Yarraman Park Stud

The Mitchell family’s Yarraman Park Scone has had a year to remember with I Am Invincible taking out his and the farm’s first Australian Champion General Sire title. Arthur and Harry Mitchell however, are not resting on their laurels, but looking ahead to presenting an outstanding draft of some 27 youngsters at the 2023 Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January.

Chuffed as they are with Vinnie’s exploits, they now have the added excitement of seeing Vinnie’s Gr1 winning son Hellbent, whom they also stand, emerging as one of the nation’s leading young sire prospects. Hellbent (I Am Invincible – Volkaspray by Volksraad) is, as we go to press, currently Australia’s leading second season sire by individual winners with 16 which include brilliant Fire Lane, the recent first start winner of the $150,000 Max Lees Classic at Newcastle.

Harry Mitchell described Yarraman’s 2023 MM draft as “a fine representation of the quality youngster we are able to offer the market with 14 catalogued by Vinnie who is consistently one of the most sought after sires at major sales, four by his son Hellbent and others by Zoustar, Capitalist, Yes Yes Yes Yes, Night Of Thunder, Microphone, and Brazen Beau.”

“Vinnie has shown he can produce both elite colts and fillies, with the upside that his best sons are potentially commercial sire prospects. Brazen Beau got him off to a good start in that regard and it was pleasing for us to see Coolmore’s Tom Magnier rewarded for his $875k purchase of Home Affairs who is now a high profile first season sire. With Hellbent off to a fine start, we can’t wait to show vendors the next generation of Vinnie’s colts at MM. In Secret’s devastating win against a very strong Coolmore Stud S Gr1 field has reminded us all how good the Vinny fillies are, she looks a real gem for Darley at $900k, so I can put my hand on my heart and encourage buyers to compete for the best yearlings by I Am Invincible. As they say on TV, because he’s worth it.”

“We are committed sellers and there should be something to suit buyers at all levels of the market, not just the sale toppers. “

On overview of the Yarraman draft reveals many highlights including: lot 873 an I Am Invincible filly from the immediate family of Atlantic Jewel and current stars I Am Excited ($1.2m) and Flippant ($655k dam of this filly); lot 940 a Hellbent colt who is a three quarter-brother to SW Quantico (6 wins, $285K) and half-brother to Poetic Charmer (6 wins, $570K), out of the multiple SW mare Hoss Amor, a great running SW family; lot 63 a Hellbent filly who is the first foal of SW and multiple Group placed Like A Butterfly ($378k); lot 253 a bay filly by I Am Invincible from the multiple SW Precious Memories from the immediate family of Gr1 winners Maid Of Heaven and Castelvecchio; lot 661 an I Am Invincible colt out of the SW Not A Single Doubt mare Bidii Babe whose first foal to race is a Pink Cashmere, a full sister to this colt and winner at her only start and of course lot 464 by I Am Invincible out of Taste Of Heaven who is a winning full sister to Manhattan Rain, and thus a half-sister to Multiple Champion sire Redoute’s Choice, with the added bonus that from a mating with Curlin in USA this mare has already produced the Gr3 winner Heavenly Curlin. Stallion prospect anyone?

I Am Invincible

Harry Mitchell added that “Arthur and I have really appreciated the wonderful support we have received over the years from a wide range of loyal clients. We had our share of useful stallions such as Catbird, Magic Albert and Hinchinbrook, but to be standing the champion sire in Vinnie is the fulfilment of a dream, something that as a small family owned farm we thought we might never achieve. We’re looking forward to the future with Vinnie’s stock out of some of Australia’s best mares now coming through and to the next chapter in the Yarraman story with Hellbent.”

“It will be great to catch up with everyone at the Gold Coast and our hard working team will be there to parade the horses for prospective buyers. It’s a very busy time for Arthur and myself, as most people know we can be found in the parade walks between the yearling boxes walking up and down, ready to answer any queries.”

Harry Mitchell was kind enough to answer a few of Bluebloods serious and not so serious questions:

Hellbent

Q: Where is the most unusual place you’ve visited?

A: Great Wall of China.

Q: What drives you nuts about social media?

A: People constantly promoting mediocrity, boring and irritating. Mind you - I don’t subscribe to much of it anyway which is lucky!

Q: What’s one thing your dogs could say that would completely ruin your image if they could talk?

A: Not a lot of image to be ruined to be fair but the dog has my back - he’s an exercise in loyalty many of us could learn from in this game!!

Q: What would you do if you sold a yearling for $10 million?

A: Celebrate. Buy more mares.

Q: What is the best horse you have sold through Magic Millions?

A: Snitzel with an honourable mention to Houtzen, King Of Sparta and Amelia’s Dream.

Q: When assessing breeding which influences/key horses do you mainly look for?

A: Type, speed and sire line - particularly Green Desert.

Q: Do you still get butterflies as your yearling enters the ring?

A: Depends on the horse but obviously adrenaline is a factor when certain horses enter the ring, this is the pointy end of our business so you’d be lying if you pretended it didn’t affect you.

Q: What makes Magic Millions at the Gold Coast such a success?

A: Obviously, January at the Gold Coast has an exciting atmosphere and location for vendors and buyers. But what is crucial is the presence of good horses and good buyers. If you’re in this game then you’re at the Gold Coast in January. That’s the way it is and that’s what Magic Millions have created.