Not only are they the breeders of Newmarket Handicap winner Natuzzi - a name that is familiar to racing fans nationwide - but they also had a winning quinella with Where's Stevie and Big Hoss at Kurow yesterday.
Add a second with Ilikai in the 2yr-old 800m at Wingatui on Boxing Day, and you could forgive them for expecting presents courtesy of the horses over the holiday period.
''To get a quinella is unreal,'' Stewart McGiffert said.
The McGifferts ''play around with six or eight mares'' at their farm at Otaio, near Timaru, where they provide dairy support.
Both Where's Stevie and Big Hoss have spent time at the McGifferts' property. Where's Stevie had been well-travelled before ending up at the Waikuku stables of Michael and Tarsha Stokes.
He was bought as a weanling at a Karaka sale before he was passed in at the South Island sales in the McGifferts' Three Valleys draft.
''We couldn't quite get enough, so we thought we'd try him,'' Stewart McGiffert said.
The circuitous route Where's Stevie took to get to the races caused the McGifferts to draw parallels with their son, Stevie.
''We bought [Where's Stevie] out of Karaka and then he went to the South Island sales and he seemed to be going here, there and everywhere.
''We have a son called Stevie and he's a bit like that - he was a wayward teenager.''
The McGifferts bred Big Hoss who - like Where's Stevie - is by Elusive City. He recently joined the West Melton stable of Tony and Lyn Prendergast on lease, and Tony Prendergast was instantly taken by his size.
But McGiffert reckons Where's Stevie is even bigger.
''Tony reckoned he had the biggest Elusive City [progeny]. Then when we were at the trials with Where's Stevie, we said you better have a look at this one, and he was dumbfounded.''
The McGifferts also now have Beach Dance - the mother of Belle Miraaj. The mare has provided more good news in recent weeks.
''We just got a positive to Iffraaj so hopefully we've got a good brother or sister to [Belle Miraaj].''
The Prendergasts might have had to settle for second with Big Hoss, but their daughter, Kerry, was ecstatic when La Musique won the rating 65 1800m.
She has a theory about the Coats Choice mare, which could ring true based on yesterday's win at a busy Kurow race-course.''
She's only had three starts at [New Zealand] Cup week for two wins and a second. So she must like the big days.''
Prendergast had removed the hood prior to yesterday's race, but was second-guessing her decision when the 6yr-old was three lengths last.
''I was wishing I had left it on because I thought she had dropped the bit - she normally races near the front,'' Prendergast said.
''I couldn't see because of the tents - I was upstairs - but the commentator said she was coming so I just started yelling.''
Prendergast, who races La Musique with her son, Tony Boyte, her grandmother, Dulcie McDonald, and harness trainer Nigel McGrath, now trains the mare's full brother, Snowdon.
