HRNZ's Owner and Breeder of the Month - July

Every month HRNZ picks at random an owner and breeder of the month. The only proviso is that their horse must have won a race during the month.

Roydon Downey was July's owner of the month after Santapazienza's win at Auckland on July 26 and John Rennie was the breeder of the month following Santanna Mach's victory at Addington on July 14.

Owner of month : Roydon Downey

Roydon Downey describes his win with Santapazienza as "very satisfying". The Wishing Stone colt settled three back the fence before sitting outside leader, going on to win by a length.

Downey not only bred and co-owns the three-year-old but he trained and drove him as well.

"My dad bred and trained the dam (Sanchipola) and I drove her for most of her wins. Dad also bred and I train the half sister (Sans Au Revoir) who I also won with on the same night."

It was Santapazienza's first win in six starts though he has had three placings as well.

"He has been a nice consistent horse and hasn't gone a bad race so far. He has improved with every run he has had and has a great brain with the manners to match," says Downey.

So where did the distinctive name come from?

"I co-own the horse with Aaron Lowe who I play a lot of golf with and our breed all start with San, Sans or Santa. Santapazienza is one of the top 100 golf courses in the world (in Brazil)."

Downey has 10 horses in total, including racing and breeding stock, and currently trains Santapazienza, Sans Au Revoir and their close relation Saninambro.

"We also have two What The Hills due to come back into work, a two-year-old half brother to Saninarmbo and a yearling of Micro Chip (Camila Cabello)."

"I own all our current ones and outside of them I had a share in another mare Dad bred called San Diego Love who won four races and was also very consistent."

Breeder of the month : John Rennie

As a retired accountant who lives in Whakatane, John Rennie wasn't on course for Santanna Mach's 19th career victory at Addington.

"I was watching on Trackside," says Rennie, "he's a marvellous horse."

Trained by Michael House and driven by son Wilson, Santanna Mach (Santanna Blue Chip - Talk To Me Mach) was perfectly positioned in the one-one, then peeled at the corner before going on to win by a length.

It was the 10-year-old's 191th start.

Breeding either under his own name or the Universal St'Bred Syndicate, Rennie has bred more than 200 horses over the past 30 years, crediting the late Bob McArdle and House senior as being a "huge part" in his success.

Of his horses Talk To Me Courage (1:51.4) was a stand out. Exported to Australia as a two-year-old he went to win 47 races ($649,507) from 288 starts. Port Courage was another good performer, winning seven from 24 in 2007-08.

This season he intends to breed again - "probably just one unless Ask Me Lazarus produces a windfall for me this year".

The three-year-old Lazarus filly, who Rennie bred and House trains, has so far won one from eight.

Congratulations to both winners, and your winning plaques have been sent to you.