Havtime for Group One

For a breeder, there’s nothing like winning a Group One race and that was the thrill Southern breeder Murray Little had at Albion Park on Saturday night when Havtimemajor (Art Major) won the $500,000 Group One Benstud Protostar.

“I stayed up to watch it and I couldn’t get back to sleep until after 1.00am. It’s the highlight of my time racing horses. Even though I don’t own it, it’s just the fact that I bred it and looked after it from when it was a baby,” Little said.

Havtimemajor had two public appearances in New Zealand for Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray, winning a workout before qualifying at Young Quinn Raceway.

“Brett said we’d had an offer and he thought we should sell him and that’s what we did. It’s hard to let them go sometimes because you have them when they’re weaned and you get attached to them. I’ve got a Pebble Beach colt at home out of the mare which I really like, so I’ll probably be holding onto him.” 

Local bloodstock agent Geoff Gibson-Smith did the deal, the two year old was sold to Ross Patrick and entrusted to Chantal Turpin’s stable.

Prior to last Saturday’s Group One win, Havtimemajor had won his Australian debut at Albion Park by 43 metres in a mile rate of 1-55.6.

“He was always a nice little horse but a bit of a handful and a work in progress. That was probably obvious on Saturday when he ran round in the straight. I think he’s going to be something special and to win a race like that at only his second start is unbelievable.”

The juvenile has some good genes to call on too.

His fifth dam Lumber Dream mare Lucy Locket left the classy Lord Lenny (Lordship) and Lookahead (Farm Timer) for Southland breeder Frank O’Meara.

Lookahead won ten races, including the 1988 Southern Supremacy Stakes, while Lord Lenny won eighteen races including the Forbury Park Four and Five Year Old Championship and the Thames Pacing Cup.

“It’s a great old family. Lord Lenny won $300,000 thirty odd years ago. That would be over $1 million these days.”

Little got into the breed when he bought a Mach Three mare, daughter of Time To Say Goodbye from O’Meara, which he named Donthavtime. She was to be the first to carry the Havtime name and won seven races for Wayne Adams.

Little, a retired lawyer, keeps himself busy running his mares and handling young stock on his property close to Oreti Beach.

He’s just finished jogging up two three year old fillies, Havtimewillfly and Miki’s Deal for Brett Gray. He owns Havtimewillfly and both are being  prepared for major spring targets.

 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink