Barry Donoghue has savoured his first top level success as a breeder and one that has boosted prospects of another major celebration.
The Waikato-based horseman bred and sold Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) winner Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and will offer a half-brother through his BMD Bloodstock draft at next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
“It was brilliant and not something that we expected or dreamed of until it came around,” Donoghue said.
Globe’s latest victory at Caulfield has significantly lifted the profile of Lot 248, a colt by Ace High who will go under the hammer at Karaka on November 13.
“It’s a really good update to have and everything helps when you’re going to auction with these horses,” Donoghue said.
“The mare threw big foals and this fellow is very similar to Globe, all the family seem to mature more when they get to two rather than as yearlings.
“He has a lot of natural strength, he’s a big horse and the only thing he lacks is a walk, but Globe never walked that well either.”
They are out of the late Don Eduardo mare Bonnie Doon, who was a sister to the dual Group One winner Booming, and purchased for $16,000 at the 2017 NZB Broodmare Sale where she was offered by Curraghmore.
“I went to Karaka to buy a nice, young mare to have a bit of fun with,” Donoghue said.
“I went through the catalogue and had a few on the short list and she was the one I bought.
“I got her off Gordon Cunningham in foal to Power and she (Lorna Doon) won a race and I sent the mare to Charm Spirit and she had Globe.”
He was sold through Cambria Park’s yearling draft for $20,000 and his six wins also includes the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
A subsequent visit to Rip Van Winkle produced multiple winner Co Co Winkle with the Ace High colt is the last of her foals.
“I’m breeding from two other mares, I bought Quattro Gatti a couple of years ago and she’s got a Wrote foal at foot and is in foal to Hello Youmzain,” Donoghue said.
“The other one is a Swiss Ace mare (Lauberhorn) I got given a couple of months ago and she’s in foal to Wrote.
“We try to flick them on and make a little bit of money along the way. We’re not commercial, we’re a trading stable with predominantly young horses here.”
Aside from his vendor role, Donoghue also has a small team in work with stakes performer Navy Dreams (NZ) (Merchant Navy) among them.
Runner-up in last season’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m), the Merchant Navy colt was second in his first appearance as a three-year-old before an unplaced run in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa.
“He pulled up very well and Masa (Hashizume, jockey) said he didn’t go a yard in the heavy ground and was off the bridle a long way from home, it was very disappointing,” Donoghue said.
“He may run in a maiden at Ellerslie on Saturday, we’ll get him back on the good ground and take it from there.”