By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
It has been 10 years since Woodford horseman Wayne Comerford bred his first standardbred foal.
The owner of Stanley River Bloodstock, which he established in 1998, insists he is these days a dual-coded breeder, devoting 50 per cent of his “equine time” to both the harness and galloping codes.
The 54-year-old, who has 26 horses on his 40-acre property on the banks of the Stanley River, said he was now breeding from eight thoroughbred and three pacing mares.
“I’ve always loved animals virtually since the day I was born in Salisbury, and then when I grew up in Acacia Ridge in the 1970s and 80s. In my youth I was involved with greyhounds through my Uncle, and now it’s just thoroughbreds and standardbreds. I reckon I’ll get talked into a dog again one day – and I’ll probably say yes.
“Today I see myself today a 50-50 dual-coded breeder and owner,” said Comerford, who also owns ‘Access Insulation’ – a progressive Sunshine Coast based-company which has sponsored many races at Redcliffe Paceway.
One of Comerford’s three broodmares – the 2008 one-win Life Sign mare, Oh So Hippe, produced her 23rd winner (from just two foals) in race seven at Redcliffe Paceway last Thursday (August 8).
The Anna Woodmansey-trained, and Mathew Neilson-driven Grigora, drew two in race seven – the Stevie Redback NR46-50 Pace, and then at the ball the first time, Neilson secured the lead. From that point on it was catch me if you can. They couldn’t.
The Comerford owned and bred, Grigora, paced the 2040m mobile in the winning mile race of 2:01.3 and scored by 3.6 metres. It was the Auckland Reactor gelding’s eighth win in 62 starts (14 placings – $43, 608) and second this year. His best time of 1:55.7 was achieved at ‘The Triangle’ on May 30 this year.
The 6-year-old bay gelding, who is nicknamed Greg, was the $1.80 favourite.
“That was a wonderful drive by Mathew,” said trainer, Woodmansey.
“He finally got a good draw. He’s a happy horse and we were confident he would run a good race. He hasn’t led for a long time and fell asleep in front, but sprinted home really well when Mathew woke him up. Mathew has developed a great affinity with ‘Greg’,” the Chalmers Flat-based horsewoman said.
Comerford said he met Woodmansey and her partner Wayne Honan, via his good friend and Group One winning driver, John Cremin and his wife Tanya.
“John trained Grigora for me just before he became a stipendiary steward for Racing Queensland. Alan Donohoe actually trained Grigora for three starts when John changed jobs, and then he went to Anna’s stable in early 2023. I came from thoroughbreds mainly, and didn’t really know too many harness racing trainers at the time.
“John was a splendid horseman, and good friend of mine. He won his Group One behind Pelosi for Anna – who has in turn has done a great job with this horse. I am extremely grateful for the time that Anna and Wayne put into him. They are quality Group One-winning trainers and I’m so glad that John recommended them to me,” Comerford said.
Comerford said Grigora was Oh So Hippe’s second foal (of seven). The now 15-year-old broodmare had also produced Hipstar (15 wins and $131,150).
‘Hippe’ is the first standardbred mare that I bred from. I bought her at the Redcliffe Sale in 2010 for $10,000. Richard Hutchinson bred her. Sadly, she only had seven races, and broke down when injuring her leg after she won at Albion Park (by almost five metres in March 2013).
“She was actually a lovely pacer, and it was sad that I had to retire her so early – but she’s an even better broodmare now. Grigora and Hipstar are the pick of them so far, but the best is still to come I think.
“I’m very impressed with the McWicked filly weanling and her Art Major yearling filly. She’s a very good breeder. She’s only missed once in nine attempts. She’s currently in foal to Sweet Lou, and is booked to Betters Wish” Comerford said.
“The Art Major filly is down south with Emma Stewart, who bought her for $30,000 at this year’s APG Sale on the Gold Coast. Ironically the mare has only left two fillies – the last two, and to my eye they are the best she has produced,” he added.
Comerford is also breeding from the unraced 2008 Art Major mare, Indigenous Art, who last year left him a Bling It On colt. He’s also expecting a Captain Crunch foal from the 2014 Art Major five-win mare, Hughies Sister, who incidentally is a full-sister to the 2015 Auckland Cup runner-up, Hughie Green.
“In order to keep my chin up in this game I like to sell three pacers every year,” Comerford said.
Not bad for a lad who was raised by relatives after his parents passed away when he was five.
“I was the only one in my family and had had a bit of a rough start in life when Mum and Dad died. I was raised by other family members and thankfully there were always animals around me, and that’s where my love of animals stemmed from.
“I remember watching the races on TV in Acacia Ridge, and then Paddy Boyle took me to the Rocklea Trots. Even though I was born in Salisbury and raised in Acacia Ridge, we moved, and I actually went to Taree High School (NSW) before returning to Queensland.
“I worked as a warehouse supervisor for 12 years before opening ‘Access Insulation’ 22 years ago with my brother David,” said Comerford, who is not married, but has a 25 year-old daughter named Bree.
Footnote: Woodford is a rural town in Moreton Bay, Queensland – 76km north-west of Brisbane, and 53km north-west of Redcliffe. It has a population of approximately 4,022.
The Stanley River is a major tributary of the Brisbane River, and extends roughly 35 kilometres westwards from south of Maleny, through Woodford to Kilcoy, before veering southwards.
