Trainer Doug McLachlan did not have too many people to thank after producing Brigadier’s Son to win at Young Quinn Raceway yesterday.
McLachlan bred, owned and trained the 3yr-old who kept rolling in the lead to break his maiden in race 9 for driver John Morrison.
Remarkably, the trainer’s involvement does not stop with his owning, breeding and training of the pacer.
McLachlan trained both Brigadier Son’s sire, Bettor’s Brigadier, and his dam, Red Electric, and took their resulting foal through all of his early education as well.
The veteran horseman was naturally thrilled but also humble when reflecting on the achievement.
“I enjoy every moment in this game. It was great,” McLachlan said.
“To be honest I don’t think you could find a better bred horse. He has got it all there in his pedigree — he’s from a Bettor’s Delight stallion and from an Art Major mare.
“And he’s got Soky’s Seal, the dam of Soky’s Atom, on his dam’s side.”
Soky’s Seal is Art Major mare Red Electric’s fourth dam.
Red Electric placed 10 times in her 54-start career.
Bettor’s Brigadier won 10 races and placed 13 times for the trainer in 93 starts.
Bettor’s Brigadier is the sire of seven registered foals from dams by a wide array of sires including Make A Deal, Attorney General, Barnett Hanover and Tinted Cloud.
McLachlan thinks Brigadier’s Son has a decent chance of adding more wins to his sire and his dam’s record.
“He is a nice horse; I think he will go on with it. He is a bold horse, heavy in condition. I like them built like that.
“He was dead unlucky first up. Johnny said he would have won if he had been able to get out.
“I have been training him like a thoroughbred with the way the weather has been. He has been doing plenty of cantering and stamina work.”
McLachlan plans to give Brigadier’s Son a chance to continue his winning run at next week’s Winton meeting.
“Have horse will travel, that’s what the game is all about. I’ll take him to Winton next week.”
Brigadier’s Son held out Midnitetraintogeorga to deny trainer Tony Stratford a perfect day at the races.
Stratford lined three horses up at yesterday’s meeting with Beauty Barry and Major Punter both winning and Midnitetraintogeorga running a meritorious second.
