The Bible contains a well-known story of how Jesus brings a man named Lazarus back from the dead. In western literature this story is often a reference when someone or something thought lost is resurrected. This is the origin of the Lazarus effect, referring to things that come back to life after being dead.
It was the last weekend in July, 2017 When I received a phone call from a shattered Dianne Sutherland to inform me that one of the sport’s most popular hero’s, Courage Under Fire had just passed away. Add that to the loss of both For A Reason (132 services) and Pet Rock (157 services ) moving camps. Led me to form the view that the much loved Yirribee Stud may be finished as a viable stud option.
Well, just 2 years later and in what could only be described as a harness racing miracle, Yirribee (that looked dead) is now leading the way for studs based in this country, according to the perspective of many.
I’m of the view this is an exceptional outcome for the sport, however like most things a few little challenges may need addressing, with the core one being the ‘no discount policy’ on Lazarus ,which I don’t agree with.
What I can say is that Yirribee conduct their business at the highest level of integrity and I, like so many, have a high level of respect for Rod, Di and the very friendly team at Yirribee..
Yirribee was established back in 1985 by Rod and Ian Walsh. Yirribee Pacing Stud has since grown to be one of the leaders in the Australian Standardbred breeding industry. Rod and Ian were business partners in an unrelated industry and shared a common interest as trainers and drivers. Ian retired from his interest in Yirribee in 2009 and sadly has since passed away after a long battle with illness.
Yirribee Pacing Stud is situated close to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia and encompasses over 400 acres of rich alluvial river flats which is all under irrigation and has extensive frontage to the Murrumbidgee River.
Below in part has been taken from Yirribee’s website to demonstrates their four truly outstanding options going forward. Take the time the read the details below and you too may see the light burning very brightly now at Yirribee.
WINNER of $4,125,988, New Zealand’s greatest and most accomplished racehorse of all time, LAZARUS will stand his first Australasian season at Yirribee Pacing Stud.
Bred on Australasia’s golden cross, being by breed-defining stallion Bettor’s Delight out of a Christian Cullen mare, LAZARUS has eight crosses to Meadow Skipper in his five generation pedigree similar to Sweet Lou, McWicked, Foiled Again and Anndrovette.
Named New Zealand Horse of the Year twice, three-year-old Pacer of the Year, four-year-old Pacer of the Year and five-year-old Pacer of the Year, as well as Australasian Grand Circuit Champion for two years, LAZARUS compiled an international race record of 51 starts, 37 wins 8 seconds 4 thirds 2 unplaced races with lifetime career earnings of $4,125,988 in true racing dollars (no conversions), making him the richest Standardbred Stallion in history to stand at stud anywhere in the world.
A multiple Stakes Winner at 2, the precocious LAZARUS flashed his brilliance as a juvenile winning 6 times from 8 starts, pacing the fastest 2 year old mile ever down under in 1:52.4 with a final quarter 25.1.
LAZARUS was a 15 time Group 1 winner, establishing 5 track records in New Zealand and another 3 records in Australia. Sent to race in North America, Lazarus won the $325,000 Dan Patch in his North American stakes debut. The mile went in 1:48.4. His next US stakes victory would come in the $177,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby where he paced the mile in 1:48.4.
Perhaps his greatest performance on US soil came at the Red Mile. The mighty LAZARUS, parked the entire mile much of it without cover finished in 1:46.3 while gaining at the wire.
This made believers of those in attendance of his extraordinary talent. LAZARUS’s trainer, Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter stated in an interview with Michael Guerin, “His (LAZARUS’s) official time, if you were to have it on him, he did break the world record,” (as Yannick Gingras was forced wide and to check while going for the lead at the first turn). “This is just a great, great horse. I urge breeders to breed their top mares to him,” added Takter.
“We were so fortunate to have raced such an extraordinary talent as LAZARUS’s,” said Duncan Taylor. His sire Bettors Delight has truly been a breed shaper and a renewable annuity. Our expectations are that Lazarus will follow in his sire’s footprint.”
Fear The Dragon impressed the harness racing world in 2017 with his dramatic come-from-behind and first-over wins in major races throughout the year. His thrilling victory in the North America Cup over the previously top-rated colts Downbytheseaside and Huntsville was a classic demonstration of both heart and speed. It was the only time those “big three” faced off together in one race this year. His elimination win was also dramatic as he drew off from the field in the stretch and overcome having to jump over a fallen head number near the finish.
The need for speed is here – Warrawee Needy was the fastest standardbred in the world.
As a Two Year old Warrawee Needy had 12 starts for 9 wins, 1 second and 1 third for earnings of $535,000, with a fastest time of 1:49.4s
1.46.4 at 4 years of age, Warrawee Needy still is the fastest pacer ever to stand down under.
