Just over two years ago, Jacksstar (Zed – Star Guest by Pentire) suffered a tendon injury when finishing third in the 2017 Auckland Cup, for most five-year-old geldings that would have been the end of their career, but not for “Jack” the recent winner of the Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup.
At the time he was injured he was already the winner of five races including the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup and the Listed St Leger, so there was a little bit of money in the kitty and his owners had no hesitation in spending the money on stem cell injections and rehabilitation for their pride and joy. There was no giving up!
“It’s been two years since the Auckland Cup, but winning the Cup was worth waiting for,” said part-owner Pete Algie a member of the NZTBA Central Branch.
“He needed two stem cell injections and about 19 months in the box and we were a wee bit worried it would do his head in, but he’s a tough character, and it was such a thrill to see him win again.”
Algie races the now seven-year-old gelding with his wife Chrissie, and good friends Rick and Claire Wilkie. He and Christine bred Jacksstar from the Pentire(GB) mare Star Guest, a mare originally owned by Algie’s older brother Kevin.
Kevin Algie is no stranger to good horses and raced amongst others the Champion Pentire(GB) gelding Xcellent, and also the gallant group one performer Wall Street. He purchased Star Guest as a weanling and entrusted him to younger brother Pete to look after on his property on the outskirts of Greytown.
“She had a trial and injured her front leg, and that was the end of her racing career,” recalled Pete,” Kevin was going to get to sell her, and as all the family had got attached to her we decided to keep her.”
That’s how this branch of the Algie family developed their passion for the thoroughbred industry.
According to Chrissie Algie, Star Guest (ex Mon Espoir) is part of the family. “She grew up with our kids, she was used to having rugby balls kicked in her paddock, and her best friend was the pig. You couldn’t come up the drive without stopping to give her a pat, she was a real character and became a pet.
“We were new to the game she was our first horse, and being from a predominantly Argentinian family we couldn’t find out a lot about her family and its nicks, so we approached Sam Williams at nearby Little Avondale,” she said.
“Zed was a bit of an unknown and it was a bit of a punt.”
Star Guest is out of the unraced Star Board mare Mon Espoir and is a half-sister to one winner. Her grandam is Champion Argentinian 3YO Filly of 1979-80 Love’s Hope, who was imported to New Zealand in the late 80’s. She left Indian Hope (by Shadeed) a group one winner of 10 races in Brazil, and Great Lover (by Great Charmer[USA]) whose nine wins include a Listed QTC Easter Cup.
“The first foal was Anniestar she was really tiny, but a pocket rocket. She was the first horse we ever raced, and she was just beautiful to us, in her head she’s 17 hands high” enthused Chrissie. “I don’t think we will ever forget the day she won her first race.”
Anniestar won five races from 1000metres to 2100metres, including the Listed Fielding Cup, she also ran second in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup and fourth in the Gr.3 Metric Mile, before retiring to the broodmare paddock. Star Guest was mated to Zed again and produced Kingiestar who won three races, and the next mating with Zed produced Jacksstar.
A filly by Nadeem(AUS) was the next foal, and named Nadia she won two races for the Algies, before being retired to the broodmare paddock. Star Guest then had a year off before she was mated to Per Incanto (USA) and produced a colt, who became Star Performer.
A $250,000 yearling he has won one race and was placed fourth this season in the Gr.2 Hawkes Bay Guineas.
“We have gone into a 50/50 partnership with Little Avondale, in Anniestar and Nadiastar and Star Guest, where they have leased a half of the mares,” stated Chrissie.
“It’s a wonderful arrangement for us and them. It’s been amazing to have the support and knowledge of the team at Little Avondale over the last 10 years, and now we have become firm friends.
“They(horses) have a habit of multiplying so with Anniestar and Nadiastar going to stud it’s great to be involved with LA, after all they have had 78 years of experience.
“Anniestar has a fabulous Per Incanto(USA) yearling filly, and a stunning Turn Me Loose colt at foot. She is back in foal to Per Incanto(USA). Nadiastar went to stud this season and is also in foal to that stallion.
Harking back to Star Guest her next foal a filly by Darci Brahma was bred in that partnership and sold at Karaka last year for $135,000. A full-brother sold this year for $120,000. Star Guest has a lovely Per Incanto(USA) filly foal at foot and is in foal to Time Test(GB).
Now Chrissie and Pete have another mare in their broodmare band Kincaple Belle (Bertolini[USA]-Omoto Lass), a mare that their younger daughter Nicole encouraged them to buy. Kincaple Belle (Bertolini- Omoto Lass) won two races and is a half-sister to Kincaple Lad who won 13 races including the Stewards Handicap Gr.3 and Listed Southland Stakes, as well as stakes placed performers Kincaple Beau and Kincaple Knight.
Another half-sister Kincaple Lass left Kincaple who won eight races including two at stakes level, and Kincaple Dancer who is actually a three-quarter relation to Kincaple Belle, he is a winner of five races in Macau and was placed in the Listed Welcome Stakes before being sold to Macau. Omoto Lass won four times and was also placed in the Stewards.
Kincaple Belle is the dam of two winners from three foals to race, and this year produced a cracking colt to Proisir (AUS), but is not back in foal.
“Star Guest is such a special mare to us, every foal out of her that has raced has won, but “Jack” would have to be our star boy. From day one he was a stroppy boy,” she recalled.
“I lost count of the exercise balls he demolished in his paddock, he would jump on them, and chase them around the paddock, a real character and time waster to watch.
“It has been a fantastic journey for us so many highs so many lows so many emotions,” said Chrissie, “but the passion has not decreased.”
