Every month Harness Racing New Zealand selects an Owner and Breeder of the Month. It is an entirely random selection though their horse must have won a race during the month.
In December 2024 the Breeder of the Month was Anthony Smith after Fredastaire’s win at Manawatu on December 12 and Stonewall Stud syndicate member David Whitburn was Owner of the Month after Caught the Eye’s victory at Ashburton on December 22.
In January 2025 the two winners were Phil Sherley (Breeder of the Month) for Eagle Hanover’s win at Kapiti on January 6 and Derek Newton was Owner of the Month after Tokyo Rose’s win at Marlborough on January 17.
Coincidentally both Eagle Hanover and Fredastaire were driven by Jay Abernethy, with Fredastaire’s win also being career training success number 50 for Blenheim trainer and co-owner Allan Shutkowski (pictured above).
And it’s at Waterlea Racecourse at Blenheim where Fredastaire’s breeder and co-owner, 85-year-old Anthony Smith has spent a lot of his time.
The horse’s name came from his late wife Freda. Since he was a colt the “Astaire” was added.
“It’s incredibly rewarding. Fredastaire winning feels like the culmination of years of effort, starting from breeding to training.”
Fredastaire has now won two from 22. His dam Brucelle is also special to Smith as she was named in memory of his late son Bruce.
“Fredastaire is the first foal out of Brucelle, who I also bred and raced,” says Smith, “all the horses I have bred have come from my own horses. There are three more foals from Brucelle coming up, so it’s exciting times!”
He has lost count of the horses he’d bred over the years.
“But some standouts include Petali. He was my first horse in 1976 and raced in New Zealand before I sold him to the States.”
January’s Owner of the Month Derek Newton acquired Tokyo Rose from the yearling sales. She sold for $22,500 and has so far won six from 33 for trainer Mark Jones and earned more than $80,000 in stakes.
Among those who also race her is Newton’s bridge playing mate John McDonald.
“I have bred and raced over 20 individual winners,” says Newton, who races horses under the entity Tancred Holdings.
“It’s hard to pick a favourite but Ruby Tues Bay’s first and only win at Nelson (2019), trained and driven by Chris McDowell, was right up there.”
He also bred Hushed World who won two from four in this country in 1994, going on to win 20 from 98 in Australia from 1994-2000.
Congratulations to all our winners and your plaques are on their way.
