The Grogfather flies the flag

The highly promising The Grogfather, a three-year-old gelding by Warrawee Needy and one of his first crop, is proving a fine harness racing advertisement for the former world champion who now stands at Yirribee Pacing Stud, Wagga.

The Grogfather notched his seventh success and earned a new speed badge of 1:53.9 leading for the final 1000 metres at Albion Park on Saturday night (May 22).

Warrawee Needy, who took a mark of 1:46.8 and earned $1.25 million, was also represented by the recent North American winners Deprived (1:56.6) and Warrawee Speedy (1:58.2).

Reigning NSW Sire of the Year Million Dollar Cam left winners in two States last week. The three-year-old filly Light Up Lily, Neville Shannon (1:56.8) and Milliondollarbill won at the NSW provincials, while Deal Breaker and Dollarbill both won at Marburg in Queensland.

Tintin In America, the sire of Australasia’s fastest ever pacer Shartin (1:46.8), was represented in Western Australia by Smooth Rye, who made it four on end with victories at Bunbury and Central Wheatbelt, and the 1:57.3 Gloucester Park winner Middlepage.

To round out a great week, Renaissance Man, the former multiple Group 1 winning juvenile who stood his first season at Yirribee in 2020, produced a winning double at Central Wheatbelt with the three-year-old Patrikiar and a ‘new’ winner That’s So Fetch.