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Letter of the Week

Sister acts

The racing and breeding game continues to energise this 62-year-old daily. Take Sunday May 5 at Launceston, where two full sisters, who look nothing alike though born a year apart, both won.  
Buzzered won her first race at her 19th attempt, whilst her year-younger two-year-old sister, Deroche, won for the third time at her fifth start.  She has also placed twice, and is  an amazingly flashy chestnut.  
Their sire, Needs Further, has become a godsend to Tasmanian racing, while the two sisters’ dam sire, Tough Speed, has been an absolute marvel in my opinion. 
Tasmanian racing is getting better and better, and with Krupt now standing there, it will only improve further. I think he bats way above his expected average.  Meanwhile, can you believe War Chant, in WA , only got 41 mares last breeding season? Go figure.   
On the same day as that Launceston double, two half-sisters won the first two races at Port Augusta, both out of the great producer Ferronoche. 
The damsire, Gallo Di Ferro, was a wonderful addition to the SA breeding scene some years ago, and his female progeny have often been quite useful.  
Three-year-old filly Just Kauto, who won the first race, is by All American, while her year-older sister, Blue Balloons, is by the ill-fated but grand stallion Hussonet. He was only in SA for a short while, but has had a big impact on the local breeding scene. 
Apparently this mare was so named in honour of the late jockey Caitlin Forrest, who tragically died in 2014. At her memorial service, blue balloons were released.  I understand her mother is in the ownership of the Hussonet mare.

Craig Holmes
Port Lincoln (SA)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March