A Winner of 29 Races and more than $1.25 Million, Warrawee Needy did it all. He was extemely fast at Two (1:49:4), faster still at Three (1:48:4) and fastest in the world at Four (1:46:4).
In setting his world record Warrawee Needy left in his wake the likes of Heston Blue Chip and A Rocknroll Dance, E Dees Cam, Warrawee Needy’s sire was the fastest horse in the US in 2003 rating 1.48.3.
Warrawee Needy’s maternal side is very strong currently out of a unraced Apache Flame mare called Great Memories who has also left Big Bay Point 1.49 and over half a million in prize money.
Great Memories is a daughter of Save the Memories 1:52.4 ($304,285) who has left Savor The Memory 1:52.1f ($677,246), Major Memory 1:51.2s ($312,697), Memory In Motion 1:53.2f (206,806) and So Many Memories ($85,907).
Save the Memories is a full sister to Idylwood Bonnie the dam of Rambaran 1:50.2s ($1,163,139), Cambaran ($295,893) and Idylwood Legend ($200,864) the dam of the champion two-year-old Lady Craceful ($1,113,376), Devils Ivy ($489,287), Princess Callie ($303,977).
Rambaran (by Western Hanover) 1:50.2s ($1,163,139) is now a very good sire in Canada leaving the winners of over $30,000,000 to date from just 660 foals He is the sire of 7 in better than 1:50 and has produced 90 winners of over $100,000 to date including Ramegade Bruiser 1:49.4 ($1,196,776).
Standing this season, at one of Australasia’s best nursery of champions Yirribee Stud. He is a perfect outcross for Australian mares. Broodmare owners with Bettors Delight mares should closely look at matching Warrawee Needy with your mare.
Both Bettors Delight and Warrawee Needy share the same broodmare sire Armbro Emerson, but Warrawee Needy will provide a perfect outcross to many of our mares.
An outstanding individual Warrawee Needy will be highly popular with New South Wales breeders who will be looking to take advantage of HRNSW new breeding incentives.
Warrawee Needy served over 130 mares in his first season at stud in Canada in 2016, he was test bred in 2013 and two of foals sold for up to $50,000 at the 2015 yearling sales.
TINTIN IN AMERICA NZ was a dual Harness Jewels winner and Breeders Crown Champion as a 3YO. The son of McARDLE USA earned more than $900,000 on the racetrack, won five times at Group 1 level and established three New Zealand Records from 1609 to 2700 metres.
He won the NZ Sires Stakes Championship as a 2YO, while at 3 he took his record of 1:53.2 winning the $200,00 Harness Jewels, in which he defeated SLEEPY TRIPP, STUNIN CULLEN and HIGHVIEW TOMMY.
TINTIN IN AMERICA NZ also set a track record of 1:56.1 for 2240m winning the Group 1 Breeders Crown Final at Melton. At 4YO, TINTIN IN AMERICA NZ added another $519,355 from eight wins and three seconds in 13 starts and was subsequently voted NZ 4YO of the Year.
Among the many highlights of his 4YO campaign were his successes in the $200,000 Harness Jewels in 1:54.1, $150,000 NZ Messenger in 1:56.6 and $50,000 Cambridge 4YO Futurity and his close second (beaten half a neck) to MONKEY KING in the $500,000 Auckland Cup.
TINTIN IN AMERICA’s first crop included the ill-fated colt ZEE DANA (1:54.6 a world record for 2400m), who won six races before his untimely death. His wins included a heat of the NSW Derby, before finishing a close up third to OUR WAIKIKI BEACH in the final. Smart mare, DAME PUISSANT (1:56.2) has won seven races in the west and was placed in the WA Oaks.
JUST WANTANO (1:54.6) is a winner of the SA Kindergarten Stakes at two and was a close fourth in the Vicbred final the same year, while AUSSIE VISTA (2:01.1) is a nine time winner and placegetter in the QBred Triad 2YO Final.
He is also the sire of the exciting 3YO filly SHARTIN (1:57.3) and the super 2YO DIVINE STATE. DIVINE STATE has set the harness racing world buzzing with his sensational first-up victory in 1:52.8 then followed it up with a 12m victory in the NSW Sapling Stakes in an amazing 1:51.6.
TINTIN IN AMERICA’s dam, ZENTERFOLD (1:56.2) from NOW AND ZEN by CHIOLA HANOVER form the great producer ZENOVER. ZENOVER is the dam of MOTORING MAGIC (1:57.5), INTERCHANGE and others.
ZENOVER was also the grand-dam of ELSEU (1:53.6, $2 million), Interdominion winner and sire of just on 200 individual winners.
All of the above has been achieved from a very small crop of mares.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
