3 minute read

Novice Queensland breeders Mike and Patty Crooks have found the key to quick success at black type level has been the mating of their mares to the array of talented Australian racehorses standing at Glenlogan Park Stud.

The Crooks own Mishani Farm near Beaudesert and two stakes winners they bred and race under Mishani Enterprises Pty Ltd out of the Leon Ross stables at Eagle Farm are by sires standing at nearby Glenlogtan Park.

They are Mishani Warrior, a 6YO-year-old by five times champion Queensland sire Show A Heart, and the Jet Spur juvenile Mishani Honcho.

Mishani Warrior has raced 32 times for 10 wins up to 1600m, including seven in Brisbane but the best of their home bred horses for the Crooks could be Mishani Honcho, a galloper who is challenging as the best Queensland juvenile seen so far this season.

He made it four wins from six starts last Saturday when he charged home to record a dominant win in class record time in the rich Racing Minister’s Classic at the Sunshine Coast.

His success showed up the value of Queensland breeders using their bonus scheme as the race was valued at $185,000 for QTIS horses and $150,000 for those not eligible.

Mishani Honcho collected $220,000 as he picked up a bonus being the winner of the G3 B.J. McLachlan at the Gold Coast on December 27.

Mishani Honcho is the first winner from Mona Lisa Smile, a Toowoomba winner bred by Baramul Stud using the shuttle sire Honour And Glory and Overtures, an unraced daughter of Best Western (Bletchingly).

The success of Mishani Honcho has made his sire Jet Spur the leading Queensland juvenile stallion by earnings this season and fourth nationally behind Exceed And Excel, Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel.

He is also challenging Danehill sire Hidden Dragon for the distinction of being Queensland’s leading sire by race wins. They are both in the top 20 nationally.

Since August 1 Jet Spur has had 54 winners of 82 races and $2.2million in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

The now 12-year-old Jet Spur is by Flying Spur from the stakes winning Bletchingly sprinter Verocative, a daughter of a sister to champion sprinter and sire Zeditave.

Jet Spur ran 10 times for wins in the G2 Caulfield Sprint, G3 Rory’s Jester Plate and Listed Heritage Stake.