What the hill mare proves an $8,000 bargain

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) added another stakes win to her tally when she took out the Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Fillies & Mares Stakes (2600m) at Oamaru on Sunday.

She stepped away well from behind the 20m tape and settled at the rear of the field for driver John Dunn. Dunn was happy to bide his time at the back of the pack for the first lap before hopping on the three-wide train at the bell.

Ya Rite Darl still had plenty of work ahead of her with 400m to go, with Dunn peeling her out four wide, and she showed her fighting qualities when digging deep to reel in the leaders and hit the front with 100m to go, and held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Dynasty (NZ) Rocknroll Hanover), with a further half length back to Resolve (NZ) (Andover Hall) in third.

“We were a long way back but I got a nice drag up and I was the fourth one on the train,” John Dunn said. “She has got that quick speed if you can save her for that last wee bit. She put her best foot forward today, which was great.”

Bred by Woodlands Stud, Ya Rite Darl is by their former shuttle stallion What The Hill and out of three-win Dream Vacation mare Gogirl Bromac, a half-sister to Group Three winner Groovy Bromac.

Ya Rite Darl’s third dam is Group One performer Lily The Pink, who won a Group Two Inter Dominion Trotters Heat and placed in the Group One Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final, and she was the dam of Group One performer Jazz Legend and 2016-17 New Zealand Trotting Broodmare of the Year Another Starlet.

Ya Rite Darl was offered through Woodlands Stud’s 2022 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale where she was purchased by Diamond Racing Stables for $8,000.

She showed plenty of early promise, winning three of her first four starts, including the Group Three New Zealand 2YO Trotting Stakes (1980m), and while Dunn said he tried to sell her at that point, he had no takers.

“I tried to sell her after her first couple of wins and I am now pleased no one wanted to buy her,” he said. “She has done a great job and it is going to be a lot harder from here on in taking on the big ones all the time. She has already done it a couple of times already and hasn’t disgraced herself, so I am looking forward to it.”

Ya Rite Darl has now won 10 of her 33 starts and more than $350,000, and she will bid to add to that record in the coming weeks.

“She will go to the DG Jones (Group Three, 2810m) in two weeks’ time,” Dunn said.

Vendor	Woodlands Stud NZ Ltd
Purchaser	Diamond Racing
Owner(s)	Diamond Racing Stables Ltd
Breeding	What The Hill – Gogirl Bromac
Sale	2022 National Standardbred Weanling Sale ($8,000)
Breeder(s)	Woodlands Stud (NZ) Ltd

From NZB Standardbred