Sumthingaboutmaori is eligible for the Hambletonian Society’s Breeders Crown under the Foreign Winners Eligibility Clause identifying that the Winner of the Inter Dominion Trotters Championship and other international races can participate subject to the payment of the prescribed fees. An added factor is that the mare is by the outstanding American sire Pine Chip. Soon after the Australian Harness Racing Council six years ago approved the use of frozen semen, Healy went to the expense of importing semen from what was then one of the outstanding American bred sires now standing in Sweden for his mares Maori Princess and Maori’s Glory.  

While Sumthingaboutmaori was a highly promising two-year-old, Bryan Healy at the time rated the colt by Pine Chip from Maori’s Glory to be the better of the two. Named Wind Cries Maori, it seriously injured a leg and went off to stud without having raced.  

Some 100 metres from the post and this latest Inter Dominion Grand Final also looked lost to Bryan Healy when Martina H NZ swept up to the short-priced favourite. But Sumthingaboutmaori showed her true fighting qualities and simply refused to give in.

While Australia’s latest champion trotter is a shining example of the value international frozen semen is to our breeding industry, both Sumthingaboutmaori and Martina H NZ are splendid examples of another major breakthrough in the rules of breeding. They both have produced foals (now yearlings) through the use of impregnating one of their eggs and having a surrogate mother raise the foals. This has enabled both mares to stay racing longer. 

INTER DOMINMION TROT: 3050m Sumthingaboutmaori 10m (Gavin Lang), 1; Martina H NZ fr (Derek Bale), 2; Sophocles fr (C. Carson), 3. Others: Lanson NZ fr, Andandon NZ fr, Sir Gondola fr, Keystone Johnny fr, Rainbow Maid fr, Stoned At Midnight fr, Our First Jewel fr, Mands Ralph fr, Frosty Vee Bee fr, Uncle Petrika NZ fr, Opal Invasion NZ ft. Mile rate: 2:05.5.