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Dunstan Horsefeeds Meet the Breeder, caught up with Dame Wendy Pye who alongside her husband Don, have been involved in the breeding industry for over 35 years. They have had some fantastic success, including the 2002 Gr.1 Wellington Cup with Cyclades. Their most recent stakes-success came via Lollapalooza in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Tell us the story of Lollapalooza?
A great name ... meaning 'Celebration' but, we cannot claim all the credit for naming as this was done through Graham Richardson - the trainer, and other syndicate members.
Her breeding - Carnival/El Roca. She was bred from our Showcasing/Sinalot family, our original family that you can trace back to Loral, one of our foundation mares who was related to the great Australian sprinter Maybe Mahal. Then, when you look at the stallion, El Roca, he is from a good sprint family with connections we like, to Todman and also Pakistan. We like to look back on the breeding of all the stallions and how they match up with what we are trying to breed. Not always going for the most fashionable at the time, but they also have to match our budget.
What motivated you to get into thoroughbred breeding?
Don grew up around horses and has always enjoyed going to the races. I became involved once we were married. Don traces his background from the Roberts family in Pakuranga, Auckland. They had a horse called Molly Hawke, the only horse I understand, to have run in four races on the same day at Ellerslie and won. (Dame Wendy advises that this is a family tale passed down over generations so does not want to be quoted on this!)
Tell us about some of the success you have had over the years?
We have now been breeding, racing and selling our horses for over 35 years, but as we all know, success is the hope of every new season.
We have had a great deal of success - winning the Gr.1 Wellington Cup with Cyclades and many other group races, large jumping races in Australia and winning in Melbourne. We have also just been beaten by a nose at some major events. But, there is still the thrill of looking at a new foal for the first time and dreaming of what he or she can do, and enjoying the company of other racing people, as you encourage your horse to win.
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How many mares do you breed from?
We currently have 20 mares, but these rotate, and sometimes we have a few more, or retire some. We normally breed from around 11 mares each year. It is a business, working with Haunui Stud and other farms for agistment.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio? (foals, racehorses, stallion shares etc)
It consists of all levels - mares, foals, yearlings and racing horses with several stables. We have sprinters with some stables, stayers with others and other individual horses with smaller stables. Mostly we race most of our horse either as our partnership - Don and Wendy - and some with a few friends, and some Hong Kong people who work with us. We do have a couple of partnerships - small ownership deals - such as we currently have with Lollapalooza, mostly with horses we have bred.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
As our breeding partnership is run as a business, our policy is to usually sell the colts and keep the fillies. But we do sell the fillies from time to time. With some, like the upcoming filly that we have bred from APPELLANT/PROISIR, she will race and be part of our long-term breeding stock. (APPELLANT placed in the Magic Millions, and other races).
We do try to sell at the sales, but have had more luck selling horses from trials. For example, PRESTIGE HALL, a wonderful horse that we bred is running in Hong Kong. It had brilliant form in New Zealand and we received a top price. We also have the full brother to this horse coming into training soon. Both look like outstanding horses - only time will tell.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
Don uses many skills for this - the records, computer programmes matching the mares, his long-time understanding of breeds and new stallions that are coming to New Zealand. He then brings all this together and discusses with Mark Chitty who is a great help as we are a client of Haunui who market our horses at the sales.
We do a lot of overseas travel. A group of us go around the world to focus on studs and visit race meetings to see the new stock coming through. We have travelled extensively visiting studs and races for many years, and have visited all the major studs in America, Ireland, UK, France and Australia.
The great benefit of the breeding world is that it is welcoming worldwide with a common discussion. We live in a global village that never stops and a new champion is always appearing, and not necessarily from the same place. If that was the case, there would not be smaller breeders and owners like Don and myself in this game.
Best breeding advice you have received?
Never believe people when they tell you that a small horse is no good and will never win. We have had many winners from small horses. Just look at the track record and wins by АТОМ САT - a horse we bred with huge success.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
The challenge of the hunt - anyone can buy a horse with money and win, but not everybody can breed a horse and win. That is a special moment and also the moment that you feel that tomorrow may be the winning day.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
The best advice is to begin with the best filly or mare you can afford and build from there. Also listen to trainers - good trainers. Why they win is that they have a good eye for horses and a lot of knowledge.
Proudest moment as a breeder?
Winning the Wellington Cup and knowing that I would then have a runner in the Melbourne Cup, as being an Australian that was my dream. Will it happen again? Only time will tell. We do have some good SHOCKING horses coming along - now that is hope.
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder is…The relationships you build around the world with people who all love the horse and the positive feeling of being a winner. You never see anyone in the pre-race group negative about their horse - they all dream that they are a winner. That is good for everyone. Also, tomorrow is another day -I know there will be a winner again sometime - hope this season is our best ever.
