The twenty-three trotting novice, trained by Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, has now won nine races, his last four in a row. Two of these four victories were of the black type: the G1 National Trot and the G3 Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes.
To this the great Gemini Jo (Bill’s brother) won seven races for her owner-trainer David Harris. When she finished racing, her breeder Ron Mills (Bev Williamson’s father) bred four foals from her before selling her to Michael House. House bred another five foals with her last foal Experiment (To follow) are her most successful.
“Errol Forde rented her from Micheal House. He had a lot of fun with her,” said Experiment’s trainer Tony Barron.
She started in 60 races – 56 for Barron and her last 4 for House. Her eight wins were for Barron.
“She was a nice mare but had a little attitude problem. But she was a very good type and could really run. It’s no surprise to me that she became a Group 1 winner.”
She was played by Forde, a Wairio Trotting Club stalwart, and his partner Jan Hawthorn.
“He is still active and goes to Brett Gray one or two days a week and helps out at the stables. He would be well into his 80s now.”
Barron rates Experiment’s victory over Methven in October 2014 as her best.
“Habibti was a big favourite. Luckily for us, Davey Butt had ridden her at Addington on Friday and she was 50 yards away on Sunday. She never got near us. Dexter (Dunn) rode her and she stormed in.”
As a broodmare she was bred to Love You and produced a colt that Barron sold to Michael Purdon for $32,500 at the 2019 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch.
He then leased the mare to Woodlands Stud in 2020.
“Micky (Micheal House) wanted me to keep her, but I just wanted to get that one foal out of her.”
Since then, Experiment has produced Hillbilly Blues, which Tony Herlihy purchased for $30,000 at the 2022 Auckland Sales.
“He said to me in typical Herlihy fashion, ‘If that idiot (Barron) could win eight races with that mare, she was probably a good mare (laughter).”
Her next three foals are fillies by What The Hill. Herlihy bought her 2022 filly Blue Bayou for $4,000 at the 2023 Weanling Sales, Georgia Brookes Lodge in the Waikato bought her next filly (Another Hillbilly) for $3,000 at the 2024 Weanling Sales and her next filly (unnamed) was bought at last year’s Weanling Sales by Craig Ferguson for $2,000.
Woodlands Stud still has its last unregistered What The Hill filly.
The success of Hillbilly Blues also highlights the revival of What The Hill stock.
Other good winners this past season for the Muscle Hill stallion include Ya Rite Darl (6), Johnny Who (4), Bravehearthighlander (4), Bet N Win (3), Bulit Train (3) and Eyre I Will (3).
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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