Anderton’s hobby still a winning one

Brian Anderton (ONZM) has made an indelible mark on the New Zealand Thoroughbred industry through his deeds with White Robe Lodge on the outskirts of Mosgiel.

Inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2012, he was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2016 for his services to the New Zealand Racing Industry.

It’s a legacy that spans over 17 years, having been involved as a jockey, trainer, breeder, owner, administrator, and mentor to young apprentice jockeys.

Despite having his life’s work dedicated to the thoroughbred code, he has had more than his fair share of success in the standardbred side of things, highlighted yet again by a harness racing winner he co-bred and owns at Thursday afternoon’s Gore meeting.

The Anderson/Love trained Jovial Jay (Sweet Lou – New Years Jay) was fresh up and having his first run in six months when he lined up in the seventh race on the card.

His pilot Matthew Williamson wasted no time finding the front from his handy barrier and led them a merry dance, scorching home in 26.8 for his last 400m to win easily by two and quarter lengths.

“We gave him quite a good break here at home and sent him back to Graeme in preparation for this campaign a few months ago. He’s a man of few words, but he told us he’s a nice horse and is improving,” he laughed.

JOVIAL JAY REPLAY

Despite not being there to see it in the flesh, Anderton watched on with interest from his North Taieri home.

“I haven’t been going to the races very much. I’m getting a bit older and a bit slower these days, but I still have a keen interest in racing.

“It was a great thrill to see him win. Graeme has looked after him and handled him well, and although he’s still developing, we have high hopes for him,” he said.

It was the second win from four starts for the son of Sweet Lou, who has also managed a second placing with all his racing having occurred south of the Waitaki thus far.

Jovial Jay is the first foal out of Anderton’s former Open Class race mare, New Year’s Jay.

She was good enough to run second to Titan Banner (Art Major) in the 2017 Hannon Memorial and is remembered for having a devastating turn of foot if saved for one run.

“I’ve sold the last two out of New Years Jay at the sales and have taken the same approach to the stud horses here at home where we tend to sell the colts and geldings and keep the fillies, and it re-charges the old bank account a bit too,” he laughed.

“The mare is here at home, and she is in foal to Art Major,” he said.

Anderton’s involvement in the breed goes back almost as long as his association with the famed thoroughbred nursery, White Robe Lodge.

“It goes about four of five generations back. We borrowed a mare called Blue Jay (Great Blaze – Princess Sheila) off Mouse Kennedy’s father in the 70s and put her to Lordship, who was the best sire available at the time.

“Blue Jay is a half-sister to Blue Prince (Hal Tryax), who ran in a New Zealand Derby and placed in a New Zealand Cup. They were both grey, and we wanted to get another one, so we bred New Years Jay’s dam to Klondike Kid, and while we got the grey, she wasn’t very fast,” he laughed.

The grey in question is called Mousey Jay, who raced once at Forbury Park before being added to Anderton’s boutique standardbred broodmare band.

“It’s a good hobby for me. We had Yankee Jay out of her (Washington VC) run 5th at Addington on Friday night with Coaster Howe and sent another filly on the float to Coaster this morning by Downbytheseaside called Sea Jay.

“She is out of a Bettor’s Delight half-sister to New Years Jay called Delightful Jay, but unfortunately, we lost her while in foal to Art Major. Yankee Jay will step into her place; two is enough for me as far as the pacers are concerned,” he said.

At 85 years young, Anderton’s encyclopedic breeding knowledge lends itself quite nicely to his hobby, where he can quickly recant many of the top pacing sires and families from our studbook.

His breeding philosophy is a simple one; “We go through the stallion register and always try and go to the best.”

Regarding how the mares are served in their respective codes, Anderton is solid in his convictions that despite it being harder to advance the genetics in the thoroughbred breed, mother nature is his preferred method.

“I’m probably the wrong person to ask. It’s made a lot easier in harness of course, now by artificial insemination. As far as convenience is concerned, it’s great because you don’t have to take them off the place and can go to the best sires from around the world.

“I’m a great believer in natural mating’s, and I think it helps give every stallion their opportunity. With AI, it is very easy for the top sires to flood the market, and there are that many of their progeny about, but when I think of Mellay and some of the great sires I’ve had here, they got very few mares in their first few seasons.

“However, if they have some vigour about them and are able to bring the best out of the mares, they will ultimately succeed,” he said.

Despite being in the twilight of his incredible career spanning several decades, Anderton still keeps a keen watch over proceedings that have become very much a family affair.

“My son-in-law, daughter, and grandson run the stud side of things. My son Shane runs the stable end of it here and anyhow; I’m still about. He was on holiday for a week or two, and I was down there doing the job. I’m a very observant watcher these days. If I’m there and asked a question, I answer it, but they pretty much run the ship,” he quipped.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink