Deep dive into the pedigree of the marvel Bulletproof Boy

Some call him the “old marvel”, others the “giant killer” — but whatever the label, South Australian bred Bulletproof Boy continues to defy time.

Now 11 years of age, with 227 starts, 52 victories and stakes earnings approaching $1 million, the iron horse shows no sign of slowing down. With a Golden Ticket secured for this year’s Miracle Mile, it’s the perfect time to take a closer look at the pedigree behind Australia’s “Pin Boy”.

Bulletproof Boy is by Art Official from My Riviera Girl NZ (by Red River Hanover), from Dance Trix (by Holmes Hanover), tracing back to the noted New Zealand foundation mare Little Alma (foaled 1905).

Bred in South Australia by Charles Okmasich, Margaret Smith and Jeff Radomi, Bulletproof Boy hails from one of the final crops of Art Official — a dual world record holder and stakes winner by Art Major who shuttled between North America and New Zealand. Art Official, who took a record of 1:47 at three, won 18 races and 23 placings from 54 starts earning $2,082,085. He is out of the Falcon Seelster mare Naughty Shady Lady and his dam belongs to the immediate family of thrice USA Pacing Mare of the Year Shady Daisy ($1.8m) and the Little Brown Jug winner Shady Character ($1.2m).

In the breeding barn, Art Official left his mark on both sides of the globe. In Australia and New Zealand, before Bulletproof Boy, his best included top NSW pacer Salty Robyn along with Spike Bromac and Simba Bromac, while in North America he sired outstanding juveniles Let’s Drink On It and Cinamony.

Bulletproof Boy’s dam, My Riviera Girl NZ, was herself a talented racemare, winning 18 races including the SA Heroine and earning $55,322 in stakes. She was well above average on the track and Bulletproof Boy is her second foal.

The next dam, Dance Trix (2:01.3), was a lightly raced Auckland winner but proved a highly effective broodmare. From five foals she left four winners and a qualifier, with three breaking the 2:00 barrier. In addition to My Riviera Girl, she produced NSW provincial winners The Matrix (1:55.8, 11 wins), Usher (1:59.3, 14 wins) and Freestyler (2:00.7, 6 wins).

Dance Trix was a sister to the glamour New Zealand filly Dancingonmoonlight (1:53.2), winner of 19 races including the Breeders Crown, NSW Oaks and Victoria Ladyship Cup, amassing $375,674 in stakes. Dancingonmoonlight went on to produce Free-For-All winner Moonrock (1:52.3, $220,422) and Breeders Crown champion Miss Moonlite (1:54.7, $184,249), who in turn left the 2018 Queensland Derby winner Master Moonlite.

Another half-sister to Dance Trix, Just Moonstrike, was bred from successfully in South Australia by Angela Cavallaro and Mitchell Langdon. She left five winners headed by the prolific Globe Derby Park winner Diligent Moon — later the dam of Manonthemoon (1:58.5) — along with Victorian provincial winner Arr En Special (1:55.8, $72,467).

From deep colonial roots through to modern-day elite performance, Bulletproof Boy’s pedigree is steeped in durability, class and proven production — qualities he continues to showcase every time he steps onto the track.

by Gary Newton for Harnesslink