Two great NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes winners

Tonight at Addington the $100,000 Group One Fahy Fence Hire New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes will be run for the 53rd time.

Some great mares have won this race in the past, but two stand out in the race’s history :– Blossom Lady and Bonnies Chance.

These two are the only mares to have won the race three times – Blossom Lady in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and Bonnies Chance in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

The 1983 edition was billed as a grudge match between Bonnies Chance and another great mare, Armalight. In the early race for positions, Bonnies Chance had too much gas and was able to leave Armalight parked.

As Armalight moved closer to challenge in the back straight, driver Richard Brosnan let Bonnies Chance roll. She peeled off a 27.9 quarter and left Armalight and the rest of the field flat footed. There was no let up after that, with Bonnies Chance running her last quarter in 28.4 to win by four lengths from a game Armalight. The time of 1-57.7 for the mile was a new race record.

In 1991 Blossom Lady won what would be the last Breeders Stakes run over a mile and in doing so she broke the race record, running it in 1-56.0.

The win was to be the first for the great mare, her trainer Derek Jones and driver Anthony Butt.

The race record of both Blossom Lady and Bonnie’s Chance put them in the top echelon of mares to race in this country.

Blossom Lady 155-42-20-18 $1,334,808 and Bonnie’s Chance 75-32-11-5 $355,000.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink