Sibling double delights Northland breeder
Northland breeder Terry Archer enjoyed a memorable afternoon at Tauranga on Saturday when two progeny of his broodmare La Dama won consecutive races, providing a timely boost to a family he will be well represented by at next year’s NZB National Yearling Sale.
The remarkable double began when Khafre produced a dominant front-running performance in the Bayleys Tauranga 1300, before his younger half-sister La Prima Dama completed the feat with a narrow victory over 1400m just 40 minutes later.
Adding to the occasion was the fact that the pair are by different American Triple Crown winners, with Khafre a son of American Pharoah and La Prima Dama by Justify.
Khafre, trained by Ralph Manning for owner Tony Coombe, was sent straight to the lead by Jasmine Fawcett and never looked in danger, racing clear to defeat Twain by 4-3/4 lengths.
La Prima Dama’s victory was considerably closer, with the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare holding off favourite L’Aigle Noir by a nose in a Rating 75 contest.
For Archer, the double was particularly satisfying.
“It really was a great day,” Archer said. “The impact is quite amazing. I own a three-year-old Captivant colt that’s a half-brother to them, and after yesterday’s result I’ve fielded a couple of enquiries about him.”
Khafre is already a dual Listed winner, having captured the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in December 2024 and Listed Manawatu Anzac Mile (1600m) at Wanganui last April.
He has also twice placed at Group Two level at Tauranga, finishing third in the Gr.2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m) last November and Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) in March.
While Khafre is an established stakes performer, Archer is hopeful La Prima Dama can follow in her older brother’s footsteps.
The five-year-old has been patiently handled by James and Wellwood, with Saturday’s success taking her record to three wins from just six starts.
“There’s no health reasons why she hasn’t raced more often, she was just a slow developer,” Archer said.
“It’s the first time I’ve had a horse with Roger, and he’s a very good trainer that doesn’t race them out of place. If he’s going to take them to the races, he likes to win.
“Talking to Roger, he said this would be our campaign to get black type with her. He doesn’t say those things lightly. I don’t know exactly what the plan is, but I’ll bow to his greater knowledge.”
Archer initially sold La Prima Dama to James after she was passed in at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale, but subsequently decided to retain an interest.
“Roger’s stable bought La Prima Dama, and then I thought, ‘that was a silly thing to do’, so I bought back into her.”
The siblings descend from one of two prominent families underpinning Archer’s broodmare band.
Their dam La Dama is a daughter of Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) winner Star Affair, who traces back to the famous Dennis Brothers family and influential foundation mare The Pixie.
Archer’s other principal family descends from his outstanding racemare Showella, winner of the Gr.1 South Australia Derby (2500m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and a granddaughter of legendary South Island mare Show Gate.
Both families will be represented at next year’s NZB National Yearling Sale, including an Almanzor half-brother to Khafre and La Prima Dama.
The Star Affair family will also feature a Shinzo colt out of La Diosa, a half-sister to La Dama and winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), along with a King’s Legacy filly out of La Diosa’s daughter Diosa Darling and a filly out of La Dama’s four-win daughter La Opcion.
From the Showella family, Archer will offer a Pride Of Dubai filly out of Show And Tell, a granddaughter of Showella, and an Armory colt out of Show And Tell’s daughter Show Us More.
All six yearlings are being prepared by Janine Dunlop of Phoenix Park in Waikato.
Archer has also been encouraged by the improving depth of New Zealand’s stallion ranks, prompting him to bring more of his mares home after breeding extensively in Australia.
His confidence was rewarded earlier this year when a Sword Of State colt out of La Dama sold for $360,000.
“There are so many more competitive breeding options in New Zealand now. I’ve brought a lot of mares home from Australia.
“Sword Of State’s creating a record and I like Almanzor. I think we were a little bit limited previously, but there are now a lot of options here.”
