Zipping Tayla

GROUP 1 glory eluded that fine race bitch Zipping Willow, but when her daughter Zipping Tayla landed the Dapto Megastar last week, it was a fitting reward for her mum.

It was also an exercise in getting a pedigree design right over a few generations.

Zipping Tayla is Barcia Bale-Zipping Willow by Goodesy.

Her mother Zipping Willow was Goodesy-Sirocco Lass by Bond and therein lies some judicious mating plans by breeder Marty Hallinan a man backed by decade after decade of getting pedigrees right.

Zipping Willow won the Canberra Cup, Ladies Bracelet and was second in the Richmond Oaks.

But she was also a finalist in the Group 1 Topgun and Temlee, as well as the Group 2 Black Top and Megastar (then G2). She could run scorching time anywhere she went.

Her dam Sirocco Lass (Bond-Many Tricks by Head Honcho) started just twice for a second placing at Geelong. She obviously broke down. She obviously could run or Marty would not have bred with her.

The fact she was out of top class stayer Many Tricks a daughter of Group 1 winner Miss Cruise, a daughter of star sprinter Spanish Dance, who in turn was a daughter of famed producer Hopeful Light, meant Sirocco Lass had plenty going for her.

For those interested, an interesting exercise in fascinating pedigree mixes can be found by looking up the pedigree of Many Tricks. Her sire Head Honcho and her second dam Spanish Dance are virtually brother and sister.

It is a fabulous cross still working today ... My Bro Fabio is bred that way.

Sirocco Lass is by Bond and breeders knew only too well he, and most of his progeny, could be "way over the top".

When Marty came to breeding Sirocco Lass it made sense to look for a stud dog that would "tone down" the Bond impact.

He went for Goodesy (Collision-Frosty Fruits by Just The Best) who was a super fast race dog, but could be a bit on the "soft" side.

It was a perfect match producing the outstanding Group 1 class race bitch Zipping Willow and her very smart sister Zipping Summah as well as Group class Zipping April.

So, when it came time to mate Zipping Willow, Marty was obviously well aware of the "soft" side Goodesy had brought in and he knew he would need some "grunt".

First-up he went with Paul Wheeler's Turanza Bale (Primo Uno-Daishi Bale by Head Honcho). What it did was duplicate Head Honcho but significantly reinforce that Head Honcho/Spanish Dance cross.

Turanza Bale is the sire of champion Xylia Allen still one of the best chasing greyhounds I have ever seen.

And it worked for Marty.

Zipping Clive won at Wenty in 29.65 on his way to 11 victories and $41,000 in stakes. Littermates Zipping Mack, Zipping Riot and Zipping Kretch could all run.

By the time Zipping Willow came back on season early in 2016, Barcia Bale was already top of the pops as far as stud dogs went.

And his pups showed they chased. That's the Go Wild Teddy influence for you.

The Group 1 Dapto Megastar winner Zipping Tayla is the result and she has just turned two so there is much more to come from the litter.

Zipping Tayla had already run second in the Group 2 Black Top to Caitlyn Keeping and has a scorching 29.27 clocking at The Gardens to her credit.

But, you know what pleases me most about the Group 1 success of Zipping Tayla?

It is the fact her mother was a Group star herself and virtually everywhere you look in her pedigree are Group class race bitches.

Breed the best to the best ... and get the best.