NZTM Broodmare Of The Week - Dam of Kroner

 
18 Aug 2009

With a AJC Derby winner to her credit and Kroner (NZ) to the fore in last weekend's Gr.2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), Whakanui Stud's broodmare gem Monroe Magic (NZ) is a deserving subject for this week's 'NZTM Golden Girl'.

 

Successful with two group winners from four to race, you would think the black-type breeding formula for this Zabeel mare was down pat, but interestingly this has not necessarily been the case.

 

"Monroe Magic is from a fast female family, so I thought I'd try to breed a speed horse by sending her to an out and out speed sire in Anabaa. I ended up with Headturner who won the AJC Derby, so my theory on breeding is not exactly working to plan with her," quipped Monroe Magic's owner and breeder, Tim Bodle.

 

Going the other way, maestro trainer Bart Cummings was sure he had a Derby horse on his hands when the mare's Viking Ruler gelding Kroner (NZ) made his way to his stable, but this too required a rethink.

 

By the AJC Spring Championship Stakes (1800m) winner Viking Ruler and out of a Zabeel mare who had already produced a Derby winner, Kroner (NZ) is bred to be a stayer, but with an excess of brilliance, the now 5YO has ignored his pedigree to rate as one of Australia's most improved sprinters since being restricted to sprint races.

 

Perhaps the key to this brilliance is found with Monroe Magic's speedy grandam, Tasman Dancer (New Regent).

 

The Tasman Dancer Influence

 

(Tasman Dancer          My Marilyn         Monroe Magic)

 

Tasman Dancer, herself a half-sister to the dam of the 2003 Gr.1 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Winestock (NZ) (El Moxie), displayed black-type prowess at two, taking out the Listed Welcome Stakes (880m) before coming out a season later to claim the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (1400m).

 

Owned by New Zealand's 5 time Breeder of the Year, Garry Chittick, Tasman Dancer's produced eight foals to race for seven winners.

 

On the face of it, the best of these by way of black-type race performance was her Danasinga son, Danasar (NZ), whose 5 wins at 1200m included the Listed Flying Hcp.

 

The picture as to her most lucrative offspring would in fact be her first foal My Marilyn (Bakharoff).

 

My Marilyn (the dam of Monroe Magic), would record NZ$250,000 in earnings via three wins in NZ from 1000-1200m, with the most profitable of these outings coming in 1992 NZ Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at Trentham.

 

Sent to Australia, My Marilyn fashioned some creditable results in Sydney, with third placings coming in both the Gr.3 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Kindergarten Stakes (1100m).

 

In the breeding department, My Marilyn has similarly rated foremost of Tasman Dancer's offspring, although significant kudos has also been attained by Bali Sugar (Christmas Tree), the dam of the relegated Gr.1 performer Viennetta (Pins) and the Gr.3 winner Butterscotch (Gold Brose).

 

All told, My Marilyn produced ten foals for nine winners, with her Zabeel daughter Monroe Magic featuring prominently amongst these as a winner over 1150m at two.

 

Monroe Magic

 

Bred by Tim and Karen Bodle of Whakanui Stud, Monroe Magic (NZ) was sold as a yearling, but with the filly injuring herself at three, she was brought back by her breeders, who have since been instrumental in her 3 winners from four to race.

 

Sent to the Danzig sire Anabaa in her first season, Monroe Magic produced the filly Making Whoopee - a winner over 1200m in Australia,

 

Her second mating would see her visit Spectrum. The pairing resulted in Northern Magic, who frequented the racetrack just the once.

 

Gr.1 success, however, would be landed at third attempt, with the repeat mating to Anabaa producing the AJC Derby hero, Headturner.

 

Headturner

 

Initially purchased at the 2004 Premier Yearling Sale by the well known Matamata agent Paul Moroney for NZ$125,000, Headturner received his racing preparation from the stable of John Hawkes in Australia.

 

Owned by Gerard Peterson, Owen Glenn, Michael Lam and Tony Pistikakis, Headturner showed immediate class, winning on debut over 1212m at two before franking this form at his next start at three over 1420m.

 

After winning three and placing second twice in his first five starts, Headturner gave notice to his subsequent AJC Derby intent with a third placing in its Gr.1 Victorian equivalent.

 

Triumphant in the 2006 Gr.1 AJC Derby 5 starts later, Headturner made another notable black-type contribution to his resume in 2007, taking out the Gr.3 Lord Mayor's Cup over 1615m.

 

After missing in 2003, Monroe Magic followed Headturner with a colt by the Danehill sire Viking Ruler. Enter Kroner (NZ).

 

Kroner

 

"I own a share in Viking Ruler, so at the time I thought that being a Danehill sire he might help inject a bit more speed into my Zabeel mare," said Bodle.

 

Bought by Duncan Ramage's DRG Thoroughbred Services for A$225,000 as a yearling, the mating has already proven a profitable cross, with A$342,527 in earnings recorded so far for owners Dato Tan Chin Nam, Dr Michael Alexeeff, Wayne Pasterfield and Dr D Tankard.

All told, the 5YO gelding has registered 7 wins from 1100-1200m, with black-type spoils attained when dead heating with Mentality in last Saturday's Gr.2 Premiere Stakes and with earlier wins in April's Listed AJC Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) and June's Listed AJC June Stakes (1100m).

 

Zabeel's influence as a Dam Sire

In total, daughters of Zabeel have produced 10 Gr.1 winners and a remarkable 61.58 % winners-to-runners strike rate.

 

When crossed with stallions carrying the Nearctic - Northern Dancer lineage, Zabeel's daughters improve further on this statistic, with a winners-to-runners tally of 62.3 % being accomplished here along with 34 stakes winners.

 

Both Headturner and Kroner testify to this cross, with the former being by the Danzig sire Anabaa and the latter being a grandson of the Danzig sire, Danehill.

 

What's Ahead for Monroe Magic?

 

Headlined by Kroner this season, Monroe Magic could potentially receive further racetrack representation in the months ahead with a full brother to Headturner named Anacheeva - an unraced 2YO colt who is in the stable of Peter Moody.

 

Looking to the sales ring, the mare will be strongly represented at the 2010 Karaka Yearling Sales Series with the Stratum colt she produced in 2008. Nb) Stratum is by the champion sire Redoute's Choice, a son of Danehill.

 

This season, Monroe Magic (NZ) will visit Australasia's Champion 2YO of last season, Sebring.

 

By More Than Ready, Sebring carries the Hail to Reason - Halo sire bloodline, which to date has been used to good measure with Zabeel mares, courtesy of 5 winners from 7 to race.



Article courtesy of Angelique Bridson, New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing