The Always B Miki-Pearl Button colt, listed as Lot 370 in the catalogue for the Australian Pacing Gold sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, February 25, has appropriately been dubbed ‘Courage’ by his breeder-vendor John Coffey.
“He was full of courage to live and his third dam is Erin Brockovich, a full sister to Courage Under Fire,” Coffey said.
“Despite the fact that the catalogue lists him as being born on August 1, 2022 he was actually born in July. There’s probably never been a foal born in Australia in July that has lived.
“He was born five weeks early. He was tiny and weedy and couldn’t stand up. I thought he couldn’t possibly survive because he was too weak.” Coffey continues. “We kept him alive for the first day by standing him up and letting him drink off the mother. She was a maiden mare but a lovely broodmare.”
Coffey said he got up the next morning and went out to inspect the colt fearing the worst. However, to his great surprise, he found the foal grazing peacefully alongside his dam.
Over the ensuing 18 months the colt has developed into a strapping individual.
“He’s not that big but he’s very muscular,” John said. “He’s got a great attitude.”
The colt is the first foal from the successful Mach Three mare Pearl Button, a sister to the NSW Breeders Challenge heat and semi-final winners Three Of The Best 1:50.2 ($268,759) and Redbank Addi 1:51.4 ($222,414) and the recent Geelong three-year-old winner Thesunandthemoon (1:57.5).
Interestingly, the colt is bred on the same cross as horses the calibre of the Vicbred two-year-old champion Joyful ($203,665), the dual Queensland Group winner Cheer Leader ($140,956), the star New Zealand filly Miki Montana ($135,258) and the Victorian Listed winner Star Celebrity ($101,730).
The colt is being prepared by young Canberra professional Melissa Hawke.
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