Chelsea keeping the faith

Young Winton breeder and trainer Chelsea Faithful has prepared yearlings for the NZB Standarbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch for the past three years.

Her best result so far has been Tact Tena which she prepped for Trevor Procter and Diane Dynes in 2022 and was sold to Mark Jones for $150,000.

This year she’s preparing Plutonium Boy for the Christchurch sale. He’s the first foal out of eleven win mare Plutonium Lady who ran second to Amazing Dream in the Great Northern Oaks and second in the Four Year Old Diamond.

“He’s developed really nicely in the last month. He’s bulked up and strengthened up. He handled himself really well at the parade, did everything professionally and hopefully showed himself off to the right people. The majority of the people that were there had a pretty good look at him. He got walked out a couple of times,” Faithful said.

Faithful is not sure whether Plutonium Boy is a genuine two year old type.

“He looks like a three year old to me but he reminds me a lot of Tact Teva. He didn’t look like a two year old type but he’s developed into a really nice horse. He’s incredibly well developed so he could make a two year old.”

Faithful, who works for Nathan Williamson, also trains a small team from her Winton base including recent qualifier Arma Issy.

The Always B Miki filly was purchased at the yearling sales for $13,000 by Central Southland farmer Doug McLeish. She qualified on her home track at the end of last month and has been bought by Southland Bloodstock Agent Geoff Gibson- Smith for racing in Western Australia.

“She’ll be on the plane in the next couple of weeks. It’s bittersweet selling her. We work to get a nice one and then you end up selling them.”

Faithful also has a two year old filly ready to qualify. Ideal Crown (American Ideal) finished second in a learners heat at the Winton Workouts recently.

“I bought her at the weanling sales. I wasn’t there and didn’t see her, there were two left over from the Woodlands Stud draft and she was one of them. I took a punt and thought for $5,000, you can’t really go wrong. She’s turned into a real beaut really. She’s got a great attitude and wants to work with you all the time. She feels like she’ll have a turn of foot once she figures out what it’s all about.”

Once the sales are done and dusted Faithful will be bringing into work four two year olds, including a couple by Lather Up.

She bought Jackson at the sales last year and bred the other one who’s out of Makarova.

“I’ll hopefully get them up and running and sell them. I also have an Always B Miki filly out of Beaudiene Babe and an Always B Miki filly out of Tartan Roxy which is owned by Onn Chinn.”

She’s breeding from two mares, Ideal BB who’s in foal to Bettor’s Wish and Pay Me Speedy who’s in foal to Lord Forbes.

“She (Pay Me Speedy) was meant to be in foal to American Ideal but she wouldn’t take so it was a last minute scramble, so she’s in foal to Lord Forbes.”

Chelsea also recently purchased an American Ideal – Elite Medley filly off the estate of the late Wayne McEwan.

“Elite Medley died foaling, so the filly is currently on Penny Baynes good mare Peregrine.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink