WATTLEBANK FLYER became Panspacificflight’s 10th individual three-year-old winner when he won at Addington on 24 July.
The Tim Trathen-owned and trained gelding broke through for his maiden win in the hands of Blair Orange on the same night that Wick recorded one of his three Addington wins. This was the second time Panspacificflight had two wins from two starters at the home of harness racing after both The Manipulator and Arden’s Choice won at the same meeting in April.
Wattlebank Flyer’s success gave his sire a 43 per cent winning record for the season from his first crop. This figure includes two of his Australian performers, Glenisla (seven wins) and Sir Macs Man (four wins), who didn’t win here before they were exported and, therefore, aren’t included in the Harness Racing New Zealand statistics.
Coincidentally, Panspacificflight also has a 43 per cent strike rate in North America, where his 193 winners have come from 447 foals.
Panspacificflight was 10th on the list of sires of three-year-old pacers here last season. Whichever way you look at it, his statistics are most impressive.
All the sires ahead of him had at least twice as many foals — and, in the case of champion sire Bettor’s Delight 10 times as many — but none had a percentage higher than 43. Panspacificflight’s close relative Art Major was the best of them with 34 winners from 85 foals for a strike rate of 40 per cent. Of the others in the top 10, Bettor’s Delight had 33 per cent winners, American Ideal 21 per cent, Mach Three 30 per cent, Changeover 18 per cent, Christian Cullen 28 per cent, McArdle 22 per cent, Gotta Go Cullect 14 per cent and Live Or Die 11 per cent.
And among those behind Panspacificflight (remember he had 10 winners as three-year-olds from 23 foals) in the rankings, look at these statistics: Gotta Go Cullen, eight winners from 37 foals; Jereme’s Jet, five from 40; Shadow Play, three from 19; Stonebridge Regal, 10 from 82; Elsu, six from 87; Santanna Blue Chip, eight from 52; Badlands Hanover, six from 72, Courage Under Fire, five from 23; Falcon Seelster, four from 48; Art Official, six from 49; Grinfromeartoear, four from 33; Washington VC, four from 45; Ohoka Arizona, three from 25; Real Desire, two from 34; Sands A Flyin, one from 26; Lis Mara one from 37; Extreme Three, none from 60; Flashing Red, none from 28; and Royal Mattjesty, none from 24.
Compelling reasons to consider Panspacificflight for the 2015-16 breeding season.