29 January 2020 | John Coffey
APG Yearling Sales roll into Melbourne this weekend following a hugely successful Sale in Brisbane on Australia Day. Only 2 lots have not been sold at this point.
Some 250 Yearlings ( after Withdrawals ) will go under the hammer and here again is Part Two in a series of articles to put the Female Preparers under the microscope.
These three Ladies have over 70 Yearlings Sales of experience between them so it would be wise to sit up and listen to their words of wisdom.
The Sale on Sunday commences earlier this year at 10 am , so there is no time for Sunday morning sleep ins.
Time now to hear from the Three Ladies.
ANNIE DALTON – FAIRHAVEN FARM
Well Annie Dalton mightn’t need a big introduction to Yearling Sale buyers in Victoria but she does need listening to.
Annie has developed a fine reputation over the past 27 years and when she has prepared horses of the caliber of Restrepo and Messini [ to name a couple ] and seen the habits , the character and the work ethic that helped these horses to win over $500,000 , then you do need to pay close attention to what Annie will tell you in Melbourne this weekend.
The Annie Dalton story began in Albury and it was all about riding ponies and Show horses and working with Thoroughbreds in those early years. When her Mum and Dad moved to Melbourne and opened a Riding School , Annie became an Instructor.
However when she met a young Standardbred man called Clive Dalton and moved to Shepparton, the horse story shifted to Harness Racing and preparing Yearlings for Sales.
Apart from a four or five year stint in WA managing a horse property for Neven Botica the Daltons have always been based on the outskirts of Shepparton.
“ Ross Simpson from Karamea Farms was the first person to ask me to prep yearlings and from memory that was for the 1993 Aussco Sale at the Melbourne Showgrounds . “ said Annie recently.
This year with Clive’s valuable assistance , Annie is preparing 9 Colts – 2 Trotting yearlings for themselves and their son , 4 for Ross Gange’s Cavalli Superiori and 3 for Kerrie Hymer’s Tourello Standardbreds.
“ The two Trotting colts by Cardigan Boko are simply stunning types and are so kind and easy to work with. Clive used to train Cardigan Boko , so these two are definitely Chips of the Block. “ Annie added.
Nearly all the Pacing colts have impressed Annie as well with their development and work ethic but we are going to put the pressure on now to ask for a Number One favourite.
Annie’s Selections
Trotting Colt – LOT 277 Cardigan Boko – Its Only Words. “ He is nearly the perfect Colt , come and see for yourself. “
Pacing Colt – LOT 243 Always B Miki – The Waratah. “Similar type to his brother Mirragon. He is so quick at everything he does – one of the quickest I’ve ever prepped. He gives the impression he will have explosive speed. “
JENNY GALLAGHER – GALTHORN FARMS
Jenny Gallagher and partner Garry Hawthorn have been breeding mares and selling yearlings for the past 16 years under the banner Galthorn Farm.
It has been pretty much a life long experience for Jenny to be involved in Harness Racing as both her father and maternal grandfather were training Standardbreds as she was growing into adulthood.
“ One of my first jobs was working in the stables of Darkie Wilson and at that time three of my workmates were Jayne Davies , Steve O’Donohue and Gary Pekin “ said Jenny yesterday. “ So we all had a great start to our lives in Harness Racing . “
At one stage Jenny had six race drives but decided that someone like Kerryn Manning , a few years later , could become the trailblazer for Female drivers.
Jenny and Garry have been farming in the Goulburn Valley region for most of this Century , initially on 450 acres at Mundoona and more recently on the 210 acre property that they purchased from Helen Head at Congupna , just north of Shepparton.
This year Jenny and Garry have consigned four Colts , a gelding and a Filly to the Melbourne Sale this Sunday. The gelding is LOT 57 , by Betting Line and had a scrotal hernia shortly after birth which resulted him being gelded at a very young age.
In addition they are taking four Fillies to the Sydney Sale on March 8th.
“ We are really pleased how the team has come together this year. They are all well developed and have been a pleasure to work with – just a terrific bunch of youngsters “ remarked Jenny early this week.
“ It is very difficult to say which is the pick of them. I do really like LOT 192 which is an American Ideal colt from Our Options but LOT 120 , a Betting Line colt , is quite a stunner as well. “
LOT 192 had a new sub 1.50 winner added to his pedigree on the weekend when King Of Swing won at Menangle in 1.48.7.
Jenny’s Selections.
Filly – LOT 214 Betting Line – Shes Got It All. ‘ She is our only Filly and is such a good type and very much like her Sire. Being a half to Malcolms Rhythm should make her attractive as well. “
Colt – LOT 120 Betting Line – Geejaylee. “ He has great presence , great attitude with a real go forward manner about him. Should be a ready made 2 year old type. “
BLANCHE POOLE – RHIANNON PARK
Well Blanche informed us today that the Yearling Sale on Sunday will be her 29th in succession that she has prepped yearlings for . That is some sort of record that would be hard pressed to beat by anyone in Victoria.
Blanche grew up in Central Otago , New Zealand surrounded by Standardbreds as both her father Robert and Uncle Murray had trained them for a number of years.
The Hamilton family including brother Drew settled in Australia in 1990 and it wasn’t long before Blanche and her mother Marion were both employed by Alabar Bloodstock in Northern Victoria.
Further and valuable experience was gained at various Farms in the Goulburn Valley including Manna Lodge , Karamea Farms and Regal Farm.
In 2006 Blanche and her husband Dean purchased a property in Congupna , directly across the road from Mick Lombardo’s Concord Farm. For the following four years Blanche managed the broodmares and yearlings at Concord , whilst also helping Dean in establishing their own property into a first class horse facility.
So this year Blanche and her staff are preparing 24 yearlings for Sunday’s Sale – 19 Pacers and 5 Trotting Yearlings. Seven of those yearlings are the property of Rhiannon Park whilst the remaining 17 are offered on account of ten individual clients.
“Of our own yearlings I do particularly like ;
LOT 92 , the Well Said – Bettor Abs filly who is a racy and athletic type.
LOT 178 , by Four Starzzz Shark from Molly Pitcher and is a big strong and mature colt.
LOT 275 , a trotting filly by Father Patrick from Gypsy Flair , who is strong with plenty of both length and get up and go. “ said Blanche.
“ The other 17 yearlings are by a range of Sires and come in different shapes and sizes. They are a lovely bunch of yearlings and I can recommend all of them for inspection. “
So it wasn’t an easy task when Blanche was pressured for tips on her favourites but here they are ;
Blanche’s Selections.
Pacing Colt – LOT 164 Shadow Play – Malena. “He is a lovely colt and being a half brother to Muscle Factory will attract lots of inspection .”
Trotting Colt – LOT 294 Sebastion K – Illawong Shimmer . “Nice neat colt with some length to him. “
Pacing Filly – LOT 185 Captaintreacherous – Nikkis Delight. “She is tall and athletically built with a terrific attitude. Her 2 year old half brother has won already over in the West. “
Trotting Filly – LOT 275 Father Patrick – Gypsy Flair . “Lot to like about her as described above . “
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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