Ray and Joy Anicich with their 2014 Canterbury Breeders of the Year trophy
In April 1981 then Gloucester Park Racing Manager Ray Holloway arranged for New Zealand Great Northern Derby runner-up Vita Man to fly to Perth for that year’s Australian Derby at Gloucester Park.
Bred and raced by Ray Anicich, and trained and driven by Ali Malcolmson, Vita Man found the long trip west as a 3yo a bit much and he found the subsequent NSW Miracle Mile winner Gundary Flyer too good and Vita Man finished down the track.
Ray Anicich died earlier this year at the age of 89 but he held fond memories of his trip to Perth describing it as “a lot of fun.”
Vita Man was the first horse bred by Ray Anicich and the stallion won nine races including a New Zealand Flying Stakes as a 3yo before retiring to a stud career.
More importantly for Ray Anicich Vita Man's achievments provided the impetus to send his mare Petronella back to Knowing Bret just months after his visit to Perth.
The resultant filly foaled in 1982 was named Vita Gold who now figures as the third dam of Tiger Tara who is one of the fancies for the 2017 TABtouch Inter Dominion Grand Final heading into tomorrow’s barrier draw function.
Tiger Tara may yet give his breeder Ray Anicich further kudos as a breeder in Perth next Friday night at Gloucester Park as the breeder of an Inter Dominion winner.
