Torridon’s legacy: Ten winners and counting

Grand Victorian broodmare Torridon (Safely Kept) has repaid the faith of keen harness racing breeder Noel Watson 20 years ago, by recently recording her 10^th individual winner.

Torridon is undoubtedly in the twilight of her breeding career, but what a wonderful legacy she leaves for Watson, who has enjoyed some of his greatest thrills in the sport courtesy of the 24-year-old, whose progeny have now earned a combined $1.4M.

Her latest success, three-year-old Owen The Saints (Rocknroll Heaven) recorded his first victory at just his second start at Shepparton (Jan 28), for Bendigo trainer Julie Douglas and driver Ellen Tormey.

Watch the replay, click here.

From 12 foals of racing age, 10 of Torridon’s progeny are winners, including Saint Flash (Grinfromeartoear), who recorded 27 wins ($285K), Courageous Saint (Courage Under Fire) 27 wins ($262K) and Torrid Saint (Shadow Play) $571K (who continued to win after being sold to the USA in 2019).

Torridon is a Safely Kept mare from Lauder Lass, by Armbro Aussie from My Double Burdie. She was a half-sister to Phoebe Mae, dam of the Melton winners Barnbougle Jack (1:56) and First And Erst (1:57.1) and won seven races.

This has been one of the most successful branches of the Harold’s Rest family, Lauder Lass being a half-sister to a Group winner in Two Under 1:53.2 ($221,695) and to Boom Boom Birdie, a Harold Park winner who became the dam of the SA Kindergarten winner Hugo Jack (1:57.2), the Melton winner Indigo Bay (1:55.1) and Boom Boom Hall (1:54.2).

“I just loved her breeding, so I bought her and raced her for a while, but really with a mind to breeding with her,” Watson said.

“I spent a bit of time on Tesio (pedigree matching) and looked her up.  I felt she had enough on her side to cross over with Grinfromeartoear and that’s what convinced me,” he said.

“But I’m no genius – she is the type of mare you could probably send to anything, and she will breed you winners.  She’s just a gem of a mare.”

Watson got involved in harness racing while working and playing football in Bendigo in the late 1970s.

“I introduced myself to Henry McDermott one day and began helping out at his stables on Sundays and after work,” he said.

“Henry was a great horseman, a thorough gentleman. People would gravitate to him. His best horses at the time were the Inter Dominion heat and SA Pacing Cup winner Gosh, Quamby’s Pride and Shy Skipper and I used to drive Gosh in trackwork. That was a terrific thrill.”

Still a passionate breeder more than 40 years later, Watson uses the “Saint” moniker in reference to his lifelong devotion to St Kilda Football Club, and has again bred four mares this season, including Torridon.

Torridon’s full list of winners are Saint Flash (Grinfromeartoear); Saint Stormy (Peace of Art) 11 wins; Saint Grace (Grinfromeartoear) one win; Saint Tommy (Grinfromeartoear) four wins; Courageous Saint (Courage Under Fire); Torrid Saint (Shadow Play); Saint Win (Art Major) six wins; Four Star Saint (Four Starzzz Shark) seven wins; Sunshine Saint (Sunshine Beach) two wins; and Owen the Saints (Rock N Roll Heaven).

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink