Client Spotlight - John Fanning & Bruce Small Partnership

Friendships can lead you in many directions in life, and for John Fanning his friendship with Bruce Small has taken him on a journey to remember.

John and Bruce met at University in Dunedin whilst studying medicine and soon became friends.

“Bruce and I were in the same class and then got to know each other over time,” John explained.

“We both followed racing and when Bruce decided to buy a broodmare, he just said that I had to come in with him.”

John Fanning

Remarkably, John had never even raced a horse at that point and his first experience of ownership was by breeding from that mare, Wee Jaybee.

John had grown up following racing, but had not fully immersed himself in the harness racing game until moving south to study.

“I grew up in the Wairarapa, and took note of the racing then I used to listen on the radio a lot. But it was mainly gallops that I was exposed to there.”

“But when I moved south and became friends with Bruce we used to follow the trots a lot.”

“We had a friend that introduced us to Ted Lowe, and we would often go up and stay at his place. He was a great man, but when you’re staying up there he didn’t like to stop pouring the whiskeys,” John laughed.

After finishing their studies and both becoming doctors, Bruce and John found themselves in South Canterbury, with John still now residing just outside of Pleasant Point.

And it was another doctor that they purchased Wee Jaybee from.

“David Langford was a doctor in Temuka, and he was into the breeding side of things. So that’s where Bruce found the mare and where it all started for us.”

“I knew nothing in the beginning, but I slowly learned more about the process as we went along.”

“We initially had a couple of horses with Patrick O’Reilly, but it took us ten years to get our first winner. And funnily enough, it was one we purchased at the sales.”

That horse was a filly by Dancing Master named Claire Matin, and won at Oamaru in March 1997.

“Brian Saunders trained her, and over the years we ended up picking up a few more horses – it’s a bit of a disease really,” John laughed.

After being retired due to injury, John and Bruce then went on to breed out of Claire Matin.

“That’s when we started getting a bit serious about it.”

Claire Matin’s second foal, Pegasus Aurora, won four races and holds a special place for John.

“She hardly ever raced sound, but she had super high speed. She actually won a Listed race (the Caduceus Club Sires Stakes Final) but she always had her issues. She’s a horse that I really remember fondly.”

The breeding partnership has been a strong one, with each horse John has bred being in connection with Bruce.

“When it comes to the breeding side of things, Bruce makes all of those decisions. And I sort of do the racing side of things.”

“Bruce has the breeding theories and I trust his judgement when it comes to that.”

“We breed to race them, rather than sell, so we have the freedom of going with what we want.”

The Pegasus prefix has been association with many of their horses.

After breeding Jellicoe Direct, a Deal Direct mare, John and Bruce sent her to stud and produced multiple winners; Pegasus Kommander (7 wins), Pegasus Falcon (6 wins) and Pegasus Beach and Pegasus Anew (1 win each).

Pegasus Ophelia is a granddaughter of Jellicoe Direct, who John and Bruce are currently breeding from and is in foal to Lazarus currently.

And speaking of Lazarus, John and Bruce also own his half-sister, Beautifilly, who they are breeding from with Gavin Chin.

Wai Eyre Farm has been part of their breeding programme for most of their journey.

“We’ve had a wonderful association with Wai Eyre Farm. Even though Bruce does a lot of the breeding aspect, but I have seen how well our horses are treated and looked after.”

“I’ve always been really impressed with the way they look when they come home, always in good nick and cared for.”

“We are grateful for that strong relationship with Wai Eyre Farm too.”

The duo have teamed up with local trainer David Mitchell, who trains their horses.

They currently race Deceptive Lee together, who has won nine races to date. Asian Elvis won six races for the combo during his career.

The connection with David has given John another unique hands on aspect in his passion for harness racing.

“I go down to David’s a couple of times a week. I’m lucky enough to be able to drive horses at the stables, and at the workouts and trials too.”

“For me that’s just fantastic. To be able to be involved in that way as well as breeding and owning them.”

Over the forty years and the highs and lows of breeding, the friendship has remained solid.

“It’s been a great thing to do with Bruce, I don’t think we’ve ever had an argument, or disagreement actually. We just get on with things and don’t get too upset, or set high expectations.”

Four decades of harness racing memories, sparked by a friendship, fuelled by passion for their horses.

A perfect prescription for a lifetime of enjoyment.