Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images PN)
In this week’s Dunstan HorseFeeds Meet The Breeder we chat to Jay Millar who along with his wife New Plymouth trainer Janelle Millar and his late mother Jan bred the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup winner Testify Me (Atlante[AUS]- Cherry Bomb). Jay and Janelle operate Millar Racing from Palm View Lodge in Taranaki.
Tell us the story of Testify Me?
When Janelle first started training, we asked some studs for a horse to lease. Windsor Park was one of the first to really support Janelle and Cherry Bomb the dam of Testify Me was one of the first horses we leased, and it initiated a great partnership between Janelle and Windsor Park Stud.
We have always loved Volksraad(IRE) as a broodmare sire with Kawi leading the way in Taranaki. Volksraad mares are traditionally tough and fast.
On Cherry Bomb’s dam side there are Opimistic Gal who won seven races as a two-year-old in the USA. So, we knew the foundation of a good horse was there on paper.
Cherry Bomb is the fastest horse Janelle had trained and ridden but succumbed to a bleeding attack and she went back to Windsor Park.
When the option to buy her came up, with my late mother Jan, we jumped at the chance. She was already in foal to Atlante and that foal became Testify Me.
As a foal he always had swagger and was full of himself. He was a big leggy type who we knew would need time. My mother use to spoil him so we blame her for his theatrics that he can do if he doesn’t get his way.
It’s a great contrast in personalities as his mum is cool, calm and collected where he is more like a ADHD child all hyped up. But he is getting better with age. Janelle is great at managing high maintenance horses and allowing them to reach their full potential. We are also lucky with the jockeys we use who put up with his quirks. I think Chris Dell can relate to his hypo activities tendencies, so they get on well with each other.
He was almost sold but failed the scope which Janelle couldn’t believe as she always said he was so clear in the wind. We decided to syndicate him with some of our loyal owners, some of which raced his mum with us. Along with our family. This is why he runs in Janelle’s grandfather’s Jack Taylor colours.
So, it’s been a great ride, and we are confident he will be better next year, touch wood.
How exciting is it to breed and race a horse like this?
It’s awesome seeing them develop from foals into bona-fide racehorses. It was only a listed race, but it makes all the time we have waited to see him finished off like that. It’s great to add some black type to our mare’s pedigree page.
What made you interested in breeding horses and how did you get into it?
I could never be a rider so learning the breeding side was my contribution to the business. I enjoy reading and listening about other people's thoughts and theories behind breeding. Especially the likes of breeding gurus like Ken Beer and Steve Till.
Learning about the likes of Sunline and Takeover target, shows it’s not always the most fashionable sire that can make a champion So it gives us battlers hope.
What makes you so passionate about the NZ thoroughbred breeding industry?
With the increase in stakes and the way New Zealand horses continually overachieve all over the world it's exciting times. There is talk of a drop in foaling numbers so there is no better time to get involved.
How many mares do you breed from?
At the moment we have Cherry Bomb who is in foal to King of Comedy. Luigi Muollo has been a great supporter of ours and King of Comedy was a quality racehorse with a great pedigree. We felt he is worth a shot and on type he could improve on our mare’s weaknesses.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses, stallion shares etc)?
3-Year-old “Time Test / Hard to Be humble in partnership.
We have a three-year-old Time Test(GB) – Hard to Be Humble filly in partnership, a two-year-old Turn Me Loose- Te Hana colt also with partners and two colts out of Ruby Love by Nadeem. One is a two-year-old the other a yearling.
We are also starting a breeding syndicate for recently retired Hanakin. So plenty to keep us busy.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Yes, Steve Till and the team at Windsor park are a wealth of knowledge and we always learn something new speaking to Steve. Sam Williams from LA Stud is a great sounding beacon too and his enthusiasm for breeding and racing is second to none. We also respect Mike Rennie he has been everywhere and done it all. Luigi Muolo has also bred some great horses, so we are very lucky to be able to call upon lots of prominent experts.
If it’s from a stallion with foals at foot we like to ask Alan Sharrock and Nigel Tilley for their views too. They have picked a lot of great horses.
What advice would you give to someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Decide on your purpose, if it’s to sell, talk to the people in the know as it can change very quickly what's popular and what isn’t. If we are selling, we use Adrian Stanley from Woburn Farm.
If it’s to race make sure you really really like the mare as if they are not commercial it’s easy to get disheartened. If you have faith in the mare it helps.
Proudest moment as a breeder?
Testify Me winning the Hawke’s Bay cup and St Ledger and Hard to be Humble coming from a mile last to win in New Plymouth.
Finish this sentence: The best part about being a thoroughbred breeder is.
Seeing your horse reach its potential.
