Ownership – Pauline Pattullo

By Dave Di Somma – Harness News Desk   

In 2004 Pauline Pattullo had a “sliding doors” moment that changed her views about horse ownership. She was just 16 at the time.

“I had the choice to go to the yearling sales with my grandad or go to Riccarton Mall to go shopping. I decided to go shopping but then felt guilty, ran back and stayed with grandad.”

While there with her grandad David “Pat” Pattullo, who was in his nineties at the time, she got chatting with well-known breeder John Scanlan (Brookland Lodge Standardbred Stud) – “of course I had no idea who he was.”

Scanlan was having quite the week as it turned out. He topped the sales in Christchurch, with Christian Spirit fetching $120,000.

“I left my name and number with John when he asked for it …. and the next day he leased me a broodmare, the first foal I bred wasn’t accepted at the sales and I kept and raced him for four wins. I was hooked, as they say the rest is history.”

The broodmare in question was now 19-year-old Caprock mare Brookland Beauty, who Scanlan gifted to Pauline just ten days before he died. And that first foal was Peraki Chief. He debuted as a three-year-old in 2009, going on to win four from 51 starts. By Live or Die he was trained by Kevin James initially for one win and then by Brent McIntyre at Macca Lodge in Southland, where Pauline also worked for a time before moving back to the family’s beef and sheep farm, Peraki Station.

All the Pattullo horses are associated with “Peraki”. The name comes from a small bay on the south side of Banks Peninsula and the first European settlement in the province.

Horses have always been a part of the Pattullo family. Pauline got her first pony at four and as a child has memories of watching harness racing at Addington with her grand-parents on a Friday night. Her parents David and Lynda also breed and race horses. They became interested in the game after Peraki Chief was bred, among their recent winners was promising three-year-old Peraki Seelster in January. Peraki Chief was also responsible for introducing Pauline to partner Ryan Hayter one night at Forbury Park.

Pauline estimates she’s had up to 10 horses over the years. The best of them was Peraki King. Trained by Ken Dixon the son of Mach Three had one win from 17 starts in New Zealand before winning six more (and around $42,000) in Western Australia.

 As well as having three two-year-olds, Pauline also has broodmares in foal to Rock N Roll Heaven, Sweet Lou and Sir Lincoln.

Her interest in breeding and racing has come a long way in the past 15 or so years.

“It’s quite incredible when you think how a chance meeting would end up. If I’d gone to the mall it would have been a very different outcome. The friendships and connections I have made within the racing industry have been the icing on the cake.”

Like a lot of people in the industry finding a champion has been elusive though she hasn’t given up hope.

“The next one could be a good one, that’s what keeps you going.”