Great to be back and updating all things Yorkshire Park as we enter another very busy breeding and racing season. It is an exciting time of the year and having just returned from New Zealand Cup week the adrenalin is really running high. Once again, the NZ Cup week didn’t let anyone down with huge crowds, unbelievable racing and plenty of events to attend for the week. The Aussies cleaned up with six of the seven feature races and the highlight of the week for me was the run of Kingman in the NZ Cup and Gus and his performance in both the Dominion and the NZ Trotting Free for All. Leap to Fame was terrific and the performance of Tracy the Jet was spectacular. Credit to the NZ Board and CEO Brad Steele for a marvelous week showcasing harness racing. Already booked for next year.
Back home now and we have plenty to update:
Racing:
Plenty of winners since our last update with Go Home Jo two wins, Birkirkara, We Dealin Diamonds, Nevs Dream all scoring victories and both Brightly Blaze and Me and Zac scoring their maiden wins. Alifetimeforliving has performed really well with a strong fourth in the Victoria Oaks followed by seconds in the heat and semifinals of the Vicbred series and no luck in the final after drawing barrier 11. She will head to the paddock for a well-earned spell. Our Miki Diva has been performing well in Queensland under the guidance of Shane Graham and has her foot on the till for another win.
Our yearlings continue to progress well with Sweet Kova, Seaside Elegance and Always Watching back in the paddock following their various preparations.
Breeding News:
Lots to report on the breeding scene with a number of our foals born over the past few weeks. To date we have had three colts and a filly with two more mares yet to foal.
Watch the Dream (Cannibal), Masterkova (Poster Boy) and Classy Countess (Ride High) have all had colts while She Will Rock has had a Ride High filly. Carrera Mystic (Soho Tribecca) and Sixty Plus (King of the North) are yet to foal.
2026 Nutrien Yearling Sales:
The 2026 yearling sales will be upon us shortly and catalogues should be available by the end of December. The catalogues are already available online www.nutrienstandardbred.com.au. Our yearlings will be represented in both Sydney on March 8th and Melbourne on April 12th.
Sydney:
Lot 127 Poster Boy x Our Narissa Franco Filly.
Melbourne:
Lot 210 Vincent x She Will Rock Filly.
Lot 216 Pastor Stephen x Sixty Plus Colt.
Lot 275 Pebble Beach x Carrera Mystic Colt.
Lot 328 King of the North x Magical Filly.
We are about to enter the Cup season for the Victorian Country Harness Racing Clubs along with Harness Racing Victoria’s Summer of Glory carnival featuring Bendigo, Shepparton, Kilmore Ballarat, Cranbourne and the A G Hunter Cups with a bonus for both the pacers ($1M) and the trotters ($500K) if any horse wins three of the cups listed and the AG Hunter Cup. Expecting to see the best of the best here in Victoria to contes the series.
That’s about all for now.
Good luck and good punting.
Yorkshire Park Team.