The focus this week is the Bathurst Gold Crown carnival as the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest futurity racing series dominates.

Open to all comers from wherever in Australia and New Zealand, provided their owners are prepared to take a punt and pay their foals up early on, this years Bathurst Gold Crown Final on Friday features a total of four graduates from the inaugural Nutrien Yearling Sale in 2021.

Bathurst Gold Crown

The six heats of the 2022 Bathurst Gold Crown saw three of the winners come from graduates of the 2021 Nutrien Yearling Sale.

Friday night’s $110,000 Bathurst Gold Crown finalist Petracca was purchased for $80,000 as Lot 53 last year, sold by Bruce and Craig Cameron. Petracca, trained by Emma Stewart copped a “visitors” back-line draw of nine in Friday’s final.

Drawn next to Petracca in barrier ten is Our Sunset Delight which cost just $18,000 as Lot 14 sold by Galthorn Farm in last year’s sale.

Best drawn of the Nutrien Sales Graduates in the Gold Crown final is the Sweet Lou gelding Naturally Gifted which will start from barrier three. As lot 118 last year Naturally Gifted cost his owners $30,000 as a yearling, sold by P JUDD, C JUDD, M COMMADEUR, T COMMADEUR.

In addition to the three Nutrien heat winners is Chillin which started favourite and finished second to Happy Reg in the opening heat last Friday. Chillin was sold by Brooklyn Lodge as Lot 8 for $22,000 and will start from barrier seven on Friday night.

Bathurst Gold Tiara

Five heats of the $110,000 Bathurst Gold Tiara were held last Wednesday night with first and second in each heat qualifying for this week’s final.

Making her race-track debut in the second heat was Lochinvar Xena which finished second to Jewel Melody in the fastest heat of the night.

Lochinvar Xena was sold for $115,000 as Lot 192 and importantly for breeder Alison Miles Lot 114 the 2022 Nutrien Yearling Sale in a couple of week’s time is a Sweet Lou half-sister to Lochinvar Xena.

Lochinvar Xena will start from barrier two in the final unless the second emergency Windy Hill Tara gains a start from the pole position.

Want a finalist in the 2023 Bathurst Gold Crown or Bathurst Gold Tiara then checkout the Nutrien Melbourne Sale on April 3rd.

If you would like more information on our Melbourne Sale please click here.

2022 Melbourne Yearling Sale Catalogue Here

Contact Mark Barton on 0419 488 256

The running of four heats of the Vicbred Platiunum Home Grown Classic for the three-year-old trotting fillies and colts at Bendigo on Wednesday night saw two separate updates to the pedigree of Lot 237.

The first of the colt’s heats was taken out by the Andover Hall colt Hes A Hammer for trainer David Aiken and driver Josh Aiken rating an impressive 1:58.9 over the 1650 metres beating Sir Eros and Gaelic Lad.

It was Hes A Hammer’s second win this season and Lang Bloodstock will offer a half-brother to Hes A Hammer as Lot 237 in Nutrien’s Melbourne Yearling Sale on April 3rd.

Lot 237 is by Father Patrick and this colt is a full-brother to the VSTA 2yo Trotting Filly of the Year in Evas Image tr,2,2:02.0 $64,910.

His dam Shes An Image tr,1:57.4 $233,824 was both an Australian 2yo Filly Trotter of the Year and an Australian 3yo Filly Trotter of the Year and her first three foals are all winners with Lot 237 being her fourth foal.

As if they aren’t enough credentials for Lot 237 if one looks under the grand-dam you will see a Father Patrick 3yo filly called Iceeyalookin which while yet to lose her maiden status she finished third in a fillies heat of the Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic on Wednesday.

At her previous start on February 26th Iceeyalookin finished third in the Group Two Lunar Lass 3yo Trotters Classic at Melton.

Haley Lang is preparing Lot 237 and she would be only too happy to show you the colt if you contact her on 0436 475 638.

Lots 174 and 176

Finishing second to Hes A Hammer on Wednesday was the 3yo Creatine gelding Sir Eros.

Alabar Bloodstock are offering two fillies out of well-performed half-sisters to Sir Eros in Lots 174 and Lot 176 at the Melbourne Sale.

Lot 174 is by Father Patrick from Illawong Helios tr,1:57.2 $272,867 while Lot 176 is by Sebastian K from Illawong Shimmer tr,2,2:01.2 $61,548.

By Peter Wharton

When Lot 169 steps into the ring at Nutrien Equine’s Melbourne yearling sale on April 3, the excitement will likely reach fever pitch not only at the Oaklands Junction sales complex but the home of the youngster’s vendor 15,000 kilometres away.

The Father Patrick filly was bred and is owned by a Finnish born horsewoman, Katri Keranen, and is first standardbred yearling ever to be offered by a Scandinavian breeder at a sale in this country.

A hobby trainer and breeder, Katri, 39, was born into a harness racing family. She breeds between one and four mares every year.

