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25th Mar 2015

Breednet - by Tara Madgwick - Monday, 23 March 2015

Featuring the first foal of a Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner, the full sister to last year's Easter sale-topper and a stunning colt likened to Brazen Beau, this draft from one of the most popular Hunter Valley vendors is sure to be a winner at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

'Raised and grazed' has become a popular catch-cry in recent months as farms seek to raise their profile as premium sources of stakes-winners and this family owned and run Hunter Valley farm has the runs on the board leading into the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The Mitchell family owned Yarraman Park is renowned as a leading commercial yearling vendor but is also the source of recent stakes-winners such as Group I South African Derby winner Ertijaal, Wawail, Sweet and Speedy and Haybah, that were all retained to race by their breeders.

Also tasting success in recent weeks and primed for the $300,000 Provincial and Country Championships at Randwick are promising three year olds Voodoo Lad and Magic of Dreams, who were also foaled and raised at Yarraman.

"We've bred, raised and sold some outstanding horses over the years including leading sire Snitzel and the winners keep coming which is very satisfying to see,” said Harry Mitchell.

The stud's resident young sire I Am Invincible has been the source of many of the recent winners from the farm and his stunning colt from River's Secret to be offered as Lot 136 will have plenty of admirers.

"He's very similar in type and also bred along very similar lines to Brazen Beau as he has a double cross of Danzig and of Bletchingly as does the dual Group I winner, who is headed next for Royal Ascot,” said Mitchell.

"His full sister Lanikai has won twice since the catalogue went to print at Gosford and Warwick Farm and it's also the family of Group II ATC Silver Slipper winner Headwater, so it's a very current commercial family.”

Setting the pace at Inglis Easter last year when fetching $1.6 million was a colt by champion sire Fastnet Rock from stakes-placed Perfect Persuasion and his full sister is equally appealing and will be offered as Lot 103.

"Lighthouse Keeper (the colt from last year) finished second on debut in what looked a very strong form race at Kembla the other day and John Hawkes likes him a lot,” said Mitchell.

"He'll run this Saturday in the Baillieu (Group III) at Rosehill and his older sister Lady Sharapova ( also with Hawkes) is entered for a Listed race at Moonee Valley on Friday night, so it's a pedigree that may well improve sharply before we get to the sale.”

It's a family well known to Yarraman Park as this filly's dam Perfect Persuasion, a full sister to champion filly Alinghi, was bred and sold by Yarraman Park at Inglis Easter in 2006 when she sold for $2.6million.

It's a record price for a yearling filly in this country that has only once been equalled and that was by Black Caviar's half-sister by Redoute's Choice that sold at Inglis Easter in 2012.

With a draft of 26 it's impossible to cover them all, but we've picked out some interesting highlights.

Lot 85 Colt Dream Ahead (USA) x Ofcourseican, by Mossman - From the first crop of Champion European Sprinter Dream Ahead and is first foal of ATC Coolmore Classic winner, so if he's anything at all like Mum and Dad, he'll be winning good races.

Lot 87 Colt Lonhro x Oh So Discreet, by Bluebird (USA) - Half-brother to Group I SAJC Schweppes Oaks winner Maybe Discreet and Group III winner Just Discreet from a tightly held South Australian female family that rarely appears in major Eastern states catalogues.

Lot 144 Filly Snitzel x Royal Commands, by Commands - By a sire that has just posted two new Group I winners in Sweet Idea and Wandjina and is first foal of stakes-winner Royal Commands. Bred on the same 3 x 3 double cross of Danehill as is recent HK Derby hero Luger.

Lot 185 Colt High Chaparral (IRE) x Silk Veil, by Danehill (USA) - A colt with a big pedigree update being a half-brother to last Saturdays Group III ATC Epona Stakes winner Scratchy Bottom.

Lot 254 Filly Invincible Spirit x Zarzuela (IRE), by Rock of Gibraltar - A filly that will find instant recognition from the European buyers at this sale being a daughter of Champion European sire Invincible Spirit from a half-sister to European bred Australian Group I winner Glass Harmonium. Champion stayer Conduit also features on the page.

Lot 380 Filly So You Think x Elimbari, by Fastnet Rock - From the first crop of 10-time Group I winner So You Think from a speedy Group III placed Fastnet Rock three-quarter sister to freakishly good Group II ATC Silver Slipper winner Amelia's Dream. The speedy side of the family appears to have come out on top in the conformation stakes for this one!