The Southern connection to tonight’s WA Derby

Trailblazing southern pacers Im Themightyquinn ($4.5 million) and Chicago Bull ($2.4 million) were part of the Western Australian harness racing landscape in the 2000s, both carving out stellar careers.

And tonight there’ll be plenty of southern interest in the $200,000 West Australian Derby at Gloucester Park with six of the twelve starters having a strong southern connection.

Early favourite ($2.25) Im Stealthy (Downbytheseaside) was bred by Macca Lodge in Northern Southland. He was named Stealth in New Zealand and qualified for Winton trainer Lauren Pearson before he was sold to clients of Gary Hall snr. He’s won seven of his eight starts this season and will be handled by Gary Hall jnr who has won six WA Derbies.

Second favourite ($3.60) Havtimeformiki (Always B Miki) was bred in the south by Murray Little of Havtime Breeding. He is out of his five win Betterthancheddar mare Betterthanbrie and had six starts in Southland for trainer Kirk Larsen, winning once. He’s now trained by Greg and Skye Bond.

D Mac (Downbytheseaside) was bred by the Morris family and was trained by Brad Morris. He had just the one start in New Zealand running second in a two year old race at Winton. He was then sold to the Gary Hall snr stable where he won his first two starts including the $150,000 Group One Golden Slipper.

Skinny Dippin (Downbytheseaside) was bred by Cantabrians Robert Anderson and Mike Stevens but was developed in Southand by trainer Kirstin Green. She had eight starts in the province and in her last start here ran third in the Group Two Southern Oaks. She too is now trained by the Bonds.

Manuka Bay (Downbytheseaside) was bred by Sean and Emmet Daly and qualified by Shaun’s wife Kirstin Green-Daly. She left NZ unraced and since being in Western Australia has won six of her thirteen starts including her last three. Trained by Greg and Skye Bond she’ll be driven by former Southland reinsman Tom Nally.

It’ll be Nally’s fifth start in a Group One feature. The twenty four year old has won forty one races since being in Australia.

Rounding out the southern connections is Proposition Joe (Always B Miki) who was bought by Southland trainer Brett Gray for $24,000 at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearlings Sale in Christchurch. He won both of his races as a two year old before being shipped to Australia. Under Greg and Skye Bond, he’s won three races in WA.

Southern horses have a good record in the WA Derby.

Richard Henry developed by Winton trainer Ken Dixon won it in 2005, I’m Victorious bred by Keith Norman in 2012, Beaudiene Boaz bred by Dave Kennedy in 2015 and Chicago Bull bred by Roger, Helen, John and Katrina Price won the race in 2016.

Also of note is the track record for the 2536 metres of 1-54.0 (mile rate) is held by another SBSR gelding Himself (Sportswriter). The record was created when he won the 2022 Group One Golden Nugget. He was bred by Southerners Mark and Debbie Smith and was sold for $30,000 to Bob Butt who won three races with him.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink