A worthwhile hobby

The pacer Delightful Jay became the fifth winner bred by Brian Anderton from Jay's Glen when she was successful at Forbury Park last Thursday (9/3/2017). Breeding standardbreds is a hobby for Anderton who operates the White Robe Lodge thoroughbred breeding and training establishment. Delightful Jay, a 4yr-old mare by Bettor's Delight was having her second start when she overcame a second line draw in the hands of leading reinsman Dexter Dunn. Anderton races her with the estate of Bryan Kennedy, the co-breeder. She is trained by Graeme Anderson at Westwood. Delightful Jay is in foal to Washington VC from a mating on December 16. She is permitted to race through until the middle of April in her present campaign.

"I will put her back in work after the foal is weaned,'' said Anderton.

Jay's Glen (by Roydon Glen), a winner at Addington when trained by Denis Nyhan, is also the dam of  winners New Years Jay, Courageous Jay, Apache Jay and Bronze Jay. New Years Jay (by Washington VC) won eight races for Anderton and the Kennedy estate and took a mile record of 1.54.6. She was trained for seven of those wins by Amber Hoffman and Jonny Cox and the other by Barry Purdon at her last start at Alexandra Park in July. She was served by Bettor's Delight in the spring but did not conceive. Courageous Jay (by Courage Under Fire) won seven, including four in Australia; Apache Jay  (by Live Or Die) won five, two in Australia) and Bronze Jay (by the same sire) won three. Bronze Jay won the title for the best ridden standardbred at the 2016 Horse of the Year show in Hastings when presented by Chanelle Dickie.

Tommyra (Raise The Flag - Hippo Priscilla) won a rating 75 1600m at Ellerslie on 8/3/2017 at his second start since joining the Waiuku stable of Moira and Kieran Murdoch. Tommyra won at Oamaru, Ashburton and Riccarton when trained at Ashburton by Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy.