Devery’s blue blood

Veteran Southland breeders Vin and Daphne Devery are breeding from just three harness racing mares these days. But Natal Franco (Badlands Hanover), Follow The Dream (Christian Cullen) and Christian Dreamer (Christian Cullen) demand plenty of attention. They have a great pedigree, they’re leaving their share of race winners, and they’re producing a flush of new foals.

Two recent arrivals at the Devery’s Findlay Road property near Invercargill will continue the bloodlines with a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Christian Dreamer being the oldest of the two new foals. He’s a full brother to Group race winning mare Amazing Dream (Bettor’s Delight).

Christian Dreamer has left six foals of racing age, and all have won races. Her two standouts have been Amazing Dream, the winner of twenty races in Australasia including five Group Ones in New Zealand and three in Australia and she’s also raced successfully in America where she’s owned and now based.

Christian Dreamer’s first foal Chase The Dream (Bettor’s Delight) won thirteen races across Australasia. His New Zealand wins included two Group Ones and he was also named 2014/2015 Two Year Old Pacing Colt of the Year. He too has gone on to race successfully in America. Both Chase The Dream and Amazing Dream were purchased at the Yearlings Sale in Christchurch by leviathan Australian owner Jean Feiss.

The second foal is a filly by Always B Miki out of seven win mare Natal Franco whose wins include the Group Three Nevele R Stakes at Cheviot.

Natal Franco has left a string of fillies with Princess Art (Art Major) winning seven. She’s the dam of Alta Wiseguy. Natal Franco has also left Christian Who (Christian Cullen) 5 wins, Delightful Catherine (Bettor’s Delight) the winner of three in New Zealand and she’s run 1-53.1 in America, and Lady Arts (Art Major) the winner of her only start for Tony Barron.

Debbie and Mark Smith of Shard Farms are preparing three Devery yearlings for the upcoming NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch: Fabulous Dream (Bettor’s Delight filly out of Christian Dreamer) a full sister to Amazing Dream, Chapel Gate (Vincent filly out of Natal Franco) and Ready To Dream (Bettor’s Delight colt out of Follow The Dream).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink