Aquis Farm’s Officiating Syndicate purchased Canny Lassie (Canny Lad) online “very cheaply” to go to first season sire Officiating (USA), and she’s produced an outstanding colt for the farm.
Back to where she began
Canny Lassie was an ordinary race mare, managing a sixth placing at Bunbury as her best result in six starts. After five live foals, led by 2023 Listed Boulder Cup winner Villeins (Domesday), she was put through an Inglis Digital sale in August 2024 where the Officiating Syndicate purchased her for $700.
“We purchased her online for the Officiating syndicate as a dry mare. She was very cheap,” said Jonathan Davies. She had missed to Supido that season.
Villeins | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
But the purchase wasn’t a complete stab in the dark on a mare with nothing to show for herself. She’d already produced a stakes winner in Western Australia. Villeins recently attempted to defend his Listed Boulder Cup win only last week but ran mid-field this time around.
“She used to reside here for clients, and she was a bit of a farm favourite. So when the owner alerted us to the fact that she was on Inglis Digital, we thought she’d suit Officiating in his first season.
“She’s certainly improved since the purchase and now is the dam of two stakes horses.”
Time changes everything
Canny Lassie’s breeding record has improved markedly since August 2024. Last season, her 3-year-old colt Too Soon (Charge Forward) won three in succession including the 2025 Listed Lex Piper Stakes in Western Australia. Now a 4-year-old, he is yet to be seen this season.
Simply | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Simply (Domesday) also won three in succession in the spring after Canny Lassie went through the online sale, and the now 5-year-old gelding has five wins and earnings over $290,000.
She has a 2-year-old colt by Xtravagant (NZ) still to come.
Canny Lassie | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Officiating colt impresses
“She’s produced arguably the best foal on the farm for the season so far. There’s a couple of other very good ones by Officiating,” said Davies.
“He’s got good size, strength and bone with plenty of depth. He has a magnificent action and a lovely head.”
“He’s (Officiating x Canny Lassie colt) got good size, strength and bone with plenty of depth. He has a magnificent action and a lovely head.” - Jonathan Davies
Officiating (USA) is a son of Blame (USA) who won three Grade 3 races over 1200 metres, 1400 metres and 1800 metres.
“We could not be happier. He’s really stamping his stock, putting good bone and muscle tone into them. They all have really good minds which is important. And he’s been particularly good for maiden mares. His foals have been some of the best maiden foals we’ve ever had on the farm. He’s definitely upgrading his mares.
“Last year he covered 111 mares, and he’s on target to cover a bigger book this year off the strength of his foals.”
Officiating x Canny Lassie colt | Image supplied
Canny Lassie’s pedigree shines through
She might not have been much as a racemare, but now with two stakes winning progeny, Canny Lassie is doing it at stud.
She has pedigree strength behind her to overcome her own lack of ability, being by Canny Lad who has 43 stakes winners as a broodmare sire.
Her own dam, Danish Victory (Vettori {Ire}) was unraced but produced stakes placed See A Victory (Mister C {USA}). See A Victory had only one foal before she died the following season carrying a cover to Street Boss (USA).
Canny Lassie | Image courtesy of Inglis
That one foal was G1 Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom (Doomsday), which is likely the decision behind sending Canny Lassie to Doomsday, where she produced Villeins.
Daysee Doom’s first foal is city winner Farneux (Exceed And Excel) and her current 3-year-old Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is unbeaten in two starts this season.
This is the family of Group 1 winner and sire Kermadec (NZ), as well as group winners Triple Elegance (Mossman), Moss Trip (Mossman), and Shoreham (Reset).
