Photo - Race Images
This week in Dunstan Horse Feeds’ Meet the Breeder, we spoke with South Island breeder and trainer Karen Parsons, who bred Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes winner Miss Starlight.
Tell us the story of Miss Starlight?
Miss Starlight is out of Firelight. Firelight used to belong to Mark Todd, he won a maiden race with her at Kurow. Then he gave her to us to train, eventually we ended up buying her. We raced her before making the decision to breed from her.
Miss Starlight was always sensible right from day one. We had seven young ones we were starting that year and she was the last of them to come in, she's just been no trouble, she's picked everything up really easily and has been a pleasure.
How did you get into thoroughbred breeding?
I have always had a passion for breeding horses.
How many mares do you breed from?
Currently we have eight mares, we breed them every second year so we try to have four in foal each year.
What else do you have in your bloodstock portfolio? (foals, racehorses, stallion shares etc)
We have a share in Sweynese, we have the foals that we breed, yearlings, weanlings and the race horses.
Do you breed to race or breed to sell? If sell, how do you decide on what to retain and what to sell?
We breed to race.
Do you seek advice on your breeding decisions?
I consult Phillip Jeffreys and we work it out.
Best breeding advice you have received?
It just depends on the horse and you have to make individual decisions, there is not just one piece of advice.
What do you love about the thoroughbred breeding industry?
It is a lot of hard work but there is a lot of satisfaction seeing the successes.
What advice would you give someone entering the industry as a breeder?
Make sure that you do your homework, good matches and good nutrition are very important.
Proudest moment as a breeder so far?
Miss Starlight winning the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes was definitely a highlight but really the proudest I have been was with Final Touch she really was an amazing horse.
Finish this sentence: The best part of being a thoroughbred breeder....is breeding good horses who are successful.
