Photo: Supplied
This week in Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we catch up with South Island-based breeder Jon Orr who bred Listed Tauranga Classic winner, Casino Princess.
Tell us the story of Casino Princess? Casino Princess was the mating of my beautiful mare Sonsy and the best value stallion in Australia, Casino Prince. Sonsy was a very good race mare who never fulfilled her true ability. Her mother, I bought on Trademe for $800 as a paddock mate. One year I sent her to High Chapparal (4th season) and she had a colt foal that was born the spring of So You Think, Monaco Consul and Descarado. I sold that colt a year later for $220k with the help of the Windsor Park team. It is the Bodle family of Summer Rosa. Sonsy died foaling her 3rd foal who had a lot of ability as well but had knee issues. All her foals where small for some reason and so Casino Princess was sold as a yearling on Gavelhouse as she was deemed not to be good enough for Karaka. Casino Prince has crossed well with Nureyev line mares – welcome Casino Princess.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding? Its in my blood through my Grandfather and Grandmother on my Fathers side. My Fathers Mother was a Brown from Matamata, and her Father Wyn was Master of the Waikato Hunt for 30 years. As well as this, my mother’s sister Lesley ran into one of my father’s family friends Jim Otway and decided to put roots down at Trelawney. So, I loved spending time at the stud when I was young. When Seton was around, I was probably 6 years old and I used to go down to the barn where he would take the left over porridge from breakfast, bang the pot and cats would come running from everywhere which used to fascinate me how well they where trained. Old fashion mouse control. I loved everything about it and if I had one regret in life it would be that I didn’t pursue it as a career.
How many mares do you breed from? 4 at present
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio (youngstock, racehorses, stallion shares etc) One race Filly called Kindling Spark with Terri Rae. And a few minor shares in fillies I have not been able to sell at Karaka none of which are racing yet.
Do you breed to trade or breed to race? How do you decide on what to keep and/or sell? Breed to trade. I keep what the industry does not want largely. Sometimes I plan a mating to keep it knowing that the market has long since gone off the stallion but it’s a mating I like. Kindling Spark is one of those. I’d like to think we can get her to stakes company in time and be competitive there. A horse that can win a maiden and then a 65 straight after that in the manner she did I think has potential. She’ll be looking for some firm ground in the summer to show her best and she’s with one of the country’s best conditioners, so we have hope. Which you need.
Do you have a favourite cross? Today the best crossed seem to come from inbreeding to superior broodmares a la Special, Fairy Bridge, Eight Carat, Natalma etc. Have a look at Verry Elleegants pedigree. But in NZ mine used to be Sir Tristram over Mr Prospector or vice versa of which Lonhro was one but there where many many others and no one ever talked about it as a thing, which used to fascinate me. The great Ethereal was another. In those days we had a lot of those bloodlines in the country but I don’t know if people chased that cross.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions? No one. I have done it the hard way over 30 years and still trying to figure it out. But I enjoy the researching. Its almost my second job. Alot of money can be lost on a poor decision. If I’m gunna waste it I’d rather make that decision myself.
Proudest moment as a breeder? You can have more than one! Winning the Spring Classic with Viana – a mare I raced with David and Karen Ellis. Who gracefully took up the slack when some QT Publicans pulled out of leasing 75% of her to race. Then having her son Southern Ocean (a horse I was left with) winning the same race as his mother did, under Terri Rae and with a whole lot of great North Canterbury friends as partners. Selling a Nicconi colt out of Viana for $240k in 23 to Bob Peters was also a thrill because I know what an eye he and his agent has for a horse. Looking forward to him stepping out.
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is… Most definitely the people. I have met some of the best people I know in the racing industry. And the love of the horse…any horse.
