Exciting start to new investment for Gartshore Brothers

Tauranga brothers Bill and Jim Gartshore have only been in the thoroughbred industry a short time but both admit they love it especially after breeding their first group winner Strike The Stars (NZ) (Savabeel).

The lightly-raced son of Savabeel (Zabeel) recently scored his first win in the Group Three Gloaming Stakes, on the back of a smart second placing to Trusting (Tale of the Cat) in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes at Warwick Farm, a fortnight earlier.

And to add to the celebrations the brothers also have a shareholding in Flying Fulton (Flying Spur) who gave Mark Walker his first group training success in Singapore when he won the Singapore Group Three event, the Chairman’s Prize.

Strike The Stars (NZ) is the first horse bred by Gartshore Bloodstock Limited which the brothers established in 2008. He is the fourth foal of the Last Tycoon (Try My Best) mare Ambitious (NZ) who won two races and was second in the Group One NZ 1000 Guineas. She is a daughter of Starcent (NZ) (Centaine) who was also second in the Group One 1000 Guineas, but did win five races including the Gold Trail Stakes and the Lowland Stakes, both at Group Three level.

The third dam, Star of the Knight (NZ) (Sir Tristram) was also a stakes winner of seven races winning the QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Queensland Guineas. She is also the grandam of the stakes winners Sportsman (Supremo), Prisoner of Love (Canny Lad) and Hoystar (Danzero).

Ambitious (NZ) has also left a stakes placed winner in Royal Ambition (NZ) (Royal Academy) and two other winners Stallion Supreme (NZ) (Pins) and Ambitious Princess (NZ) also by Savabeel.

“It’s all very exciting – it is turning into a wonderful spring, Ambitious is due to foal any day to Pins and will go back to Savabeel and we have a yearling full brother to Strike The Stars to sell at the sales next year,” according to Waikato NZTBA branch member Bill Gartshore.

“It was through Mark Chittick that we got into the racing and breeding industry and we take advice from him on all our matings and mare selections. Our four mares and their progeny are resident at Waikato Stud.”

According to Mark Chittick, Gartshore Bloodstock own some very serious mares. As well as Ambitious they own De Lago Lady (NZ) (Encosta de Lago), and American mares Former Glory (Dynaformer), and Megan’s Tough Love (Rahy).

“De Lago Lady is an unraced half sister to Maroofity, she is due to foal to Fast’N’Famous and will visit Paco Boy this season. She has an O’Reilly filly going to the Premier sales at Karaka

“Former Glory, a race winner in France, is out of the good stakes winning mare in Proud N’Appeal and she is in foal to O’Reilly, as is Megan’s Tough Love who the brothers raced out of Graham Richardson’s stable before sending her to stud for the first time last season. She had previously won two races in the United States before racing down here. I haven’t made a firm decision about the matings for these two mares yet,” he concluded.

The Gartshores, who run a very successful construction company in Tauranga, Gartshore Construction, met the Chitticks through a mutual friend and invited them to join them at the yearling sales.

“We fell in love with the game. After construction it’s a very refreshing industry and we were soon involved in a racing syndicate. We took a share in King’s Ransom and he was lots of fun winning three races including the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes and the Listed Ford Fairview Slipper at Matamata,” Bill said

“The next step was to get into breeding and the Chitticks were great ambassadors for that. They were free with their advice and they have always kept us well informed. They know how to market our horses. Strike The Stars was an A$80,000 yearling at the Sydney Easter Sales, and that will be where his brother is sold as well.

“Now we are in, boots and all, racing, breeding and sponsorship at our local club, it’s so much fun – we love it!”

NZTBA