain Perfect in Sweet Bella won this yearās Vicbred Super Series Final for four-year-old mares.
Looks Perfectās pedigree is replete with Vicbred champions. The list includes Petracca (2023 ā 3YO colt), Out To Play (2019 ā 3YO colt) Rocknroll Magic (2016 ā 3YO filly), Major Secret (2013 ā 2YO colt), Safe And Sound (1998 ā 4YO entire) and Larrakeyah Lady (1989 ā 4YO mare).
Val Gardena, the dam of Iron Women, was a Breeders Crown champion and was placed in three Vicbred Finals. Her first foal, Gardena Ronda, won the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old trotting mares in 2023 and was placed in the Homegrown Classic at three.
Alrighty, the very impressive winner of the Homegrown Classic for two-year-old trotting colts, is a member of the celebrated family of Maori Miss, the ancestress of no less than 20 Vicbred champions including trotters the calibre of Keayang Zahara, Noopy Kiosk, Spidergirl, Blitzthemcalder, Tennotrump and Danny Bouchea.
Torridon, a broodmare owned by Swan Hill enthusiast Noel Watson, was credited with her ninth individual winner when Sunshine Saint emerged successful at Hobart.
Catalogues for the 2025 Australian Pacing Gold and Nutrien Equine yearling sales are now available via hard copy and online. The APG Melbourne sale is on February 2 and the Nutrien Melbourne auction is slated for April 13.
The Blissfull Hall mare Maastricht, who was bred by the late Jack and Nola Munnerley, left winners on either side of the country last weekend in Maas Betting Again (Geelong)Ā and the two-year-old Its Maa Time (Gloucester Park).
byĀ Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria