In this week’s Dunstan HorseFeeds Meet The Breeder we chat to Aimee Peterken, who bred her first stakes winner when Sassy Merlot (Burgundy x Saveadance {Savabeel}) took out the Listed Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last Saturday.
Tell us the story of Sassy Merlot?
In 2017 I was planning to discontinue breeding when after 20 + years I had a tragic season with losing my Sporthorse Stallion, Foundation Mare and a foal all within 3 months… I had never lost a horse so this series of events really broke me.
But because Saveadance scanned pregnant to Burgundy, I continued and pushed through another year with her. Sassy Merlot (aka Gigi) was the first that I bred from Saveadance, as a Broodmare she wasn’t my usual type and she wasn’t successful on the track, but I fell in love with her lineage!
I foaled her myself and from that moment I had an instant connection with who we now know as Sassy, she became part of the family.
She had fire in her belly from day 1, she weaned herself by choosing to graze in a separate paddock. She never needed a paddock mate; she was always very independent and very intelligent, she learnt everything alongside me, and we were super close. She hated the vet with a passion and men, except for the late Warren Churches our farrier. You could never use force or tell her off as she'd come back at you, she was a strong-willed mare like her mum – but ever so loving! We got on well and she would do anything for me.
It was heartbreaking experience walking away at Karaka 2020, she was my baby! But thankfully I have managed to see her on occasions since.
Because she was selected by Paul Moroney, I decided to keep pursuing my breeding career in he hope I could add some value to the Thoroughbred industry.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
I was introduced by Micaela Murray when our path crossed at a Polo event with mutual friends. She originally leased me a couple of TB mares which I bred to my Sporthorse stallion Aloha Desert Prince.
I always loved the beauty of the thoroughbreds, but the pedigree and science in their breeding really intrigued me, alongside the commercial component which was no longer present in breeding show hacks and ponies. Everything else I was already doing breeding successful Show Hacks, so I took on the challenge to make inroads into a very well established, male dominated and close-knit industry. This challenge excited me, the hope I could add value to this industry and commercialise what I loved doing which breeding beautiful performance horses, working with the foals-yearling and then prepping them like a showhack, I would never have to work a day in my life!
How many mares do you breed from?
I have only 3 broodmares, Hope Diamond (an orphan from the late Vargas Diamond who was my Foundation mare) Saveadance and Pearl Reign (closely related to Spring Rain, which was the 1/2 sister to my old Show Hack 'Barbados'). I love them and have a very personal connection with them all, with the luxury to enjoy them every day if not twice or more 😊
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses, stallion shares etc)
Just these 3 and Hope Diamond's weanling filly who I'll prep for Karaka 2024. I believe less is more and I never want to compromise what I offer as I believe my time and love to each is the secret ingredient to establishing great foundations for what makes good performance horses and amazing nurturing broodmares.
Do you breed to trade or breed to race? How do you decide on what to keep and/or sell?
I breed to trade, as I don’t have the luxury of keeping any of my babies financially. Though when I breed it’s to produce the very best performance horse for someone else to enjoy these successes. Which long-term may provide me with the liberties to retain and race myself. But my strength is breeding, youngster handling and empowering them through a very special connection and the method I work with each of them. Going beyond this would be challenging myself in a different way, which is always exciting, but for the now I will leave this to the experts!
Do you have a favourite cross?
Success Express x Sir Tristram (Zabeel) cross
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Not often, I keep to myself a little on things. I very much work on the science and proven crosses across my dam lines, type/confirmation that compliments my mares including temperament… and I would say there is a little intuition mixed in there to.
Proudest moment as a breeder? You can have more than one!
My big moment in breeding, was when my orphan foal from Foundation mare Vargas Diamond, which I hand-reared myself for 6 months (which was harder than solo parenting my son!) became a mum for the first time – it was the most unreal emotional feeling to the circle of life and what we had done to get here. Such magic can come from such tragic times. The next part of this story is how Hope Diamond’s progeny succeed on the track…
But like every breeder, watching all my babies all grown up running, stirs an unprecedented pride and 100% of the time I’m an emotional mess! A trial or stake race it’s all the same to me – I just love seeing them succeed and take their courageous nature and determination to the track. I couldn’t be happier for Sassy’s recent win, she truly deserved it and it excites me to what is to come for Texas Dolly & Line Dancer too.
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is…
Is the love, connection and difference you can make to these horses lives.
