Spotlight On: Candykane

From day one, Candykane has always been special. But when using the term special in an adjective style, it translates to, “better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual”.

Candykane, aka Gemma, has always been different from what is usual.

Foaled at the famed Darling Downs nursery of Egmont Park Stud on September 29, 2018, the plain bay filly was, if anything, part human in ways.

The filly belongs to Hall of Fame horseman Vic Frost and his wife Gail Geeson. The couple have been clients of Kevin and Kay Seymour for decades and the stud was even home to the mighty Westburn Grant at one point - one of the greatest pacers ever to look through a bridle.

The likable couple have bred so many foals over the years but, for some reason, this little filly stood out more than most.

And for further proof, when the reporter and camera crews rolled in from The Courier Mail to do a story on the historic nursery and spoke with then stud masters Peter and Leann Bell, Gemma was also there to greet them.

“I’ll never forget it. The journalist arrived to do a story on Egmont Park and when Peter and Leann walked through the paddock, the freshly foaled and very inquisitive Gemma had no fear of seeing what all the fuss was about. She was fearless how she approached the situation,” proud trainer Gail Geeson recalls.

A lot like her trainer, Gemma was super friendly - an absolute delight to handle during her time on the stud and never stepped foot inside a crush. 

There was a never a need because you could always catch her in the paddock or, more often than not, she would find you in the lush limestone paddocks at Biddeston, near the Wellcamp airport of Toowoomba.

As a result, that’s how she earned the title of Gemma.

“Leann kept telling me the filly was a little gem, lovely to handle and a pleasure to be around, so I thought it was only fitting we called her Gemma because she was a gem. And she still is to this very day,” Geeson said.

“We bred her to Hurrikane Kingcole, who was based at Egmont, and looking back, Vic and I have enjoyed good success with the progeny of Hurrikane Kingcole with the likes of Frost En Ice (8 wins), Scotch En Ice (16 wins) and Docta Feelgood (16 wins) among others. 

"Gem’s mother Likeness (by Westburn Grant) has the uncanny ability of having her foals mirror the sire rather than herself with their traits and mannerisms.

“Likeness has been unbelievable at stud. She’s had 13 foals, they’ve all raced and only two haven’t won a race. Sexyness (by P Forty-Seven) was retired after five starts while her last foal before passing away, Tequilasunrise (by Always B Miki) has only had two starts to date. Sweet as Candy (by Courage Under Fire) has been her best with 16 wins and more than $120,000 in earnings.”

So, with a strong pedigree and lovely temperament to match, the filly boasting an excellent foundation to life was soon off the farm and headed to breakers in readiness for her racing career.

“We sent her to Kylie Rasmussen to break in and educate, and the same report came back, a willing learner and a pleasure to work with and have around the stables,” Geeson said.

“We’ve been sending horses to Kylie and Darren (Weeks) for years and there’s been some wild ones, but this filly was an exception which was great to hear.

“Once she arrived at our farm (near Tweed Heads), she settled in and adapted very quickly. She never raced as a two-year-old owing to a hairline fracture to her cannon bone plus suffering severe shine soreness, but she managed to make a few educational trips to Albion Park.

The naming of Candykane brings a unique story also. At the time, Geeson and Frost were going through a trend of ‘Sweet’ themed names for Likeness with the likes of Sugar Sugar, Sweet As Candy and Candyfloss getting rolled out.

Then Candykane and her full relations went by the names of Sugarkane and Imthecandyman, which continued the trend.

“It’s weird how that came about. We went on a run with that theme for quite some time and it was pointed out just recently that a lot of the names of horses nowadays have an alcohol theme to them, which is strange given we’re not big drinkers,” Geeson said.

“We’ve got the likes of Zac Daniels, Pinkchampagne and Tequilasunrise at home. It’s easy to get on a roll with the naming of horses until it just switches for whatever reason.”

The racing career of Candykane commenced on March 16, 2022, where she finished fourth at Redcliffe before winning at her next start at the same track.

Starting favourite, Candykane led throughout and secured her 1^st win QBRED bonus with Matt Elkins driving.

Later that season, Candykane finished a close-up fourth in the QBRED Breeders Classic at Albion Park while she also contested the Redcliffe Oaks.

Improvement has continued throughout her racing career, the tally of victories now sits at 14, 13 of those victories recorded at Redcliffe while she secured her maiden Albion Park victory earlier this year.

On January 27, Candykane produced a barnstorming finish to score when running down race favourite Mullum Doc to win the Selective Motors Albion Pace.

Her winning time of 1:57.1 was a personal best for the now seven-year-old mare.

Young reinsman Nathan Rothwell took the winning drive - his fourth winning drive behind the mare.

Other winning drivers throughout her career include Leonard Cain (7), Nathan Dawson and Matt Elkins (2).

“We love her; she’s such an oddball because when we drive her in trackwork, you can’t talk to her or make any noises because she’ll pull up. We only pacework her, no hopples and very basic and light stuff.

“Her diet is like most others, no pre-mixed sweet feed and she’s a good drinker. She lives in a paddock and thrives on it.

“And like most mares, no whip! I’m sure we’ve lost a few races because of the whip; it doesn’t help her one bit.”

Candykane is different, in a good way.

And she’s a gem… a sweet one.