It would seem that the stars were aligned for Alphastar (Battle Paint[USA]-Sanstar) to win an NZ Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series race.
At Avondale recently on debut, the three-year-old filly trained by Wayne Hillis at Matamata got up in the last few strides to win the 1200 metre maiden series race, much to the delight of her owner Paul Gollan who picked up an extra $10,000 in Stake money, plus the nominators bonus of $500. Hillis also picked up a $1,000 bonus as her trainer.
“It was very satisfying, the way the weather has been, we have paid up for a few races, but haven’t got a good track so we haven’t run, but Wayne said she’s nominated for the Pearl Series let’s have a go and finally Avondale was the day,” said Gollan a member of the Waikato Branch of the NZTBA.
“Unless you can win a Pearl Series bonus you can’t really afford to race a filly on your own.”
Gollan had already nominated an older sister to Alphastar for the NZTBA managed NZ Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series when he attended the function at the annual Breeders’ Stakes day at Te Aroha a couple of years ago.
“I drew a horse in one of the sweepstakes that the Waikato NZTBA run during the day and won a nomination to the Pearl Series. I had already nominated a filly that year, so I decided to keep the nomination for the following year and I nominated this filly.”
Alphastar is the third foal from Sanstar an unraced daughter of San Luis(AUS) and Chondrule and unraced daughter of Danzalion(USA) and Gem’s Lady.
“This mare has been in my family for a while. It’s a line that goes back to Avon Star. She has slightly curved hocks so I thought if I was going to mate her I wanted a good looking individual. I sent her to Zed and she left Tweedledee, who also won his first start. He now spends his life as a stallion serving Clydesdale mares.
“I was looking around for another stallion, and on the various stud trips around the place I looked at Battle Paint and thought what a lovely horse he was. I talked to the Campin boys and they looked after me well, and now I am expecting my fourth foal by Battle Paint(USA). They have been wonderful.”
“The first Battle Paint(USA), the older sister, won a trial and was sold to Singapore but unfortunately she had an accident up there, and the third foal, the two-year-old colt is about to be broken in. The next foal is due in about 10 days or so, I’ve got some land here in Matamata where I live and she’s in the paddock waiting to foal, but I think it will be too late for this year and she will miss.
“Next year I will have to talk nicely to the Campin boys to go back to Battle Paint(USA) again, when you get such lovely foals it’s hard to resist going back”.
“The horses from Avon Star’s line have had temperament issues in the past, but not so the foals by Battle Paint(USA) so he has helped to improve that side of the family.
“Avon Star was bought from the Denby Lodge dispersal sale in the early 80’s by my Dad Toby and was owned by him, my Mum Coral and brother Doug. Her third foal was Star Harvest (Harrisand) who won eight races including the Auckland Cup for my parents, Doug and Mum’s foster brother Ernie Morgan.
“Avon Star had two fillies one of which the Gollan’s bred on from being the Balak(GB) mare Gem Harvest and she in turn is the fourth dam of Alpha Star”.
“Mum, Dad and Ernie are long gone now, but Doug and I have kept on breeding from the family. I love horses as animals and just love seeing them run around the front paddock. One thing is for sure,” Gollan concluded, “is if this next foal is a filly I think I will nominate her for the NZ Bloodstock Pearl Series.” - Michelle Saba
