By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
On the North Canterbury property that she bankrolled former star filly Under Cover Lover turned 30 earlier this week.
“She’s in terrific order,” says Graham Pearson, “there was a time 10 years ago when she didn’t winter very well but ever since then she’s looked great.”
Pearson and Jeremy Tulley bred and raced the multiple Group 1 winner who raced in Australasia and the United States, with 21 wins in 70 starts in the late 1990s – early 2000s.
“She always wanted to race, she was very determined,” recalls Pearson.
“In the early days as a young foal we called her “Wee Racer” because she just tore up and down the place. She was a bit uncontrollable.”
That would later be shortened to her stable name of “Race”.
If Christian Cullen was the poster boy for superstar stallion In The Pocket at the time then Under Cover Lover was the poster girl.
In 1998 as a three-year-old she won 14 from 19 starts both here and in Australia, including victories in the Nevele R 3YO Fillies Series Final, the New Zealand Oaks, the Great Northern Oaks and the NZ Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship.
“In the Great Northern Oaks she was the only one in the photo,” Pearson beams.
Officially her winning margin that day was seven lengths.
Other highlights, according to Pearson, included her win in the then Group 2 NZ Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship.
“Doug Gale had a good horse (Chapel Magic) that was the hot favourite and but she won easily .. that was her first Group win.”
Between 1998 and 2000 she had 20 starts in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, winning six times. She also raced 12 times in the United States in 1999, with three wins and a best time of 1:51.8 and an “unlucky” third in the Breeders Crown.
“We paid $45,000 US to get into the race and in those days you could buy a house in New Zealand for that.”
“We were ahead a slight bit in the end, the third placing was worth 50 something (thousand).”
Since returning from North America Pearson says one of her best runs was her fourth in the 2000 New Zealand Cup won by Yulestar.
“We began best and handed up to Facta Non Verba which had won the Easter Cup the previous season, and it stopped on top of us. We were last at the 600, and got up for fourth.”
Under Cover Lover’s last race was a triumph, a six length win in the 2000 Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park. She then retired to the broodmare paddock, producing 13 foals including two-race winners Exotic Lover and High Valour.
“No-one was anywhere near as good as her but some of those daughters are producing some really nice winners.”
Under The Odds (Bettor’s Delight – Under Cover Lover), for example, produced 2019 Western Australian Derby winner Major Trojan (6 wins), Undrthsouthrnsun who won 13 races and over $300K in the USA, pacing 1:47.8, and also the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Artisan, the winner of nine races.
Exotic Lover meanwhile left 15-race winner Abraxas (Big Abraxas NZ in Australia) and high class Australian filly Match In Heaven (24 wins), while Art Lover produced a very good mare in Classical Art, and the unraced Fortune Lover left Vampiro who had 29 wins.
In 2001 Pearson purchased part of a sheep farm at Waipara in North Canterbury and then completed a Post Grad Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University.
“She basically paid for the vineyard, it wasn’t planted at the time, we had to do the planting but it paid for the land and the house,” says Pearson, “she basically owns the place!”
The 2.2 hectare vineyard, at the entrance to Weka Pass in North Canterbury, is planted with pinot noir and a small amount of riesling. Their wine label is aptly named Mon Cheval (my horse in French).
It’s not a bad place to see out your final years.
“There’s no doubt 30 is a great age,” says Pearson, “and hopefully she’ll last a bit longer.”
“We are like best mates.”
