Truly is an exciting initiative

With excitement building as we approach the APG Melbourne Sale this weekend I’m equally looking forward to the new harness racing Allwood Sale at the Magic Millions Morphettville Complex in Adelaide the following Sunday 11th February. As soon as I heard about it I thought to myself ‘This is an initiative I have to be a part of!’

The Allwood Sale introduces a new 2yo Series with a $100,000 Final to be held in Adelaide. What a boost for South Australian and Australian harness racing! Dean Baring has dreamt big & interim HRSA General Manager, Gary Crocker, his board and SA BOTRA were quick to support the concept. Soon the pair had signed up Bob & Marilyn Fowler of Allwood Stud as the major sponsor. Gary then turned his sights on lobbying some of the nations top breeders to nominate their best yearlings.

He has lured some of the biggest names in the breeding industry. Benstud (5), Courtney Slater (4), Alabar (3) & Annie Dalton (3) lead the Victorian charge while Brooklyn Lodge (4) from NSW was also key signing. They are all to be congratulated for supporting a great new concept. SA BOTRA has been busy on the ground and top local breeders & preparers Mandy Pascoe (4), Ray Holbertson (3), Stephen Norman (2) & Lane Johnson (2) among others will be motivated to show buyers that the locals can give them a run for their money.    

Vendors have seized the opportunity. Some wonderfully bred yearlings will be on display. If the line-up of preparers is not enough to convince buyers to keep some money aside for The Allwood Sale then the line-up of stallions certainly should.

Lack of diversity in the major Sales has been a criticism from some quarters in recent times. That’s not the case at The Allwood which showcases the progeny of 22 stallions in the 33 Lot line-up. There’s something for everyone. The modest ($550.00 for the Colts and $1210 for the fillies) Race Series fee will be well received by all sections of the market and should incentivise the speculators to step forward.

Ill-fated World champion stallions Mach Three (2) & his son Somebeachsomewhere (1) will generate huge interest. There was keen bidding on the Mach Three lots in the APG Brisbane Sale on the weekend where he topped the Sale with a colt fetching $60,000. The Somebeachsomewhere colt (Lot 28) by classic winning mare Morgan Abby has people talking already as are the yearlings by star stallions Art Major (2), American Ideal (2) & Western Terror (1).

Bettors Delight’s full brother Roll With Joe (2) & son, Betterthancheddar (1), are represented with fellow established sires Shadow Play (2), Sportswriter (1) & Pet Rock (1). Roll With Joe is off the blocks running with excellent results in Brisbane. And then there are the exciting newcomers Sunshine Beach (2) & Heston Blue Chip (1).

Sunshine Beach has been full booked 3 seasons in a row in North America and has been the subject of much publicity following impressive results at Harrisburg & Lexington. North American breeders & buyers have invested their confidence in him. I’ve been a believer from the beginning, so when I saw an American Ideal mare with New Zealand Cup winner Arden Rooney a close-up relative at the 2016 Alabar Blue Ribbon Sales in foal to him, I had to buy her. Her filly (Lot 9) was a looker from the start and her preparer, Mandy Pascoe, has big wraps on her.

Greg Norman, also from SA, prepares the only other Sunshine Beach yearling in the Allwood. A filly by Baroda Belle, famous for being the dam of the brilliant juvenile Ananz who won her first 11 races in a row and finished her 2yo season with 17 wins & 2 placings from 20 starts. The only time she missed a place as a 2yo was at Bendigo in the Breeders Crown Final on the 17th August 2008 when she finished 4th after starting from Gate 7. It’s a year I remember well as it was my first visit to Bendigo and my first starter in a Breeders Crown Final. He was a 2yo trotter who unfortunately was far from being as memorable. It was a frosty Bendigo day but the atmosphere was electric. Luckily, I got to experience it for it was sadly to be the last time Bendigo was to host the Crown. Ananz went on to prove she was not just a juvenile wonder by later lowering the colours of Victoria’s pin up girl Make Mine Cullen in the Group 1 Queen of the Pacific before amassing a career prizemoney total of $527,844.    

Local hero Courage Under Fire (3), now also sadly passed, is represented along with Four Starzzz Shark (1). Both need no introduction having sired Inter Dominion winning champions Smolda & Lenny The Shark, among scores of other $200,000 plus winners. Four Starzzz Shark who always produces some outstanding types over Sales Season, is represented by Lot 5 (filly). Well-known local preparer Stephen Norman, is very upbeat about her. Looking at her pic in the online catalogue I can see why! She also boasts respected broodmare Golden Showgirl as her grand dam. Golden Showgirl has already produced a $263,720 winning filly.

Sire icons Grinfromeartoear (2) and Falcon Seelster (1) are also represented as well as Grin’s multiple Group 1 winning sons Mister Feelgood (2) & Smiling Shard (1). Group 1 winning colonial sons of world champs Mach Three & Art Major are also represented in Lincoln Royal (1) & Follow The Stars (1) who stand at Alabar & Allwood Studs. Shadyshark Hanover (2) & ever popular Modern Art (1) from dominant sire lines of Cams Card Shark & Artsplace round out the Stallion Index.

There is something for everyone at The Allwood and buyers in the market for a filly especially should look no further. Fillies will be the beneficiaries of the preferential draw conditions of the $100,000 Final. In addition, a unique collaboration with the Shepparton Harness Racing Club sees a maximum of 34 fillies eligible to compete in a $72,000 3yo Fillies only Series with a minimum $52,000 Final. HRSA & Shepparton will each host $10,000 heats. Not only that but the fillies will have the chance to double dip. A 3yo Series, like the 2yo, will also be held. It’s tipped it will be of equal or higher prizemoney as the 3yo Fillies only Final. All the Finals will be held in Adelaide.

The Allwood Sale truly is an exciting initiative for South Australian & Australian harness racing.

I look forward to seeing you there. Click here for the Catalogue

Michael Taylor