Trotting boom continues to gather momentum

The steady rise in the racing and breeding numbers of the straightout trotter in this country knows no bounds.

Increased harness racing opportunities, some progressive breeders and the promotion of the gait by several leading clubs – particularly in Victoria – has resulted in trotting being the biggest growth sector of the industry over the past decade.

Last year there were 1,614 trotting races conducted in Australia for prizemoney totalling $17.5million, compared to 1,209 races and $8.2million 12 years earlier and 898 races for $4.9million in 2000/01.

Today trotting broodmares are being widely sought from North America, Europe and New Zealand; a decade or ago they were more or less a liability.

New and more expensive, and in many cases better bred sires are being imported or their frozen semen is being made available, which is all essential in ensuring that Australian trotting stock are up-to-date.

There are 56 stallions registered for stud duties in Australia for the current season.

Besides the established stallions Majestic Son, Orlando Vici, Bacardi Lindy, Skyvalley and co, the list includes the Top Ten American sires Muscle Hill, Father Patrick, Tactical Landing and What The Hill, the leading French sires Love You, Bold Eagle, Timoko and Bird Parker and exciting, young stallions such as Volstead, E L Titan, King Of The North, Six Pack, Crazy Wow, Helpisontheway and Dancinginthedark M.

Strong infusions of top American, French and Scandinavian blood has proved most beneficial over the years, not only from the actual racing angle but also for fulfilling the need for fresh strains in our broodmare strength.

The introduction of the all-trotting Aldebaran Park Redwood carnival at Maryborough, new series such as the Great Southern Star, Australian Trotting Grand Prix, the Need For Speed and the Breed For Speed and a buoyant yearling sale market have improved immeasurably the standard of trotting stock in recent years.

As a further measure of the boom in the straightout trotter the Maryborough club received 97 nominations for Friday’s meeting and 120 for Sunday, featuring two of the gems of the trotting calendar, the $75,000 Haras Des Trotteurs Victoria Trotters Derby and the $50,000 Aldebaran Park Redwood Classic.

“The Club is very much looking forward to this year’s Carnival, it’s a special time of year for us as all eyes from the Harness racing community turn to Maryborough,” Club general manager Jackson Barby said.

“To be able to conduct 21 trotting races over two days is something we are proud of and very much looking forward to. The Club is looking forward to working in collaboration with our major sponsor, Aldebaran Park, to grow the Redwood Carnival in years to come.”

On the subject of trotters, Melbourne breeder Jim Connelly won his fourth Aldebaran Park Tatlow Stakes with his homebred gelding Kyvalley Maven. Connelly won with Kyvalley Hotspur in 2020, Kyvalley Tinman (2015) and Kyvalley Road. (2002)

The last Australian foals by the American trotting sire Muscle Mass have hit the ground at Aldebaran Park, Nagambie. The dual Vicbred champion Endsino has dropped a colt and the Breeders Crown winner Aldebaran Ay M a filly.

Nonparreil, a winner at Melton last weekend and earlier the winner of the Vicbred Silver at Bendigo, is the first foal of the former top racemare Arms Of An Angel. The four-year-old by Always B Miki was bred by Alabar Bloodstock and is raced by the Ladbrokes Racing Club Syndicate.

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria