Golden cross to the fore

Any southern hemisphere harness racing breeder looking at the results of matings of Artsplace mares in the northern hemisphere will quickly come to one conclusion.

Cover the mare with Rocknroll Hanover and chances are very good that the resultant foal will be a serious racehorse. 

It has been a cross without parallel in recent times and six of the eight millionaires that Rocknroll Hanover has produced have been from Artsplace mares.

Rock N Roll Heaven – 1:47.3 ($2,774,478)

Put On A Show – 1:47.3 ($2,459,903)

Rocklamation – 1:48.3 ($2,259,904)

Pet Rock – 1:47 ($1,985,820)

Rock N Soul – 1:49.4 ($1,158,637)

Ticket To Rock – 1:50.3 ($1,131,163)

Looking through the maternal families of horses bred on this cross in this years Australasian Classic yearling sale led us to Lot 129 and the filly, Crystal Sparkles.

Crystal Sparkles is the second foal of the young Artsplace mare Taylor Kate who is from the former smart two and three year old filly in Black Maire 1:59.8 ($39,981)

Taylor Kate is a half sister to six winners including the brilliant two and three year old filly Lauraella 1:55.9 ($649,946)

The 2008/2009 three year old filly of the year in New Zealand, Lauraella won the New Zealand Oaks, Great Northern Oaks, Nevele R Fillies Final as well as the Harness Jewels Diamond at two.

The first foal of Lauraella is this seasons very smart three year old Express Stride 1:58.1 ($119,525)

Taylor Kate is also a half sister to a very smart two and three year old in The Muskeg Express 1:55.9 ($111,331)

A full sister to Black Maire in Syriana is the dam of this seasons big improver in the four year old ranks, Meticulous 1:55.6 ($99,420)

The third dam is the handy Vance Hanover mare in Corbie 1:57.2 who left six winners including the talented Agios Nikolaos 1:52.2 ($192,180) while the fourth dam is Black Watch herself.

This is one of the strongest branches of the strongest family in the New Zealand stud book.

Given that Crystal Sparkles is also bred on such a dynamic breeding cross makes her a great proposition both on the track and in the breeding barn.

Harnesslink Media