A chance phone call from a mate in Victoria led Mike Howie to buy broodmare gem Benjor Maddy Lombo for $5000 and found a dynasty that has already earnt almost $2 million in stakes.
Howie said he had considered buying the mare’s mother, Magic Maddy Lombo, at the Melbourne broodmare sale in 2009 but she was knocked down to Soho Standardbreds principal Robert Watson.
Magic Maddy Lombo is out of Australian Derby winner Misty Maiden and a half sister to champion juvenile Lombo Pocket Watch ($1.5M).
She had already produced smart fillies Miss Trickin Lombo ($230K) and Sweet Maddy Lombo ($106K) and her best earner Suave Stewie Lombo ($580K) had just burst onto the racing scene.
Another daughter, Benjor Maddy Lombo, was also in the sale.
“John Coffey is a mate and he called me from the sale to say there was a Perfect Art mare from the family that hadn’t got much interest because she was in foal to Lombo Mandingo,” Howie said.
“The family was flying at the time so I took a chance and got her for $5000 in foal.
“I decided to keep the Lombo Mandingo filly because I didn’t think she would be commercial at the sale.
“She turned out to be Maddy White. She won 11 races and $110,000. Her first foal Star Of Diamonds earnt $200,000 and second foal Floewriter $175,000.
“I sold her current 2YO, Bettor Move Matty (by Bettors Delight), privately as a weanling. He has already had a trial and is showing a lot of promise.”
Maddy White has a Sweet Lou colt (Lot 349) in the 2025 APG Perth Yearling Sale in March 2.
Benjor Maddy Lombo has left WA derby winner Handsandwheels (1.53.2, $707K), iron horse Rock Me Over (1.53.8, $473K), Magnus Victor (1.56, $145K) and Squinta (1.55, $112K) among her eight winners.
And the grand old dame has a colt (Lot 394) by boom sire Always B Miki in this year’s sale who should be highly sought after.
Howie’s Copper Lodge breeding operation has built a strong reputation for producing classic winning 2YOs.
He has bred three APG 2YO classic winners in the past four years, Floewriter in 2021, Waverider ($185k) in 2023 and smart filly Copper Head Lady ($141K) last year.
Two of the youngsters trace back to another broodmare gem, Copper Strike, who Howie bred when he was in his mid 20s.
The Maple Lanes Strike mare won 13 races and $90,000 in stakes. She is the ancestress of a swag of top flight pacers.
“I think the formula to producing good 2YOs is to give them the best of everything from the time they are born,” Howie said.
“They get hard feeds and supplements all year, even in winter when the paddocks are really lush.
“We are in Serpentine. It is good country for raising horses. The youngsters have plenty of space and run to together from the time they are weaned.”
Howie calculated that he had bred more than 800 winners since he began in the late 1980s.
His best earners include Handsandwheels ($707K), Soho Wall Street ($572K) Rock Me Over ($472K), Bettor Be Oscar ($301K) and The Miki Taker ($300K).
Copper Lodge will offer 11 yearlings at the Perth sale and it is a really strong draft.
“We have six colts and it is very hard to find a standout – they are all big, strong robust individuals,” Howie said.
“If I had to pick a couple, I would say (Lot 338) the brother to (2YO Pearl winner) The Miki Taker should do well and (Lot 358) the colt from Artistic Copper, she is five foals for five winners – Copper Head Lady ($141K) and Some Copper Beach ($100K). They all run out of that mare.
“Though he is later in the sale, (Lot 426) the colt by Downbytheseaside from Bettor Whitby is also a really nice type.”
For full details of these or any other yearlings in the 2025 Perth Yearling Sale please visit APG’s Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!
