Emerging trotting talent - Familiar Tricks
“He’s a little superstar.
“We just love him.”
This is how Mary Rando describes stable star and emerging trotting talent Familiar Tricks.
The son of French-bred stallion Used To Me has taken all before him this preparation, winning all of his five starts - including the New South Wales Trotters’ Carousel Final at Menangle on September 20.
Patience has been the key with the Yabby Dam Farms-bred five-year-old for Mary and husband and co-trainer Joe, and their fellow owners.
They always felt he would take time to reach his full potential and they’re confident he is now on the way to delivering just that.
The Randos purchased Familiar Tricks at a yearling sale in Melbourne.
Mary said they went to the sale with the primary objective of purchasing another of the Yabby Dam Farms’ consignment, a Muscle Mass US-La Coocaracha colt (2024 Inter Dominion champion The Locomotive).
She said when the bidding went beyond their limit they turned their attention to Familiar Tricks (out of Sundon US mare Abitofmagic).
“He was beautiful and there was no way we were going home without him.
“We just wanted him and we didn’t stop until we had him.”
Rando said they liked everything about him.
“His conformation was amazing.
“He looked great. You couldn’t fault him.”
Rando said it became clear quite early that he would most likely need time before finding his feet as a racehorse.
She said he was really flighty, highly strung and at the same time immature.
Rando said Familiar Tricks just wanted to go, but he didn’t know where to put his legs.
“The ability was there. He was going to need time and that’s what we’ve given him.”
Consequently Familiar Tricks did not get to the trials until late in his two-year-old year and had just two starts as a three-year-old.
He went for a long break, with Rando saying it had been time spent under saddle which had been a turning point.
“It changed him. It all came together.
“He had always been in rush. He learned to settle.”
Familiar Tricks won one of five starts as a four-year-old. He resumed in March this year after another lengthy break.
He won back-to-back races in April before going for a freshen up and since returning his record has been unblemished with five wins at Menangle - the first of them in 1:54.9, making him the fastest Australian-bred offspring of Used To Me.
“It’s been a long road, but he always needed time and the perseverance is paying off.
“He race like a machine,” Rando said.
”You can do anything with him.
“He’s definitely developing into everything would thought he’d be.
“He’s taking every challenge in his stride. He’s done it easily.
“He knows it too. He’s got a strut about him,” she said.
Rando said there were no special plans laid out for him, with connections focusing on him working him through the classes.
“He’ll tell us.”
She said being light raced - eight wins in 20 lifetime starts - the best was yet to come.
Familiar Tricks’ latest win came in the Success Stud All Your Horses Breeders Needs Trot, 2300m, on Saturday, October 11.
In arguably his biggest test to date, he led throughout with his opening 400m in 29,7 and last 400m in 28.1 to rate 1:57.5.
Familiar Tricks is raced by Mary Rando in partnership with Greg, Geoff and Rea Williams, Frank Cremona and Charlie Britton.
USED TO ME is available to Australian breeders. Standing in Queensland at Somerset Stud.
Service Fee: $1,500 + GST (Australian only – chilled semen)
QBRED Eligible