News, News, News:
What a start to November with a trip across the ditch to Christchurch for New Zealand Cup week and boy did it live up to everything people talk about. We arrived on the Saturday night and on Sunday had the pleasure to visit the Mark Purdon & Natalie Rassmussen stable which is one of the show pieces in Harness Racing. It’s hard to describe other than to say the property is immaculate and the facilities are second to none. Great to see Lazarus wondering around the paddock along with other top quality horses. Sunday night it was off to the NZ Cup launch at Addington and the pleasure of delivery the 1917 NZ Cup won by Adelaide Direct which currently occupies pride of place at Bendigo Harness Racing Club. Monday seen us off to Nevele R Stud and then on to the NZ Breeders presentation night. Tuesday was the big day, 23,000 people ventured to Addington to see Lazarus brain them in the $800,000 NZ Cup while Great Things Happen easily won the trot. Chase Auckland duly saluted in the NZ Sires Stakes to make it five wins from five starts. It was a real carnival atmosphere and the noise following the NZ National Anthem was really something else only beaten by the roar that went up when Lazarus kicked clear in the straight. Thursday we ventured to Ashburton trots and on Friday it was back to Addington for Show day and the Group 1 Dominion Trot of $300,000 and the Woodlands Stud NZ FFA of $260,000 to finish off a magnificent week.
What was most exciting was the win of Amaretto Sun in the Dominion Trot, a $90 chance driven by 19 year old Sheree Tomlinson in her second year as a junior reinswoman and trained by her grand father Ken Ford. Amaretto Sun is by Sundon out of Laurel Creek which makes him a full brother to our broodmare Sixty Plus. It was a real win for the battlers and a real exciting time for Yorkshire Park. You couldn’t help but feel good about this story.
Whilst in NZ we were fortunate to see both our two year olds Lutetia Midfrew and Rosa Parks who are close to heading to the work outs. Both looked terrific (maybe Lutetia could trim up a bit) and both worked really well under a good hold at trainer John Hay’s property.
La Tonneralla presented us with a smart looking colt by Love You while we were in NZ and we are close with My Little Black Dress to foal in the next day or so. Jewel Bromac is the only mare to foal for us in December.
Good luck to Adrian Duggan this week (24th Nov) when the Yorkshire Park owned Whosashadylady makes her debut in Tasmania after a couple of really sound trials. We wish Adrian and his team all the best on Friday night. Go Lady.
Still trying to recover from NZ Cup week but a big thank you to NZ Trotting Club Chair Brent Smith and CEO Peter Jensen who did everything possible to ensure we had a great week. The Cup week is a real credit to the club and to the people of Christchurch who support the event magnificently. Well done everyone and we will definitely be back next year. (Photos will be on the web site shortly).
Don’t forget you can catch us on Twitter @yorkshirepark19.
That’s about all for now.
Good luck and good punting.
Yorkshire Park team.