Charity auction leads to live Derby contender

Written by Paul Vettise

Cover image courtesy of Race Images

The generosity of veteran Western Australian breeder and owner Norm Dennis to a worthy cause is being repaid on the track with the emergence of a potential Group 1 classic winner, who races in the almost identical colours of a legend of the turf.

Dennis spent freely at a thoroughbred function a few years ago to raise funds for cancer and outbid all-comers for a prize package to New Zealand Bloodstock’s Yearling Sale and the subsequent outcome of that initial trip is Reggiewood (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained 3-year-old, who carries silks reminiscent of the immortal Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), has won his last two starts to promote him to the fourth line of betting for the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on February 29.

“We’ve had mediocre horses and I think when you own horses you should have your tear ducts taken out straight away so you don’t cry,” said Dennis, who races and breeds with his partner Jane Webbware.

“This one is giving us some thrills and well-managed by Roger and Robert so we’re enjoying the ride.

“It all started at a fund-raiser for Redkite, which raises money for cancer, and the Western Australian breeders and owners put on a function.

“They auctioned off a package to go to Karaka and I was lucky enough to outbid them all. We had such a good time and we went back again and bought a yearling, which was the mother of Reggiewood.

“We’ve been over a few times now my and partner Jane has got a share in Redwood so we’ve had quite an association with Westbury Stud.”

Reggiewood also sports a set of silks that are entrenched in Australasian racing folklore.

“My father didn’t have any racing colours and he was at the races one day and another person decided to relinquish their colours and my father took them up,” Dennis said.

“We’re obviously great believers in Phar Lap and the colours are as close as you can get to his, basically identical. I had a look to see if they were available in New Zealand and, to my joy, no one had them so I put in an application.”

Making broodmare mark

Reggiewood is a son of Femme De Lune (NZ) (Postponed {USA}), who was bought at Karaka for NZ$46,000. She is from the family of the Group winners Serenely Discreet (Exceed And Excel) and Be Discreet (Euclase) and while she didn’t race, she’s now proving her worth in a broodmare role.

“The mare is at Bradbury Park and she’s got a Makfi gelding and also another Redwood. She’s got a foal by Charm Spirit as well and is back in foal again to him,” Dennis said.

“I’m a 1944 drop so I’m getting on a bit. I was a central wheat belt farmer and had good acreage about an hour and a-half out from Perth. I’ve got two boys and one’s an engineer and the other one thought farming was a bit too serious.

“Then I thought we won’t hang around here and we’ll leave while we’re laughing instead of crying over a drought or something else. We moved down south to a place not far from Margaret River where some of the nice wines are.

“I’ve got a small holding where I have the spelling horses and a couple of mares and some cattle, they pay the training fees.

“I haven’t got any in work here at the moment. I’ve got a couple spelling and a mare in the Hunter Valley called Talita.

“I had her in New Zealand and she ran three seconds in Pearl Series races. You used to get out in front and then wait for them to catch up.

“I brought her back to WA and we got a race out of her and now she’s got a colt by Rogano, who’s a brother to Not A Single Doubt.”

From the family of champion stallions Encosta De Lago and Flying Spur, Talita (NZ) (Swiss Ace) lost a foal last year to Extreme Choice and is back in foal to the Newgate stallion.