Photo: Ross Holburt, Racing Photos
Promising Per Incanto 3-year-old filly Mrs Chrissie has transferred to Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher for her future racing following two gallant runs at Caulfield this month.
After nearly 4 months between races, at her second start Mrs Chrissie ran a fresh up 4th at Caufield on 9 July in the Neds Bet Live 3yold fillies Handicap over 1100m.
Back on 11th March, when on debut for Mornington trainer Paul Rocke, Mrs Chrissie put on an emphatic display of speed at Cranbourne, winning on a good track over 1000m easing down by 4½ lengths in the fastest sectionals of the meeting, and only .82 seconds outside the track record at her maiden start.
Mrs Chrissie was bred and originally syndicated by Canterbury Park Farm proprietors Chris Doak and Rosie Ealden, who remain in her ownership, and who bred her dam Turf Fire after purchasing the Straight Strike mare Threestrikes Out at the 1999 Karaka May broodmare sale for $2250.
Back in the 90’s Doak worked as stable Forman for Dave and Jan Kerr at Riccarton. “Years ago, when I attended the South Island sale the top lots were either by Straight Strike or Centaine, so when we initially purchased a farm in the Waikato the first mare we purchased was Threestrikes Out from the Eulogy family, and a Full on Aces mare from Alynda’s family who was sent to Centaine, producing useful galloper Better Boy.
“At the time O’Reilly was a phenomenal three-year-old, winning sprint races at group one level against the older horses. We had booked our big Full on Aces mare to him but when I saw the weanlings O’Reilly was producing, we sent Threestrikes Out instead, as she was a more compact mare with a speed oriented pedigree.”
Threestrikes Out was bred to O’Reilly five times, producing two good gallopers in Brave Striker (HK Strike to Win) and Mrs Chrissie’s dam Turf Fire, who won 9 races and was group placed in the Stewards Handicap at Riccarton.
South Island performed mare Turf Fire has enjoyed success as a broodmare having left winners in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore and Malaysia. Turf Fire’s first foal was open class galloper Don Carlo (Per Incanto) who was unbeaten as a two-year-old beating a field of seventeen at his first start at Riccarton including future group one winner La Diosa. Don Carlo retired an 8-time winner and stakes placed performer (1000m Pegasus Stakes) with wins over dominant South Island sprinter and dual Group One winner Enzo’s Lad. Acrobat (Pins) has won three so far in Singapore and Malaysia and Glinda Goodwitch, also by Per Incanto, raced in the Group one Sires produce Stakes as a two-year-old before early retirement.
Doak said that the Riccarton is a good proving ground for quality sprinters and maintains mares that preform to stakes or open class level at Riccarton can leave quality gallopers.
“This is a fast family. Turf Fire raced during Coup Align’s dominant sprinting years and she picked up valuable back type placing’s behind him during cup week. Don Carlo went 1.07.98 over 1200m and Turf Fire herself went 1.08 when competing at Riccarton and I believe those Riccarton performances stack up,” Doak said.
Mrs Chrissie is now adding to the Eulogy family’s reputation and will likely be aimed at races in Melbourne in the Spring. “I think she is the best filly we have bred to date from Turf Fire and given Per Incanto is now proven within the sprinting ranks in Australia we are looking forward to racing on better tracks with her. “
“Mrs Chrissie’s yearling full sister has also recently been sold to Ciaron Maher and we have retained a racing interest in her as well,” Doak said.
Turf Fire is to be served again by Per Incanto for a fifth time this year.
“Once you find a stallion that works with your family you stick with it and then breed on from the best performed mares that the cross produces, that way you can improve your breed. We are now into the 4th generation of this family and while it takes time to develop it is also very satisfying when you are on-course to see the family you have nurtured do well”, Doak said.
