HRNZ's Owner and Breeder Winners for March

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.

For March the winners were Jenny Painter as a member of Music Mistress' ownership group and Jim Geddes who co-bred Sods Law.

Owner of the month : Jenny Painter

Trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer, Music Mistress won twice at Invercargill, the Craig Heyrick at Harcourts 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace Pace on March 1 and then the Group 3 Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Fillies Classic eight days later.

"Blaze", as she's known, has won now two from three starts.

"Unfortunately I didn't see the races in person as Invercargill is just a bit too far from Auckland," says Painter, "but I watched on Trackside and it was very exciting as she is also a Stonewall Stud bred horse."

"She appears to be a good one, crossing fingers for some more wins!"

Painter estimates she's been involved with around 80 horses over the past 15 or so years.

"I got involved as my husband (Iain) worked with a friend who had horses with Stonewall Stud. He has other workmates, who are now also involved in the various Stonewall syndicates."

Painter has been, and is still involved, in some cracking race horses.

Two of the better ones in recent years have been Better B Amazed, who won 18 from 50 starts ($210,540) and Step Up (13 wins from 88 starts - $270,263).

"Currently we are involved with Sweet Diamond (6 wins), Alta Wiseguy (10 wins) and Allamericanlover (13 wins), who has won two Group 1s. We were so thrilled to be at the track for her first Group 1 win."

That was at Alexandra Park in the Rosslands Stud Queen of Hearts in December 2022.

"We will continue to be involved in the Stonewall Stud syndicates," says Painter, "it's great as it involves multiple horses as well as meeting different people each year who join, and a group of regulars that have been involved for many years."

"The Stonewall team is awesome with weekly emails from Jill Stockman about our horses as well as a weekly owners' email that updates us all on who is at the trials, racing in the coming weekend, how the horses went last weekend for the stable and news about Stonewall."

Breeder of the month : Jim Geddes

March was a particularly successful time for evergreen trotter Sods Law (Muscle Mass - Galleons Tribute), who was bred by Jim and son James Geddes. They also train the gelding from their base at Norwood just south of Christchurch.

The 10-year-old won three times in 10 days starting at Westport in the BuyandsellwithMarchelle One Agency Real Estate Trot on March 8 and followed by the Reefton "Town of the Light" Team Teal Trot two days later and then the Paul Renwick Joinery Colts and Geldings Trot at Motukarara on March 17.

Sods Law has now won 14 races in 138 starts and nearly $150,000.

"We certainly love racing a horse like Sod", says Geddes, "he's a cool dude and very genuine."

The Geddes have six broodmares.

"We do not bred from them every year," says Geddes Snr, "with some we will wait a while and try their progeny and see if they a leave good one.