Olivia’s Delight by Oenjay Star, scored a city double with Risky Lass in the Tabform Handicap (1300m) and Ottobello in the last race of the day the Channel 7 Handicap (1250m). It was also a good day at the office for Strathalbyn based trainer Brian Mueller (pictured) who not only prepares, but part-owns and co-bred the pair with long time stable client Ralph Alvaro.

Risky Lass had delighted the Mueller stable with her first up placing behind Sangiovese in a 1200m mare’s event on Adelaide Cup day when having her first run after a long lay off (76 weeks) from injury. With that run under her belt and an extra 100 metres to run Risky Lass scored an easy two length win, turning the tables on Sangiovese in the process, who could only manage ninth place.

Similarly, stable mate Ottobello improved upon his good form from the cup carnival, where beaten 2 ¼ lengths and a long neck by subsequent A.R.Creswick Stakes winner Savage Attack.

In twenty-nine-career starts Olivia’s Delight won three minor races for trainer David Balfour, and was placed in town on four occasions. Alvaro had been a member of the syndicate that raced Olivia’s Delight and when Balfour departed for a training stint in Singapore, Alvaro purchased the mare outright with more racing in mind. However, on the advice of Mueller, who was concerned about a bad fetlock joint, Olivia’s Delight was retired to stud.

At stud Olivia’s Delight has already exceeded her efforts on the racetrack. From four foals to race she has produced three winners (in Australia) by three different stallions – Dellottie, by the Marscay horse Bill, Risky Lass by the ill-fated Bluebird horse Danger, and Ottobello by Bellotto. Each have equalled or surpassed her winning tally, and the latter two, have won at metropolitan level on more than one occasion.

A "lovely mare with a placid nature" Olivia’s Delight lives on Mueller’s 85 acre property at Strathalbyn. The mare has two more foals on the ground, a two-year-old gelding named Stardan by Danzig Connection and a yearling full brother to Ottobello. Mueller describes Stardan by Danzig Connection, as a gross, strong type of gelding who won’t race until he is three. In early jump outs Stardan would finish second behind another home bred galloper ‘Leta’ and Mueller considered the horse probably didn’t have a lot of pace.

"Then I took Leta to a Murray Bridge trial," Mueller said with a smile in his voice "where she won in easy fashion".

Leta went on to win her debut at Gawler before taking out the Carbine Club Handicap on Goodwood Handicap day so Mueller has reason to expect Stardan will measure up.

This year Olivia’s Delight is due to foal to Devaraja and plans thereafter are still undecided.

PIC - Jenny Barnes.

By dual SAJC Lightning Stakes winner Oenjay Star from the Osmunda mare Delmunda Olivia’s Delight is inbred 4f x 3m to Star Kingdom. Whilst her family has produced many winners there is a shortage of the stakes winning kind. Providing she stays sound, Mueller can see Risky Lass remedying that, but for the time being the black print is courtesy of Allamanda Boy (Listed STC Festival Hcp), Farfalla (Gr. 3 SAJC South Australian S), and Dance Act (Gr. 2 WATC Champion Fillies S) all found under the third dam.

Mueller foresees Risky Lass being retained for breeding purposes but has Dellottie on the books reckoning "You can’t keep them all".

Oenjay Star is by the Grey Sovereign horse Royal Yacht. At stud he has produced the Gr. 1 VATC Blue Diamond winner Let’s Get Physical, Gr. 1 WATC Railway Stakes winner M’Ladys Jewel, Gr. 3 VATC Richard Ellis S winner Royal Blue, and in more recent times Gr. 3 AJC Shorts winner Mulugwa.

The awesome fillies Suzy Grey and Air She Goes fly the flag for Oenjay Star in the broodmare sire department. Along with Starsphere, Recce and Starpro they number five stakes winners produced by mares by Oenjay Star. A further five stakes placed winners takes his overall count to 141, with earnings in the vicinity of $4.6 million.

Mueller and Alvaro’s successes with their homegrown racehorses are a shining example that good horses can be bred without the big dollars commanded by commercial stallions. It’s more a matter of careful planning and good management.

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