Photo: Supplied
This week in Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, we caught up with John Cassin, who inconjunction with his wife Jan, bred and race outstanding racemare, La Crique.
Tell us the story of La Crique?
It started with buying a 50% share of a yearling filly, Dubai Destination/Lulworth Cove, purchased by Simon & Katrina Alexander, through the 2008 NZB Select book at Karaka. We raced her (Destiny Cove) until her retirement in 2014, and our trust (Cassin Trust) bought out the other owners. As we have a share in Redwood, she was mated twice with him, producing a colt (Alfa Rosso, placed) and an unraced filly. She was then served by Proisir resulting in a colt, which we decided to race, called Bari, and managed five wins with him.
Rich Hill Stud shuttled a new sire, Vadamos, and I liked the look of him and his pedigree, being from Monsun, that produced a Melbourne Cup winner. As I prefer middle distance horses, and Vadamos won from 1600 – 2400, winning Group 1 at 1600, we sent Destiny Cove to Vadamos, with the result being a filly. This filly was entered at the 2020 Karaka Book 2, but, because of her size, and being a little offset, we decided to keep her and race her. I did offer her as a lease proposition to clients of the Alexanders, but that didn’t eventuate. As the dam, Destiny Cove was originally purchased and trained by Simon and Katrina Alexander, they were happy to train this filly. During her early preparations (nearly 12 months before her first race), the Alexanders informed me that there was something very special in the way she moved. We were excited for Valma, the stable name given, had shown early promise. Thinking of a name, the dam being Destiny Cove, and the grand dam being Lulworth Cove (we visited this English cove in early July this year), we decided on “The Cove”. As the sire, Vadamos, is a French sire, “The Cove” was translated into French, “La Crique”.
We continued to receive offers after her second trial, and during her early racing career, but being a filly, and at our stage of life, we wanted to enjoy the racing, and we have been rewarded with Black Type and Group 1 success. We are also excited to breed from her when she tells us she is ready to retire and be a mum.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
My first venture was with buying out the owners of two mares that we raced, a Grosvenor (Sosweetsofine) and a Volksraad (Boston Babe). I kept these two for breeding, as they both showed promise, but injury cut short their career. Being inexperienced, this first venture was not profitable, selling three of the ten that we bred. The third mare I started breeding from, was Destiny Cove, dam of La Crique.
How many mares do you breed from?
I currently now breed from three mares, Destiny Cove, a Mastercraftsman (Angel In Bluejeans, 50%) and a Power/Lady Dehere mare (50%).
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio? (foals, racehorses, stallion shares etc)
We now have our bloodstock under Cass Thoroughbreds, which include five we own outright, and shares in another 20, including foals, pin hooked and home bred yearlings, young stock for sale/racing and horses that we race.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
We usually try and sell the offspring from the mares we have shares in, and like to keep the fillies from the mares we own outright.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Most of the time; but usually after I have selected my couple of preferences – stallions that have black type in 1600 – 2400 range.
Best breeding advice you have received?
If you’re in the game to sell, go for the popular stallions and only use mares with black type in their pedigree.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
It's great to see the end result from selecting the mating and watching the offspring progress. I enjoy researching through the pedigrees of the stallions. You also meet a great bunch of people in this industry.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
It’s a numbers game; do not expect instant success, but if you’re in it for long enough, you will have a better chance of breeding that special one.
If you could make one mating with any mare and any stallion (past or present), what would it be?
Frankel with Eight Carat
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is… the chance of watching or owning the offspring from the mating you selected, succeed on the race track
