There have been hundreds of New Zealand bred mares exported to North America over the years but only a small percentage are ever bred from in the Northern Hemisphere.
A few make their way back to New Zealand but a lot are given away as hacks
One well performed New Zealand bred mare that is being bred from in North America is the Caprock mare Smooth Latin.
Trained in New Zealand in the first instance by John Hay and then Ray Norton, Smooth Latin won four races here and just $25,000 before being exported to North America in early 2000.
Smooth Latin did a big job on the track in North America, taking a mark of 1:52.1 and in the process took her overall stake earnings to $217,884.
However it is in the broodmare barn that she has really excelled.
Smooth Latin's first foal was by McArdle and named McApulco and he took a mark of 1:51.2 on his way to earning $365,942.
Next up was Morguns Romeo 1:53 ($44,875) by Artiscape and the third foal was another McArdle colt in McAracas 1:51.4 ($170,579)
The fourth foal from Smooth Latin was by Red River Hanover and is her only filly to date in Redy La Mar 1:56.1 ($44,192) while her fifth by Royal Mattjesty in Mattista was her only non winner to date.
The sixth foal from Smooth Latin was the very smart Shadow Play colt in Shadios 1:49.4 ($82,860) who has issues from half way through his three year old campaign and never really fulfilled his potential.
The seventh foal from Smooth Latin is the Jeremes Jet three year old Robert Hill 1:51. ($158,190) who last week took out a $105,000 division of the Ontario Sires Stakes and looks potentially the best of Smooth Latin's progeny to date.
Smooth Latin was lucky enough to be bred from in North America but a lot of well bred, well performed New Zealand mares are being left on the shelf after they finish racing.
The cost of the transport back to New Zealand is very expensive but maybe New Zealand breeders should be looking to bring home some of our better performed mares that are being wasted in North America.
Harnesslink Media