With summer racing in full swing and the yearling sales nearly upon us, it’s certainly a busy time at Ripple Creek. This year we’ll present 11 yearlings at the sales, and we’ll have photos of them up on our website and social media soon. There are seven colts and four fillies in the draft, all coming on well for their big day in the ring at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Christchurch on 14,15 and 16 February.
Sales prep time got us thinking about our past yearling sales experiences. It’s now eight years since we first entered yearlings in what was then the PGG Yearling Sales, and we can relate to the horse preparer’s typical run of highs and lows over that time. Of the successes we’ve led through the ring there are many.
One that springs immediately to mind is Bolt For Brilliance, the trotting son of Muscle Hill and Toomuch To Do by Britewell, bred by Brad Reid, sold in 2018. Bolt was a lovely colt to prepare, very well balanced and naturally athletic. A lot of people really liked the horse when we presented him, but a small fault in a hind leg suppressed demand and he was knocked down for what would prove to be a bargain price. Bolt was out of a very nice mare albeit one who’d not excelled at stud, and a mating with Muscle Hill certainly changed that.
Let It Ride (Rocknroll Heaven – Love a Gamble by Bettors’ Delight) was part of Ripple Creek’s 2015 yearling draft - a big, rangy horse that unfortunately was passed in. That didn’t stop him going on to earn big money in USA after winning four of his first seven starts in NZ and another five races in Australia. Just three weeks ago at the Meadowlands, Let it Ride scored his 28th win in 1.49. At the Sales, people were put off by his size and the fact his sire hadn’t yet proved himself. Such is the uncertainty inherent in buying and selling young horses.
You’re So Fine, pictured at Ripple Creek as a yearling, came out of our 2020 draft. He returned an early dividend for his buyers by taking out the 2021 Diamond Creek Farm 2YO Classic (Gr2) at Invercargill, beating Franco Indie and company. Bred by loyal Ripple Creek client Jordash Breeding Trust, You’re so Fine (Always B Miki – Syriana by Falcon Seelster) was subsequently sold to Australia for big money where he has had two wins and two placings from five starts to date.
Other horses we have successfully consigned to the Yearling Sales include Northern Velocity, by Mach Three from Northern Franco by Falcon Seelster (sale price $60,000), the 2015 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Fillies Final (G3) winner, and Cole Porter, by Bettor’s Delight from De Lovely by Falcon Seelster, ($70,000) the 2017 Saplings Stakes (Gr3) winner.
And so on to 2022, where the sires Always B Miki, Art Major, Sweet Lou, Vincent, A Rocknroll Dance Southwind Frank, Father Patrick, What the Hill and Volstead are represented. We’re looking forward to welcoming all prospective buyers to Ripple Creek on 1st February at 12.45pm to view our 2022 draft and talk to us about this magnificent bunch of young standardbreds.