Eight from eight: Another chapter in a remarkable story

Shepparton harness racing trainer-driver and breeder Charlene Gusman freely admits she never set out to become a serious breeder. But one mare changed everything.

Bonnie broodmare She’s Norma Jeane (Art Major) produced a remarkable recent double at Kilmore when her latest winner, three-year-old Rom Baro (Sweet Lou), and six-year-old mare Clives Girl (Bettors Delight) scored impressive victories.

Rom Baro opened the family’s winning account for the night with an effortless 11-metre victory for reinsman Liam Older in the Tellurian Wines Pace 3YO Maiden, before Clives Girl, driven by Nick Beale, added to the celebration in the MC Labour Concession Drivers Pace.

The result was another chapter in the story of She’s Norma Jeane, whose eighth foal to race became her eighth individual winner, maintaining a perfect strike rate that would be the envy of many of the industry’s biggest breeding operations.

The winning sequence began with All My Savings (5 wins) and has continued through She’s Always Dreaming (6), Lola Montez (6), He’s Charlies Angel (12), Clives Girl (6), Our Roku (2), I’m Hank (1) and now Rom Baro (1).

For Gusman, it all started when she purchased the lightly-raced filly from Goulburn Valley horseman Daniel Jack.

“I had some clients looking for a horse at the time, and she seemed like a nice type. She’d won a heat of the APG and had run second in the South Australian Oaks,” Gusman said.

“We won a couple with her, but she had an injury and ended up breaking down.  The other owner didn’t want to breed from her, but I did, even though I’d never really been into breeding before.”

It proved to be one of the best decisions of her harness racing life.

“I think I’d had one foal previously out of a random broodmare. But Shes Norma Jeane got me into it and she’s been the mare that I’ve bred every year. It’s turned out pretty well.”

In fact, the family continues to grow.

Gusman currently has five of the siblings in work, as well as a grandson, while three more grandsons are coming through the ranks, including a pair of two-year-olds and a promising four-year-old being prepared for a return.

The dynasty is set to continue with a big two-year-old colt by Lather Up already in work and a neat little yearling filly by Bettors Wish waiting in the wings.

“They all have a tendency to be a bit naughty and a bit pushy, and that seems to stay with them as older horses, unfortunately,” she said.

“They don’t really like being told what to do!”

Among them all, however, one horse holds a special place in her heart.

“He’s Charlies Angel is my number one and always will be. There are some people who think he’s a bit spoilt, but I just absolutely love him,” Gusman said.

“The amount of Group 1, 2 and 3 races he took me to in Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria, I don’t think I’ll ever have another one like him.

“He was tiny as a two-year-old. He has the kindest eyes. He picks me up when I’m down – he just knows.”

After enjoying a well-earned break from the breeding barn last season, She’s Norma Jeane, known around the barn as “Ruby” will return to stud this year, although Gusman is yet to decide on a stallion.

“She had a break because I had to play catch-up. I had too many horses and she’d foaled quite a few in a row, so she needed the break,” she said.

“She’s just been amazing. I know I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now without that mare.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink