Nice boost for two lots
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.
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.
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.
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2022 Melbourne Yearling Sale Catalogue Here
Contact Mark Barton on 0419 488 256