The Cambridge breeder endured a string of mishaps with Tsikory (NZ) and sadly lost the well-related mare a little under a year ago. However, her only foal to race is now doing her proud with Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) winning the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. at her second appearance with Group 1 options ahead of her.
Tsikory was unraced and, as a grand-daughter of Graham de Gruchy’s multiple Group 1 winner Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), she promised to be exciting broodmare material.
“I bought Tsikory off Graham and at the time she was in foal to Thewayyouare and she produced a nice filly,” McCarthy said.
“As a 3-year-old she got colic and was operated on, but didn’t cope with the anaesthetic and we lost her.” – Greg McCarthy.
“She went to Ken Kelso to be trained and had one preparation and was turned out. As a 3-year-old she got colic and was operated on, but didn’t cope with the anaesthetic and we lost her.”
Things subsequently went from bad to worse and Tsikory missed to Mastercraftsman (Ire), slipped a foal to Pour Moi (Ire) and missed again to O’Reilly (NZ).
In between times, she did have a filly Instone (Pour Moi {Ire}), but bad luck struck again ruling her out as a racing proposition.
Greg McCarthy
“She had a paddock accident as a yearling and stripped all the skin off a front leg, it was quite dramatic,” McCarthy said.
“She had a paddock accident as a yearling and stripped all the skin off a front leg, it was quite dramatic.” – Greg McCarthy.
“She survived that, but months later she developed arthritic issues. She was broken in, but couldn’t race.
“She’s got an Iffraaj filly now and is back in foal to Iffraaj so we’re hoping the (breeding) shyness of her mother doesn’t come out.”
A half-sister to the G1 Australia Derby winner Fiumicino (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Tsikory is from the family that features Horlicks’ G1 Melbourne Cup winning son Brew and the G1 JJ Atkins winner Sacred Elixir (NZ) (Pour Moi {Ire}).
“Tsikory produced a Pour Moi colt after Aretha and was in foal to Iffraaj,” McCarthy said.
“Tsikory produced a Pour Moi colt after Aretha and was in foal to Iffraaj.” – Greg McCarthy.
“She had bad feet after another hoof issue and she had to be euthanised last March. It was a crippling situation.”
Iffraaj
Unperturbed, McCarthy continues to breed from his broodmare band of eight.
“They don’t all necessarily go to stud every year. I’ve got two Belardo fillies, an Iffraaj filly, a share in a Turn Me Loose colt with Windsor Park and a Sweynesse colt.
“I’ve got a property in Cambridge and for more than 20 years I’ve worked with Chequers Stud. I was friends with Jim Campin and since he passed away I work in with his sons Mark and Chris.
“I’ve got two Belardo fillies, an Iffraaj filly, a share in a Turn Me Loose colt with Windsor Park and a Sweynesse colt. - Greg McCarthy.
“Effectively, they lease my property and I have my horses there most of the time.”
Current star Aretha is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and, depending on the filly’s progress, Group 1 options are now possible.
“Murray has nominated her for Awapuni, obviously that’s on his radar,” McCarthy said.
The G1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. will be run on March 30 while the G1 Sistema S. at Ellerslie is three weeks beforehand.
“You never know with 2-year-olds as they are pretty fickle, so you just go race by race.” – Andrew Forsman
“You never know with 2-year-olds as they are pretty fickle, so you just go race by race,” Forsman said.
McCarthy, a qualified accountant who specialises in strategic, financial and treasury advice to corporate and other clients, is also a respected administrator.
“I was on the board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing for two terms,” he said.
McCarthy is currently the thoroughbred code nominee to the board of the New Zealand Racing Board.
“My term was due to finish last July, but with the Messara Report release and the process ongoing it’s been extended until the Minister decides what’s going to happen,” he said.
