Bay Mare 03/12/2010 15.0h ASH 194915
Toonga Marina was bought from her breeder Des Castine in foal in Jan 2022. She is a Novice level Campdrafter. She broke her Maiden status by wining the Urana (NSW) Maiden Draft in 2016, winning $1000 that day. Marina was leading the highpoint Novice section of the Southern Campdraft Association 2017, until drought and lack of cattle stopped her progress. Marina was competed by youths Alex Malloy, Billy Stephens, on occasion. She made the second round of the Novice at Chinchilla, 2018 and second round of the Open at Landmark 2018.
"Marina has done plenty of miles mustering on our cattle property. A forward and free-going mare, she gallops low to the ground - an absolute cruising machine! Very smooth to ride. I have only ever had one better, and that was a gelding Rocca, her half brother." - Des Castine, (Toonga) breeder.
Marina is an ET foal. Des was approached by Luke Whitehead, owner of Bonlac Gigolo to breed embryos from her dam, Soda Marrea. 2 of these went to Luke (one being the sire L Toonga, and L Pro) and 2 more were collected, T Marina and T Pivot. Marina was given to a friend to break in and after a week she was returned to Des to continue.
"Our property requires horse work because there are a lot of boggy creek flats. The only thing she ever did was stop at a snake at the side of the road."
Marina's Tail female line is from the Ophir Stud - From Darren de Jong, 2021:
"Brooklyn
Fiery Lad was by Firelight who was a full brother to Victory’s dam Scrumlo
Victoria, so Gidget carries a double cross of this bloodline.
Very good temperament in this bloodline.
Lindsay Knight bought Gidget specifically to breed from and she has bred
many very successful horses. After her second foal he said he finally realized the importance of buying good broodmares
.
Joyetta was one of our best broodmares. 19 foals and so many winners. "
Marina probably could have made 20-25k at the Nutrien 2021 sale if she hadn't been withdrawn due to injury. She was subsequently bred to Toonga Grit (Chevin Ivory x Hazelwood Coraline) for a 2022 foal. Marina was only for sale to reduce breeding numbers "as I am nearing 70 now."
Des only started seriously drafting at age 50. Des's philosophy is to breed horses that will be highly competitive, that have Warwick potential , and will sell well at major sales. He wants a nice strong hipline and stifle position, not built too heavy, a fast horse keen to work a cow, with a good walk.
Soda Marrea - 15+1/2h grey mare - .well-performed and much admired, Omega mare, won and placed in numerous campdrafts, (including 3rd Canberra Royal) and has produced many Champions herself amongst her 14 reg foals (several different sires). Bonlac Gigolo and Soda Marrea have similar breeding to one another, both being a cross of Omega, Romeo, and Abbey.
Progeny of Soda Marrea :
* Lealukas Toonga 2010 stallion - Open CD, By Bonlac Gigolo, sire of 11 registered progeny before being gelded, owned by J Laverty. High Point Campdraft Horse Of The Year 2018.
* Lealukas Pro 2010 - , top Polox mare until she hurt her back - 3 reg progeny. Dam of Billabillacoolah Pros and Cons, by Hazelwood Conman. PROS AND CONS HSH-254015 was Reserve Champion at the 2021 Dalby ASH sale 5 and under Challenge.
* Toonga Marina 2010
* Toonga Pivot 2010 - a nice gelding that sold to Kimberley for $7K.
* Wandilla Cincinatty - 2011 bay gelding * Wandilla Skittles - 2011 Grey gelding - Both by Stonebrook Finno
* Toonga Rocca - 2014 Grey gelding by RS Chisum, Des Castine
competed on him (2021) - 2 seconds and many minor placings. Braidwood 2nd in Novice, Coonamble 2nd Maiden 22,
* Toonga Mink - 2016 Grey mare by Hazelwood Conman - Des rode her quite a bit and she was good, but with so many others to ride, made the decision to put her in foal. Had an outstanding filly by T Grit, then sold through 2022 Nutrien sale for $42,000.
* Toonga Merit 2016 grey gelding (x Roma One) sold at Dalby sale 2020 as a 4 yo for $26,000 with an 11 yr old boy riding him in the sale. *Another filly died colic, both by Roma One
* Toonga Cherry 2017 grey mare by Keewong Combat
* Toonga Chirp - 2017 Grey mare by Keewong Combat, sold $10,000 at the Nutrien Classic 2020 as going 2yo
* Toonga Granite 2018 grey gelding by Toonga Grit, Marreas first live foal, very quiet, made $6600 at Berragoon 2020 sale to Brice McMurtrie (for polo) , reportedly going extremely well.
* Toonga Mettle - 2019 grey gelding by Toonga Grit
* Toonga Ruby - 2020 bay filly by Toonga Grit
Bonlac Gigolo - Sire of Marina, is a standout sire, having sired multiple maiden, novice and Open campdraft winners, as well as polocrosse horse award winners at national level, and multiple stockman challenge winners, including 2019 Man From Snowy River. They are tough horses, keen to work, with a lot of heart in them, smart and athletic.
Bonlac Escort - Dam of Bonlac Gigolo - is a highly performed mare in her own right. She is a previous winner of the ASH National Maturity and an Open Campdraft mare. She is from Warrenbri Rosie who is a full sister to Warrenbri Omega. Sired by Star Black Minstril, Escort is one of the elite broodmares in campdrafting.
Blue Moon Mystic - Sire of Bonlac Gigolo - Champion drafter including 1980 Warwick Gold Cup. Progeny include Greenpark Ashanta winner 1995 Warwick Gold Cup. All notable for quiet temperament and natural ability. Notable sires: Bonlac Gigolo, Coolum Epic, Driscolls Serenity, Vet School Dowsett and Valli View Moonbeam. (See articles from ASH Magazine attached in Files section)
Son of the legendary Abbey and the mare Barretts Creek Betty (winner of over 40 drafts), BLUE MOON MYSTIC – IS died in 2006 at the ripe old age of 34. The grey stallion was a legend in his own time, but his name continues through the deeds of his progeny. Blue Moon Mystic is the only sire to have sired a Gold Cup Winner (Stephen Hill’s Greenpark Ashanta) and to have won both the Warwick Gold Cup and the Canning Downs. BMM produced B Gigolo at age 30 yrs.
| Name | Colour & Sex | Date of Birth | Sire | Dam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalani Cruise | Black mare | 08/11/2022 | Toonga Grit | Toonga Marina - HSH |
| Chalani Regatta | Bay mare | 01/09/2024 | Chalani Sunstream | Toonga Marina - HSH |
| Chalani Spinnaker | chestnut mare | 28/08/2025 | Chalani Sunstream | Toonga Marina - HSH |
Chalani Australian Stock Horses