Long association for human and thoroughbred families

Mrs Gee Eye, winner of two of her seven starts, is extending a 85 year association with her thoroughbred family for the Whites, of Omakau. The White family have a long association with White Robe Lodge. Mrs Gee Eye, a  5yr-old daughter of WRL sire Gallant Guru and Satin Finish, is co-trained by Nikki White (Omakau)  with Lee Callaway (Rangiora). Nikki White and her husband, Michael bred Mrs Gee Eye, who is the last of 11 foals out of Satin Finish and foaled when her dam was 21 years old.  Michael and Nikki race Mrs Gee Eye with Michael's mother, Gwenyth (Mrs G I White) and Michael's brother, Nicholas.

"Michael never had one of the breed and I offered him Satin Finish to get back in to it,'' recalled Brian Anderton, principal of WRL.

Satin Finish (Palatable - All Style) was bred by Brian and Lorraine and won three races when trained out of WRL on lease to Murray Acklin, Theo Ditfort and Reg Hall. The third foal of Satin Finish was Buddy Budweiser, a winner on the flat, over hurdles and  a steeplechase. Mrs Gee Eye is one of four foals Michael and Nikki bred from Satin Finish. The mare traces to  Nanette (Paladin -Samares), whom Con White began breeding from in 1933.The family has produced Be Noble (winner of the South African Derby and group one Champion Futurity Stakes), Brown Satin, Trelay, Maxam and Maxamore. Be Noble was out of Brown Satin, winner of the 1972 NZ Oaks, the last run at Riccarton. Trelay won 22 races  and twice finished second in the New Zealand Cup. Brown Satin and Trelay were raced by Michael's late father, Graham with his uncle, Johnny. Graham's brother, Con was also in the ownership of Brown Satin.  Both horses were trained by Hector Anderton sen. Michael's granddfather, Neil and Johnny bred Trelay who sired Koiro Trelay (NZ and Wellington Cups), Lord Venture (NZ Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase) and Derrydonnell (Australian Grand National Steeple) when based at WRL on lease from the Whites. Trelay and Brown Satin were by champion WRL sire Mellay. Brown Satin also left Top Satin, a sister to Be Noble, both being by champion WRL sire Noble Bijou. Top Satin produced All Style (by Cautious Style), the grand-dam of Mrs Gee Eye. Satin Blush (Tawfiq - Top Satin) left Maxam (Hawke's Bay Cup) and Maxamore (Matamata Breeders' Stakes). Noble Bijou was the leading NZ sire in the 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1992-93 seasons. He was champion sire for Australia and NZ on combined stake earnings in 1981-82. He was leading NZ broodmare sire 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997-98. Brian and Lorraine Anderton, Hector Anderton sen and the Whites imported Mellay and Noble Bijou from England in 1965 and 1975 respectively.