IT was almost a quarter of a century between classic successes but John McCarthy reckons it was worth the wait.

McCarthy's Dagenham (New Tears-Chariot Moss by Chariot Supreme) won the very first running of the Group 2 Qld Derby at the just opened Albion Park in 1993. John had to wait until last week before having another runner in the race.

But the result was the same.

This time it was his highly promising Rather Dapper (Dyna Lachlan-Pearl Za Zinger by Surf Lorian) who stormed to success. John admitted after the race it was more satisfying winning the race than collecting the $40,000 first prize.

Wife Maggie said she would be happy to take the cash.

Rather Dapper is from a litter of four pups who in just 52 starts between them have won 20 and been placed 15 times for stakes of $115,532. That's a winner to runner percentage of an incredible 38.5%.

Rather Dapper was a tragedy beaten in the Vince Curry Maiden final and also made the Ipswich Auction but brought about the undoing of his litter brother Slick in that race.

Slick stormed home to get second to Pyro Bob. Slick has won seven and been placed five times in 15 starts for $40,000, while Aza Zeus has won seven and been placed five times for $20,000.

I've been mates with Johnny McCarthy since those Dagenham days. He's slapped a bit of paint on several of the homes I have owned over the years and when it came time to breed with Group 2 Qld Futurity finalist Pearl Za Zinger we discussed his options.

Dyna Lachlan at the time was just about finished with his stud career so it was a brave move by John to take the advice and put his Surf Lorian bitch to the Wheeler-bred star and a son of Go Wild Teddy.

The mating brought about a 5x4 cross of West Cape and this has been a hugely successful aspect of a number of Surf Lorian's best progeny

These include his champion staying son Blue Lorian, the Group 1 Association Cup winner Seek And Destroy, Coal King and his sister Miss Cody, and the great bitch Velocity Regina.

Pedigrees By Design had put together the pedigree of Velocity Regina for Steve Williams to purposely bring in the duplication of West Cape. She was a multiple Group winner and multiple track record breaker.

Putting Surf Lorian bitches to Dyna Lachlan was the recipe in reverse.

Surf Lorian has also done well with daughters of Go Wild Teddy (sire of Dyna Lachlan). The Melbourne Cup runner-up Nova Surf (a pedigree also put together by Pedigrees By Design) is bred on this cross. Go Wild Teddy brings in a cross of Walkabout Sid (litter brother to West Cape and Amerigo Man) but significantly via a SON whereas the other two come via DAUGHTERS in your bitch.

There is also common links between Braddy and Kiowa Sweet Trey (damsire of Pearl Za Zinger). The winner of the Dapto Maiden Classic, Cawbourne Whip (and her outstanding litter sister Cawbourne Rev) are by Dyna Lachlan and have close links with Braddy in their damline.

Pearl Za Zinger has a litter by Fear Zafonic just starting to be educated and showing great potential.

In our discussions about a next mating, John is deciding between Dyna Double One and Thirty Talks.

It is a tough choice ... a toss of the coin.

DAWN Mini's win in the Group 3 Ladies Bracelet at Wenty on Saturday night proved once again the success of linking Brett Lee with Bit Chili. It is the fact they bring in full relations Chariot Supreme and Lika Blessing that is the secret to this "nick".

Dawn Mini is by Brett Lee from the Bit Chili bitch Songar Mini Mag.

Bit Chili's star performers Arizona Dozer, Cold Fusion and Kinga Zac are out of daughters of Brett Lee.

Bit Chili's daughters have produced best when they link up with Brett Lee in the sire they mate. This is how Bessy Boo, El Magnifico, Shoulders, Mincin' Machine, My Boy Snoop etc etc etc are all bred.

Daughters of Bit Chili do extremely well with Cosmic Rumble.

AMAZING isn't it how proven crosses keep on being proven.

Take the success of Bewildering (Black Magic Opal-Outlandish by Collision) in the Group 2 Warrnambool Classic.

In-bred 3x4 to Brett Lee (balanced) and 4x3 to Awesome Assassin (via sons), he boasts a 4x5 cross of Head Honcho and Skyline Miss who are both out of famed producer Fitzroy Lass.

It is the same double of Fitzroy Lass found in champion stayer Lady Toy and Sapphire Crown winner Amakler Girl.

But what was even more amazing is the fact, Warrnambool Classic third placegetter Moneypenny (Cosmic Chief-Princess Douglas by Craigie Whistler) also boasts the Head Honcho cross with his half sister Advert that is found in Lady Toy.

Moneypenny, of course, is bred on similar lines to Bewildering.

IF YOU thought that was a coincidence, then head up to Bathurst where Falcons Fury (Fabregas-Janderra's Fury by Knocka Norris) landed another country cup.

Falcons Fury's third dam is Janderra who is from Taree maestro Kevin Johnson's famed damline.

But, third placed in the Bathurst Gold Cup behind Falcons Fury was Ferrero Miss (Spring Gun-Taradearra by Over Flo) whose second dam just happens to be Janderra.

Of interest here is that both Falcons Fury and Ferrero Miss are from the Bombastic Shiraz sireline.