News

Stick to it if you’re on a good thing

John McArdle believes when you’re on a good thing it’s a case of sticking with it. He has been richly rewarded with that theory by his Victorian-bred mare Humma Humma which chalked up another black type victory in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Above: Humma Humma winning the Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes Picture: Racing and Sports

For McArdle it’s a bit like famous American, the late Victor Kiam who said he liked the Remington electric razor so much that he bought the company.

In McArdle’s case he has bought every foal out of Humma Mumma (Bel Esprit) since racing her second foal Strela (Smart Missile).

Humma Humma was his next purchase out of the mare followed by Hummalong (Hallowed Crown) and his latest buy was another filly from the mare by Capitalist.

Along the way Humma Mumma missed to Brazen Beau (in 2016) but her most recent addition is a filly by Zoustar, but she again missed to Brazen Beau last season.

And if McArdle and his Redgum Racing have their way, the Zoustar filly will continue the family tradition of joining his stable – but it will more than likely come at an increased rate of dollars.

The Mornington trainer paid $120,000 for Stela, the only colt thrown by Humma Mumma, when he was offered by Flinders Park Stud.

He then got Humma Humma for what is now a bargain price of $80,000 at the 2017 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from Flinders Park Stud’s draft. The mare now has $581,340 in prize money.

Hummalong was next at $100,000.

McArdle’s Redgum Racing then departed with $240,000 at this year’s Melbourne Premier for a Capitalist filly out of the mare.

And who knows what price the Zoustar filly will fetch when she goes through the ring, but McArdle has made it clear he wants her.

McArdle said he was extremely happy to win last Saturday’s Group 3 which will only enhance the mare’s value when she heads to the breeding barn after another year of racing.

“She is a valuable mare,” McArdle said.

And he doesn’t hide his admiration for Humma Mumma as a producer of quality foals.

“I have bought everything out of the mare. There has only been four to go to the sales.

“The first was Strela who broke a track record at Bendigo at his first start as a two year-old. He had six starts (for two wins and two seconds) and then got injured.

“Then Humma Humma was the second one and we have a three year-old filly called Hummalong that has had three starts and placed in them all.

“And then I bought the Capitalist for $240,000 this year.”

As for the Zoustar filly, McArdle said he trains a few horses for Brian Coyle of Flinders Park Stud which has bred the Humma Mumma horses.

“I’ll certainly be out there having a looking at it and we’ll go from there,” McArdle said.

He said he liked Stela as a horse, the same as Humma Humma and he described Hummalong and the Capitalist filly as Humma Humma’s twins.

“If you had all three lined up beside each other you’d be struggling to tell them apart,” McArdle remarked.

Asked whether he would still attempt to buy the Zoustar filly if he didn’t like her on type, McArdle said: “You never know, you’d always have a look. I don’t usually buy them if I don’t like them on type, so probably not.

“I haven’t seen it but a couple of my mates have and they tell me she is a very good type. We’ll see how we go.”

Humma Mumma was trained by another Mornington trainer, Lyn Tolson, to four wins after two unplaced starts with Mick Price.

Humma Humma was due to arrive back at McArdle’s property on Sunday afternoon to head straight to the spelling paddock.

“She is going to race on for another season and Widden Stud bought a share in her.” McArdle said.

“We will work out a plan for her in the spring and then we’ll go from there.

“We’ll keep racing her for that extra year so she will be a five year-old when she goes to stud.”

Widden Stud bought into the mare just before she won her first stakes race – the Redelva Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville in April, 2019.

Humma Humma was placed in five stakes races before winning the Redelva Stakes.

“She has been a lot of fun,” McArdle said.

 

Article courtesy of TBV