It was an exciting night for Faithful Park Stud principal Melissa Maine on Saturday night as she watched six of her former charges go round in The $80,000 Beautide at Hobart – including the winner Fighter Command and third placegetter Barbary Tales.
Fighter Command broke his own track record in the runaway win and earned a ticket into the $2 million The Eureka at Menangle next month, representing TasRacing.
The other Beautide runners born at Faithful Park were Vincenzo, Cuzzy Bro, Chenin Beach and Swiatek Leis.
Maine, who started the breeding and foal down centre in 2017 with partner Gareth Rattray, said it was fulfilling to see horses they had nurtured go on to successful race careers.
“We are very proud to say six of the 10 Beautide runners were born with us at Faithful Park,” she said.
“Also, we have been a part of the journey of five runners in the colts and geldings Sweepstakes final (on the same night).
“Gareth and I started the stud in 2017. He works full time now but gives me a hand when he can. We are based at Latrobe (just out of Devonport in North West Tasmania).
“We got Fighter Command’s dam Spitfire Rose in foal for her first four foals and we foaled the first three here before she was sent back to the mainland.
“He was a really big foal, probably the biggest foal we have ever had born here at Faithful Park. A very big boy.”
Maine is a third generation harness participant and holds a trainer’s licence. Rattray has driven more than 1500 winners and $11 million in stakes.
The stud foals down up to 45 mares per year and the business continues to grow.
“Harness racing runs in the family. My dad Tim was a trainer and driver as was his dad,” Maine said.
“Our main business is foaling down and reproduction services.
“Most of our clients run their own mares and just send them to us a few weeks before foaling, then once foaled we usually get them back in foal (through artificial insemination) before they go home again.
“We do run a few mares and foals for clients permanently but don’t have enough acreage to run too many.
“I usually only breed two or three of my own horses each year and sell them through the yearling sale.
“Herakles, Vinni the Gangster, Lunchtime Lass, Always Bettor, I Of The Hurricane, Shemeansbusiness and Sweet as Lou are some of the better ones I have bred.”
From APG Media