The filly is part of the strong draft being prepared for the sale by Aldebaran Park stud, Nagambie.

Her dam, Hiding My Heart, was imported by Katri to Australia as a yearling in 2015.

“I got the idea when I was in Australia on holidays in 2015,” Katri said. “I went with the Herbertson family to Shepparton trots where I saw the Finland-imported trotter Kvintet Avenger race.

“Everyone told me the idea to import a trotter to Australia from Europe was insane, so I decided just to do it anyway!”

“I wanted to import a filly that would be a good broodmare prospect after her racing career. Hiding My Heart has a nice, proven USA pedigree behind her.

“I try to breed my mares to the best American or European stallions that I can afford. Hopefully that will pay off one day.”

Hiding My Heart, named after the song recorded by Adele, won a race at Ballarat and was three times placed in a brief career with Darraweit Guim trainer Lisa Miles. She also qualified for the Breeders Crown 3YO Final.

The filly is the first foal of her dam.

“She looks a nice type,” Katri said. “The staff at Aldebaran Park do a wonderful job with my horses.”

Unfortunately due to covid restrictions, Katri can’t attend the sale.

“Maybe I will be able to come down next year? I love horse racing and normally go to see the Elitloppet in Sweden every year,” she said.

“I’ve seen the Prix d’Amerique in France a couple times. The Hambletonian, Inter Dominion and the Aurora Australis featuring the Great Southern Star are still on my bucket list!”

Nice boost for two lots

Lot 232

Former young Western Australian trainer/driver Corey Peterson landed his first city staked Menangle winner when the 5yo Tintin In America mare Smooth Rye took out the final of the Group Three Tanyia Harris Stakes on Saturday night. See video below

Smooth Rye was sporting the Western Australian State colours of black and gold and the mare is still owned in Perth by Bob Fowler’s Allwood Stud Farm.

Fowler is the Harness Representative on the Board of Racing and Wagering Western Australia.

Lot 232 in the Nutrien Melbourne Yearling Sale on April 3rd is a half-brother to Smooth Rye being by up and coming young sire Vincent from the imported American mare Rye Hanover.

Rye Hanover is a three-quarter sister to Rocknroll Hanover p,13,1:48.8 $3,069,093, a half-sister to Royalflush Hanover p,1:49.6 $2,153,893 and a full-sister to Red River Hanover p,3,1:48.8 $1,394,626, and a pair of Canadian 2yo Pacing Colts of the Year in Rustler Hanover p,3,1:51.0 $971,638 and Richess Hanover p,2,1:53.0 $557,537.

Rye Hanover is the dam of ten winners and in addition to Smooth Rye they include the Group Two Renshaw Cup winner Blazin N Cullen p,1:50.8 $576,352.

Lot 232 is being offered by Benstud Standardbreds and early inspection can be arranged by contacting Mark Commadeur on 0429 950 055.

Lot 224

Alabar Bloodstock are offering a colt by Always B Miki from a daughter of the afore-mentioned Rye Hanover as Lot 224.

Always B Miki is now the sire of 42 Australasian winners including Franco Indie which finished third behind his stablemates Akuta and Bollinger in last Friday’s Group Two Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park in Auckland.

Lot 224 is out of the unraced Artsplace mare Rockahula Baby which is already the dam of a winner in Rockahula Joe.

Dale Forbes is preparing Lot 224 for Alabar Bloodstock and Dale can be contacted on 0423 828 907 to arrange for a pre-sale inspection.

Lot 249

Marcus Kirkwood has been in the produce business for the best part of 45 years through the family business Kirkwood Produce.

Marcus enjoyed the ride of his life a decade ago with a share in the champion Smolda which won 32 races and some $2,415,738 and recorded eight wins at Group One level, including the 2016 Inter Dominion Grand Final in Perth, and was named New Zealand 3yo Pacer of the Year and was twice New Zealand Pacer of the Year and Australian Harness Horse of the year.

Smolda, by Courage Under Fire from Under The Mattress, was purchased as a yearling for $53,000 after a disputed bid saw him re-enter the auction ring and Marcus bought into the yearling after seeing a share advertised on the All Stars Racing website by trainer Mark Purdon.

After retirement from the racetrack, Smolda found his way to his forever home on the property of Marcus Kirkwood and in 2018 Marcus published a book called Our Mate Smolda – a story about a horse who could sort the oats from the chaff.

Last Friday at Newcastle a 2yo filly by Art Major from the Grinfromeartoear mare Grandma Gertie was an impressive 1:57.0 winner of the 2yo race on the programme at just her fourth start in a race.

Bred and raced by the Kirkwood family it is fitting that she bears the name Threebushelsofoats and equally as fitting is the fact that her dam Grandma Gertie is an unraced half-sister to Marcus Kirkwood’s champion Smolda.

