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This wonderful stallion died before his 22nd birthday,
but his sons and grandsons continue to influence pony breeding in
Australia. Champion Ridden Saddle Pony at the
2001
Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra Royal Shows, Heldon Park Calendar
Girl, by Willowcroft Explorer by The Laird and the 2001
Sydney Champion, Kirreway Explorer, out of a mare by Willowcroft
Wizard, is a grandson of The Laird by Willowcroft Vagabond.
The original mares also boasted outstanding pedigrees and
included Towy Valley Hawthorn and the yearling, Heathrose Princess
Alicia. Hawthorn topped off an illustrious show career in the UK by
winning supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show before being put in
foal to Cygnet of Spring, full brother to three times Wembley winner
and one of the most successful ponies of all time, Holly of Spring.
The result of that mating was Willowcroft Valley Mist, a champion at
the International Expo, who proved like her mother to be a fabulous
broodmare, her progeny winning POY in Victoria, Queensland, and
Sydney Royal.
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Two granddaughters and four great granddaughters
are retained in the Stud today. Valley Mist
is also the dam of the successful sire in Victoria, Langtree
Valentine!
Heathrose Princess Alicia, a granddaughter of Valentino out of the
very well performed show mare, Alice in Wonderland has also made a
very significant contribution as a broodmare at Willowcroft. Her
daughter Willowcroft Sea Cottage, by the NZ sire Willowcroft Hill
Cottage (The Laird / Snowgoose imp.) is the dam of the
2000
Sydney Royal saddle winner and Victorian Newcomer of the Year, Willowcroft Regal Ensign she is also the dam of Willowcroft Regal
Secret [pictured opposite]
who has won
Supreme Champion Riding Pony Exhibit at the Sydney Royal Easter Show
twice as well as Champion Ridden Pony at Canberra and Sydney Royals.
Another imported mare, which has had a great influence of the
breeding program at Willowcroft and may be of interest to NZ
readers, is Snowgoose (imp. in utero) by Rosevean Eagle's Hill out
of Rosevean Titter. |