Every month HRNZ has a breeder and owner of the month award. It is selected randomly with the only proviso being that their horse must have won a race during the month.
Lynne Paterson was awarded Owner of the Month after Confessional’s win at Addington on August 22 while Vin Devery was named Breeder of the Month following Share A Dream’s success at Winton on August 3.
Owner of the Month – Lynne Paterson
Lynne Paterson had the perfect excuse not to see Confessional’s win at Addington in the flesh – she was holidaying in Italy. She did however watch it live on-line.
“It was fantastic, it was a great win as he had been out for so long after an injury and first run back into it he made it look easy.”
Winning by nearly three lengths, Confessional had not started since October last year.
Bred and raced by the Patersons along with Birchbrook Breeding (David and Catherine Butt) Confessional is by Father Patrick out of Habibti, who the Patersons and Butts also raced. She had 16 wins including victory in the 2013 New Zealand Trotting Derby.
“She was so exciting to have racing and now Confessional is doing a great job,” says Paterson, “we are looking forward to the season ahead with him.”
“I ended up getting into the horses through my hubby (Bolty). It started with Burn Up quite a few years back with Rodger and Jill Austin and have had a few others along the way and we have some younger ones waiting to go.”
“We plan on continuing breeding with Habibti – she is off to Muscle Hill – this year and we are waiting for Astound to foal.”
The plan is also to breed from 11-race winner Resolve (Andover Hall – Habibti) this year.
“They are a great family to be breeding out of with lots of fun years ahead,” says Paterson.
Breeder of the Month – Vin Devery
Now a three race winner, Share A Dream is by Art Major out of Follow The Dream and is the dam’s third and most successful foal to date.
Follow The Dream is one of three broodmares Vin Devery is breeding from, along with Chapel Gate and outstanding producer Christian Dreamer. Among her progeny have been superstar mare Amazing Dream, a multiple Group 1 winner with 20 wins in Australasia before heading to North America, and Chase The Dream (13 NZ wins).
The Deverys have long been a stalwart of Southland harness racing. Vin himself has been breeding horses for half a century, initially with his brothers Allan and Ray. HRNZ records show he has bred around 100 horses in total. As well as Amazing Dream and Chase The Dream his other star performers include Western Dream (14 wins) and age group champion Honkin Vision (16 wins) .
Devery, who is now “nearing 80”, plans to keep breeding up to three foals a year.
Plaques have been sent to both our winners – congratulations.