Lot 249 in the Nutrien Melbourne Yearling Sale next month is a three-quarter sister to Threebushelsofoats being by Art Major from Under The Mattress p,1:58.0 $105,711 as well as being a half-sister to Smolda.

In addition to Smolda, Under The Mattress is the dam of three other winners and three of her daughters each left 3yo winners in 2021.

While Lot 249 is a half-sister to Smolda there are two other lots in the Nutrien catalogue which are worth considering.

Lot 179 is an Always B Miki colt from an unraced Rocknroll Hanover half-sister to Smolda in the beautifully named Inna Spring while Lot 223 is out of Richly Deserved p,3,1:59.7 which is a half-sister to Under The Mattress.

All three yearlings are being consigned by Alabar Bloodstock and Dale Forbes is preparing the trio and he can be contacted on 0423 828 907.

Thank you to Alan Parker for his weekly pedigree updates and stories.

If you would like more information on our Melbourne Sale please click here.

2022 Melbourne Yearling Sale Catalogue Here

Contact Mark Barton on 0419 488 256

When Doug and Janet Moore decided to locate their standardbred breeding nursery Brooklyn Lodge from Aberdeen near Scone they looked long and hard for the right location.

With their daughter Melanie and son-in-law Ben Settree working alongside them, the desire was to find a property closer to the heart of harness racing country in New South Wales.

“There was a lot of time researching to find the right property,” Ben said.

The search took them to The Lagoon, just outside Bathurst, in 1999.

“We purchased it with the sole view of raising an athlete.”

And as they prepare to take 25 foals to the Nutrien Equine Standardbred Yearling Sale in Sydney on Sunday, February 20, more than 20 years down the track this is exactly what their main objective continues to be.

“We run our horses in big mobs in big paddocks,” Ben said.

“It’s nothing to see 30 or 40 colts in a (100-acre) paddock galloping flat out from one end to another.

“The concept is food at one end and water at the other with rolling hills in between.

“It helps us raise a quality animal, a quality athlete to do a job.

“They learn to run and play, and learn to be a horse first, which we believe is important when trying to raise a racehorse.

“Our horses are pretty well grown and mature by the time they come in,” he said.

“We only have them in for the last stage of preparation, five to six weeks before a sale.”

It is at this stage that Melanie as studmaster is in complete control.

“When it comes to yearlings she’s boss,” Ben said.

While 22 lots of Brooklyn Lodge’s own and another three for clients is a significant number, it is much fewer than they once took to the sales.

“We’ve scaled back over the past seven to eight years. We took more than 50 one year when we were the biggest (consigner) on the East Coast.

“We’ve by choice handed over the baton to others for various reasons.”

A major influence was an incident in 2015, which left Doug Moore a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair.

Looking to the sale, Ben Settree has no hesitation in nominating what he believes is Brooklyn Lodge’s best foal – lot 19, a Captaintreacherous-The Arch Nemesis (Jeremes Jet) filly.

“She’s a magnificent individual. She’s athletic and has a pedigree which will carry her into the breeding barn.

“We have some well-bred, dual-purpose fillies, but she’s the stand-out. She’s the star.

The Arch Nemesis has left two winners – Crunch Time (Somebeachsomewhere) 1:49.6 and Captain Crusader (Captaintreacherous) 1:50.6.

“Fingers crossed she’ll make an impact in the sale ring,” he said.

Ben also has a real liking for lot 42 – a Rock N Roll Heaven-Betapic filly.

“She’s very much in the mould of lot 19.”

He said Betapic was a family favourite, having been one of six winners bred by Brooklyn Lodge out of Picket Line (Entrepreneur).

Betapic won 14 races and as a broodmare has produced four winners.

Ben said she had left some nice horses without any being a superstar, including Captaintreacherous filly Beta Jewel (5 wins), which was sold for $72,500 as a yearling in 2019, an Art Major filly for $27,500 in 2020 and Art Major for $22,500 last year.

Brooklyn Lodge believes it has an even lot of colts, but Ben was prepared to single out lot 95, by Art Major and out of NZ-bred Bettors Delight mare Nothing Else Matters.

“He’s a lovely colt.”

Ben Settree said was an old saying in harness racing – go to the best and hope for the best.

He said in keeping with this Brooklyn Lodge always focused on taking mares to the best sires available after matching up physical and racing attributes and temperaments as well as bloodlines.

It has certainly paid off over the years.

Brooklyn Lodge attracted an Australian record price of $245,000 for now Victoria Cup winner Max Delight as a yearling in 2017.

“We were fortunate a few buyers were interested and they went all out.”

Maybe it can happen again in Sydney.

* Betapic is the granddam of a Vincent-Decapria colt sold for $95,000 at the APG yearling sale in Melbourne on Sunday.

If you would like more information on the sale please contact Mark Barton 0419 488 256.

Online Catalogues links below.

SYDNEY YEARLING SALE

MELBOURNE YEARLING SALE