News Update March 2020
A busy month for Yorkshire Park following on from a very successful New Zealand Yearling sales week which resulted in the purchase of a filly by Always B Miki out of Divine Diva (Mach Three) named Miki Diva. I was really impressed with this filly, a nice type with plenty of scope and a fantastic nature about her. She will head to the John Hay stables at Ashburton about an hour south of Christchurch. The filly presents plenty of options being eligible for all the NZ feature races including the Harness Millions but also eligible for the Breeders Crown, Bathurst and being VicBred as well. At this stage we may look to put together a syndicate to race the filly – more to come on this one.
Both Auckland and Christchurch sales were very strong with top of the market being a filly and a colt reaching $280,000 each. The excitement and enthusiasm amongst buyers and vendors was really good and the horses were presented really well. A credit to NZ Bloodstock Standarbred team on the way they presented and marketed the sales.
Great to be a guest of NZ Bloodstock at dinner on the Sunday night at Alexandra Park and even more special to sit with USA leading trainer Ron Burke and NZ trainer Cran Dalgety. Pretty special night I must say. Also great to catch up with NZ trainer Ray Green in Christchurch to discuss his purchases at the sales including a couple of the $200,000 plus yearlings, and chat about all things harness racing.
A trip to Woodlands Stud prior to the sales was a highlight of the week in NZ to look at the biggest operation in NZ Standardbreds. Thank you to everyone at Woodlands for their hospitality and support over the week.
On the racing scene it is always a buzz when one of your yearlings sold at the sales makes their race track debut. This Saturday at Melton Drain The Swamp (not sure about the name) will contest the Breckon Farms Sapling stakes after two impressive trials for the Michael Stanley stable. By Somebeachsomewhere out of Vickymurphy, Buster as he was called at home will no doubt acquit himself well. Good luck to the owners and Yorkshire Park will be there to cheer him on. Also about to make her racetrack debut will be Classy Countess a filly by Village Jolt that Yorkshire Park have leased to the Club 21 syndicate. At this stage it looks like it will be Geelong on the 11 March so stay tuned.
Alta Mach returns to the race track on Saturday night at Globe Derby under the care of Ryan Hryhorec while Lutetia Midfrew finished a really good third placing last week in Hobart, her first run back from a spell and according to trainer Adrian Duggan their is improvement in her to come. Dreams Are Bettor returns to the John Caldow stables this weekend and will hopefully progress to racing stage this time in.
I’m pleased to say that the Yorkshire Park bred and part owned filly She Will Rock (6 start for 3 wins and 2 seconds) is progressing well following surgery to remove bone chips in her knee. She looks a treat and will remain in the paddock until the end of March before we assess if it is time to bring her back into work.
Our foals born this season are all doing well and we look forward to the weaning process coming up in the next month or so. The three colts and two fillies will come in for a bit of handling and education before heading back to the paddock, this time without their mums.
Yorkshire Park still has two yearlings for sale, both fillies.
Well Said – Vickymurphy filly (half sister to Drain The Swamp & Masterkova)
Western Terror x Jewel Bromac (half sister to Jilliby Macarena).
Give me a all if you have any interest in the fillies.
That’s about it for now but we look forward to what should be an exciting couple of months.
Don’t forget you can catch us on Twitter @yorkshirepark19
Good luck and good punting.
Yorkshire Park team.