News Update:
It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of NZ Breeding legend Bob McArdle today. A terrific friend and mentor for Yorkshire Park usually involving long chats and coffee with a man whose knowledge of our breeding industry cannot be surpassed. My trips to New Zealand always involved a guided tour around Christchurch and catch ups with various trainers and breeders at their properties. Bob was a massive player in the breeding industry with the development of Nevele R Stud and in later times Bromac Lodge. His passion for the industry was immense and could not be matched. On behalf of all at Yorkshire Park our deepest sympathy to Denise, Lisa, Baeden and family. I will make sure I give Jewel Bromac and extra pat for you Bob.
News, News, News:
On behalf of the Yorkshire Park team we hope you had a very Merry Xmas and welcomed in the New Year with your family and friends. Maybe the odd New Years resolution and a couple of quiet drinks to start of 2018.
Reflecting on the 2017 year it certainly provided some ups and downs but all in all it was a good year for the Yorkshire Park owned and bred horses in 2017. The year certainly provided us with the most number of wins we have had in a calendar year with 26 in total headed up by Artful Christian who scored on 8 occasions, All Done Up 5 wins, Jilliby Babavska 3 wins and Masterkova 3 wins. The big win came in the South Australian Sapling Stakes when Our Royal Lady won on debut and the most exciting finish to the 3 Year old Breeders Crown Trot when Jilliby Babavska came from last to go down by a neck in a stirring finish and of course the emergence of Masterkova who has won 3 from 3 to date. The downer for the year was the loss of Whitney H who unfortunately died foaling in September.
No doubt one of the highlights for me was the week spent in NZ for New Zealand Cup week which lived up to everything that was expected. Lazarus was awesome, Amaretto Sun (a full brother to Sixty Plus) won the Dominion Trot and 27,000 people turned out for the Cup day. It was really enjoyable. A big thank you to the Addington team, Nevele R Stud, NZ Breeders for the invite to the Awards night, Natalie Rassmussen for her time at the All Stars property and to the team at Ashburton who looked after us so well on the Thursday. No doubt I will be back next year.
This year we will have four fillies heading to the sales with two headed to the APG Melbourne sales, a Rock N Roll Heaven out of My Little Black Dress, a half sister to All Done Up and a Western Terror out of Vickymurphy who is a half sister to Masterkova. Yorkshire Park will also be represented in the Australasian Premier Trotting Sale with two fillies, a Majestic Son out of Sixty Plus, dam is a full sister to the Dominion winner in NZ Amaretto Sun and a half sister to Jilliby Babavksa by Angus Hall.
All our mares have now foaled and we ended up with four colts and two fillies and we are really excited about what their future may hold. To date we have two of our mares back in foal and we should have another three in the coming weeks. Most pleasing is the news that Watch The Dream is confirmed in foal to Sportswriter and Vickymurphy to Well Said.
Our NZ fillies are both in the paddock although Lutetia Midfrew (Sportswriter) will be back in the next week or so while Rosa Parks will spend a little longer in the paddock. Pearlescent returns from a spell on Thursday at Mildura, Whosashadylady will be in on Sunday at Hobart and Artful Christian on Saturday at Bendigo.
So what does 2018 bring? For Yorkshire Park no doubt our aim will be to better the results of 2017 and continue to breed the future stars for the harness racing track. We get a lot of enjoyment out of our horses doing well for the owners who purchased from us and the elusive Group One would be a good result. We look forward to our two year old gracing the track shortly and working with this years foals.
Five 2018 Predictions for Yorkshire Park.
Masterkova – 3 from 3 to date for the Falcon Seelster filly but I’m positive better things to come.
Jilliby Babavska – confident Paddy Lee will win a good race with this bloke.
Our Royal Lady – we have yet to see the best of this filly, the 2017 SA Sapling stakes on debut is just the beginning.
2018 Yearling Sales entries – difficult to pick the best but for me the Western Terror and Angus Hall fillies.
And the final prediction Lazarus is the second best horse I’ve seen behind the great Popular Alm.
Don’t forget you can catch us on Twitter @yorkshirepark19.
That’s about all for now.
Good luck and good punting.
Yorkshire Park team.