It's a breeders lifetime dream and the Stiven family of Tapanui in West Otago achieved that dream on Tuesday afternoon at Addington Raceway when Arden Rooney lead all the way to win the 2015 New Zealand Cup.
Bred by the late Noreen Stiven, the family was immensly proud of their little warrior today after his gutsy win in the Group One feature.
Although the Stivens don't own the six year old gelding they had a bit to do with his upbringing.
The story began in 2007 when Tosca Hanover was bought at the Christchurch Autumn Broodmare and All Age Sale for $8,500 by Noreen.
The mare had been empty for three years but the Stivens liked her on pedigree being by Walton Hanover out of the much revered Black Watch family.
As a racehorse Tosca Hanover qualified at Addington in 2002, then owned by Gavin Cook and trained by Dean Taylor. She never made it to the race track.
Cook bred Ashman from her before he sold her at the sale.
The Stivens sent her to Bettor's Delight and the resulting foal was named Arden Torres (after Spanish footballer Fernando Torres).
He was offered at the 2010 Sale of the Stars and was bought by Mark Purdon for $70,000.
He was then raced by Charlton Enterprises – (Pat Kubula – Gore), C.R. Knowler and Mark Purdon; winning just once from his eleven starts before he was exported to Australia where he had moderate success.
Arden Rooney, named after footballer Wayne Rooney, was the mare's next foal and he was sent to the sales in 2011. However he didn't receive a bid and was bought back by the Stivens.
He was then send to the All Stars barn with co-trainer Grant Payne taking a half share with breeder Noreen Stiven.
"Mum wasn't that well at the time and Grant qualified her and made sure he told her how good he thought the horse was. He won his first start just after mum died," said John Stiven who was on-course today with wife Judy.
Arden Rooney then went on to qualify for the 2012 Sires Stakes Final and a half share in the horse was bought by Australians Merv and Meg Butterworth just before that race.
After running second to Franco Nelson in the final, the Butterworths bought the remaining half share.
He continued to race out of the Purdon/Payne barn before the Butterworths sent him to Australia to be trained by Kerryn Manning.
After a slow start his Australian form has been stunning.
From twelve starts he has won eight races – seven in a row. His wins there include the Group One Hunter Cup, Group Two Mildura Cup and Group Three Swan Hill Pacing Cup.
With a New Zealand Cup tilt on his racing radar this season Manning and Arden Rooney returned to New Zealand in late October and in his first start back in the country he narrowly won the Kaikoura Cup earlier this month.
In today's cup he stepped well and was taken to the front by Manning. Running his last 800 metres in 55 seconds he held on to win by a head from Smolda. The overall time for the 3200 metres was 3-57.4.
In winning this years cup – the 112th running, Manning became the first woman driver to win our biggest harness race.
The win mirrors Michelle Payne's win in this years Melbourne Cup on Prince of Penzance. She was the first female rider to claim the great thoroughbred race.
After seeing Arden Rooney in the flesh today prior to the cup John Stiven had good reason to be confident.
"His skin today just looked like silk. He looked great going out onto the track and he raced accordingly."
Today's win also makes the son of Bettor's Delight a millionaire. He has now won $1,089,519.
The last Southern Bred winner of the New Zealand Cup was Bee Bee Cee in 1994 – 21 years ago.
As breeders the Stivens have got close to breeding the winner of the New Zealand Cup before, when Bettor's Strike ran second to Monkey King in 2009.
The cup win caps off a stunning few days for the Stivens.
Another one of their mares Winter Rose was awarded the NZSBA/PGG Broodmare Excellence Award at the New Zealand Standardbred Breeder Association's Awards Night.
'It's been unbelievably special."
She joins the likes of Vain Franco (2014) dam of Under Cover Lover (21 wins) and Scuse Me (2013) the mother of Adore Me (26 wins).
Despite not being involved in racing Arden Rooney anymore the Stivens haven't been left empty handed. They continue to race the progeny of Tosca Hanover.
Her Somebeachsomewhere mare Maritime Arden won three races last season for Mark Jones while her next foal a two year old filly by Well Said (Articulate Arden) is having a break after being in work at the Purdon/Rasmussen barn.
"She due to foal to Panspacificflight in three weeks and she's been booked to Bettor's Delight."
Another victory for Southern Bred, Southern Reared.
Bruce Stewart
Reproduced with permission of Southland Harness Racing – Check site here