Back to Work

Not many mares are put back in work after having a foal and fewer still would return to win a race, but that is the scenario that unfolded at Cranbourne last Friday night.

Prepared by Andrew Sawden, four year-old Clangalang mare Alma Yulanda broke her maiden to lead throughout and win over 1000 metres by three-quarters of a length at her sixth start.

Fifth in the race, beaten two lengths was her stable mate Gay Skier and amazingly both four year-old mares were returning to the track having produced foals in 2013.

Not surprisingly, the matings were unplanned with Alma Yulanda and Gay Skier both tampered with by an enterprising Racer's Edge colt called Vee Eight Sixty, who stole into their paddock one night and managed to get both young fillies in foal.

He has subsequently been gelded, while the mares both produced healthy foals that are now two year-olds Catchmeacab (2g Vee Eight Sixty x Alma Yulanda) and A Winter's Dream (2f Vee Eight Sixty x Gay Skier).

It's not the traditional way to breed a racehorse, but if either two year-old win a race one day it will certainly make for another good story!

Click here to read Pat Bartley's story on this remarkable mum for Sydney Morning Herald.