Pete Comiskey’s name is linked to many of the great campdraft horses and his name is etched onto almost all the big draft trophies throughout the country, so one would imagine it would be hard for him to pick a favourite horse.
However when Rod and Ann Carpenter’s mare Roanies Chex name is mentioned you can feel a definite softness in his voice when he relives her competition achievements. He happily tells you that she was so talented and honest that she stands alone in his opinion and her achievements are continuing as a brood mare who will be remembered through her progeny. Her progeny are proving themselves to be champions showing all her successful traits and Pete can’t wait to bring each one to the campdraft arena.
Roanies Chex has attributes that make her standout. She has no dirt in her and she is just happy to be with you and goes that extra bit to please you. She is soft both in your hands and in her movement when hitting the ground, she has exceptional balance at speed and is really natural outside chasing a beast. Adding to all her competitive edge is she is just an excellent station horse, the horse you want to ride mustering, she’s a great walker, a good ride all day and stamina to boot.
Pete has embryoed Roanie to a number of sires for different reasons to produce stallions which he expects to excel at the highest levels. These stallions will all add to Roanies’ superior genetics and each will appeal to different people who will be trying to breed their own champion from the Roanie bloodline. The differences will be judged by colour, type or a preference towards a grand sire.
Mackelmore Chex is one of these stallions. Being by RS Chisum he is a straight Quarter Horse carrying a wealth of breeding. Pete believes the RS Chisum progeny are performing exceptionally well and that crossed with Roanie he would produce a cross which would be ideally suited to campdrafting, living up to the ability of his elder siblings, Paris and Brittany.
Mackelmore Chex is the resultant foal and Pete believes he is everything he wanted, he’s a good size and type maturing to around the 15 hh. His calm, easy going nature means he’s infinitely trainable and is performing very well for his age. He has speed, balance, hits the ground softly and has great feel, attributes his mother had in abundance.
Mack’s training regime began with Dan Steers, who was setting him up for the 2021 NCHA Snafflebit Futurity and then challenges, including the 2022 Cloncurry Stockmans Challenge. Covid put a stop to those plans, and the decision was made to return him to QLD to rejoin the Comiskey program, while standing him at stud for the breeding seasons. He is now lightly competing, having his first start as a Rookie in 2024, with Bryony saying he going extremely well and improving with every turn, as expected. Mack is showing massive potential to live up to his exemplary genetics and prove himself to be a valuable future sire for the industry.
Mack will play a vital role in carrying forward the genetics of his great dam, Roanies Chex. Sadly, she passed away in June 2024 at the age of 29. The industry watches with great anticipation, looking forward to more of the brilliance of this exceptional line of horses in future progeny.
