Motherhood looms for top harness racing mare

Multiple Group 1 harness racing winner Allamericanlover (American Ideal) has been retired from racing, and is heading to the broodmare paddock.

The six-year-old American Ideal – Goodlookingbabe mare won 13 races from 35 starts for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, earning $299,725 in stakes from 2021-24.

Bred by Breckon Farms, she was purchased by Stonewall Stud for $35,000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Her best season was the six wins she had as a four-year-old in 2022, with the highlight being her Group 1 win in the Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park, as well as the Nelson Cup. She earned $137,275 during the year.

Her second Group 1 win was a typically gutsy effort to take out the NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes at Addington on February 9 2024, while she also won the Group 2 Premier Mares Championship at Addington in January.

The Telfers hinted after her win in the Breeders Stakes that her racing days were coming to an end, with the official announcement being made on Stonewall Stud’s Facebook page.

It said : “Time has been called on the racing career of our grand dual Group 1 winning mare Allamericanlover. This mare has won 13 races, placed 9 times from 35 race starts, and has earnings just a tick under the $300k mark. Patch has a fast winning mile time of 1-53 flat. We look forward to having Patch join the Stonewall Stud broodmare band. Thanks Patch you have brought us a lot of joy!”

From Harness Racing New Zealand