The breeder of the Caulfield Cup winner Descarado (High Chaparral-Karamea Lady) Wayne McQuoid is overjoyed with breeding a group one winner, but wishes it had come a little earlier.
"It was a great thrill watching him win the Cup and it's been great watching his progress since he went to Gai's, but it's a little bit late for us.
Wayne is no longer a broodmare owner. When Karamea Lady died foaling in 2007 he decided enough was enough and didn't replace her.
"It was quite tough losing her and we had to get a foster mother for the foal. Not long after that I had to withdraw Descarado from the yearling sales, as his x-rays showed a tiny cyst on his stifle. That had to come off and you can't send a yearling to the sales with a shaved leg!" he said.
Wayne and his partner Vivienne Robertson are semi-retired and live on a 15 acre block at Glenbrook in South Auckland. When they moved there they indulged their passion for thoroughbreds and bought a couple of mares.
"You know how it is - you buy one and then they start multiplying, and before you know it, you have too many.
Wayne bought Karamea Lady (Lord Ballina- Dormez Vous) after she had already left Simigan (Honor Grades), a stakes winner of five races, and the stakes placed winner Carey Grant (Famous Star), as well as four other winners. He believed that New Zealand was the best place to breed stayers and selected mainly staying stallions for her future matings.
"Every foal I sold out of her won, and she left another stakes performer in Matiri King (Generous) who won three races and ran second in the Avondale Guineas behind Mandela before going to Hong Kong.
"For one reason or another her foals didn't sell very well and considering the calibre of the stallions I sent her to, I didn't do that well.
"Anyway she was booked to go to Montjeu and when he didn't come back Windsor Park offered me a nomination to High Chaparral. Mark Carter said he had seen him race in Europe and he was a lovely horse so I decided to stay there. After Descarado, Karamea Lady went to Black Minnaloushe and she died after foaling a colt.
"That colt is Il Poverino which is Italian for poor boy. He is raced by my son Kurt Robertson, along with Josh Sole and Paul Griffen. They all play rugby in Italy. Kurt has played 150 tests for Italy and will be playing here for them in the World Cup next year.
"He is trained by Kevin Myers as well and Kevin reckons he is better than Descarado. It's a family he has had a bit to do with and that was one of the reasons he bought Descarado.
"I hope for Kurt's sake he is right, as he also owns the half sister Juicy Lady (Generous) who is at Coolmore in Australia in foal to Dylan Thomas and will go to High Chaparral next year," he said.
Wayne may have given away the breeding game, but he still follows racing and enjoys the socializing involved especially just down the road at sales time.
- Michelle Sabe
"It was a great thrill watching him win the Cup and it's been great watching his progress since he went to Gai's, but it's a little bit late for us.
Wayne is no longer a broodmare owner. When Karamea Lady died foaling in 2007 he decided enough was enough and didn't replace her.
"It was quite tough losing her and we had to get a foster mother for the foal. Not long after that I had to withdraw Descarado from the yearling sales, as his x-rays showed a tiny cyst on his stifle. That had to come off and you can't send a yearling to the sales with a shaved leg!" he said.
Wayne and his partner Vivienne Robertson are semi-retired and live on a 15 acre block at Glenbrook in South Auckland. When they moved there they indulged their passion for thoroughbreds and bought a couple of mares.
"You know how it is - you buy one and then they start multiplying, and before you know it, you have too many.
Wayne bought Karamea Lady (Lord Ballina- Dormez Vous) after she had already left Simigan (Honor Grades), a stakes winner of five races, and the stakes placed winner Carey Grant (Famous Star), as well as four other winners. He believed that New Zealand was the best place to breed stayers and selected mainly staying stallions for her future matings.
"Every foal I sold out of her won, and she left another stakes performer in Matiri King (Generous) who won three races and ran second in the Avondale Guineas behind Mandela before going to Hong Kong.
"For one reason or another her foals didn't sell very well and considering the calibre of the stallions I sent her to, I didn't do that well.
"Anyway she was booked to go to Montjeu and when he didn't come back Windsor Park offered me a nomination to High Chaparral. Mark Carter said he had seen him race in Europe and he was a lovely horse so I decided to stay there. After Descarado, Karamea Lady went to Black Minnaloushe and she died after foaling a colt.
"That colt is Il Poverino which is Italian for poor boy. He is raced by my son Kurt Robertson, along with Josh Sole and Paul Griffen. They all play rugby in Italy. Kurt has played 150 tests for Italy and will be playing here for them in the World Cup next year.
"He is trained by Kevin Myers as well and Kevin reckons he is better than Descarado. It's a family he has had a bit to do with and that was one of the reasons he bought Descarado.
"I hope for Kurt's sake he is right, as he also owns the half sister Juicy Lady (Generous) who is at Coolmore in Australia in foal to Dylan Thomas and will go to High Chaparral next year," he said.
Wayne may have given away the breeding game, but he still follows racing and enjoys the socializing involved especially just down the road at sales time.
- Michelle Sabe
