Hunter breeds a quinella

Wyndham breeder Ian Hunter has been racing horses for a long time and today at Ascot Park in Invercargill he quinellaed a race for the first time.

“I can only recall having two horses starting in the same race once. That was at Wyndham (2004). Delcola won and The Last Sonofafella finished last. They both carried quite a bit of money.”

Andy Hall back to winning form for Nathan Williamson

Two of the progeny of Delcola provided Hunter with the dream result today, with Andy Hall (Andover Hall) trained and driven by Nathan Williamson beating his younger half-brother Port Pegasus (Brian Norman/Mark Hurrell) by a length and a half.

“It’s the optimum result for a breeder.”

There was some relief around Andy Hall’s win after his form had dropped away and Williamson had struggled to get him to run up to his potential.

“He went good right up until Omakau where he ran second to Sundee Son and had a couple of bummers after that. So we turned him out and brought him back, and it looks like he’s back to his old self. He’s one of those horse that doesn’t carry any fat. He’s a bit like myself (laughter).”

Back to the birdcage

Both Andy Hall and Port Pegasus are out of the Chiola Cola mare Delcola which won six races, five  for Wyndham trainers Megan Irvine and Ivan Gutsell. Her first win was for Tony Barron.

As a broodmare she’s had outstanding success, leaving the winners of thirty four races. But in recent seasons she hasn’t had a whole lot of luck.

“She had a rupture five or six years ago and Andy Hall was her last foal up until that stage, until we bred a couple through ET including Port Pegasus. I’ve also got a filly by Creatine (Del’s Creation). Since then we haven’t had too much luck with Embryo Transplant. The mare gets in foal okay but when the transfer happens it doesn’t take with the recipient mare. This year because she’s been doing such a good job we’ve put her back in foal (Creatine) and left her to carry it. She’s at home and I’m watching her closely. It’s a bit of a last resort as she’s twenty years old now.”

Delcola was named Southland Broodmare of the Year in 2020 with Splash Cola being her best progeny winning thirteen races.

Hunter is currently breeding from two of Delcola’s daughters, Suncola and Splash Cola.

‘She’s (Splash Cola) in foal to Creatine as well.”

View the Invercargill results click here!

by Bruce Stewart