Yarramalong Park

Yarramalong Park’s investment into Better Than Ready has paid dividends with Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates Gr3 winner Alpine Edge, Gr2 winner Chrysaor and Listed winner The Vowels who won five races in succession from January to April 2023. Established by Richard and Joanie Foster on an old dairy farm, Yarramalong Park was initially a private breeding farm for the Foster’s racing team, and was selected for its high quality volcanic soils, undulating land, and secure water supply. With only a few yearling sales drafts under their belt, already many good horses have come from Yarramalong Park’s pastures.

How would you sum up your 2024 draft?

“Without doubt, this is the best draft of yearlings we have ever presented. Our continual mare upgrades are coming through in this draft,” said Richard Foster. In 2024, Yarramalong Park will present a draft of 23 yearlings, all bar one by their syndicated sire Better Than Ready who stands at Lyndhurst Stud. A tough racehorse who won eight races at two, three, and four, with several of those at black type level, Better Than Ready’s ten stakes winners include Gr1 winner Apache Chase, group winners Alpine Edge, Chrysaor,

Tiger Legend, and of course 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Skirt The Law.

A baker’s dozen of Better Than Ready colts include a full brother to Gr3 winner Alpine Edge, who also ran second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (to Shaquero), is Lot 690, out of stakes placed winner Freezethemillions, from the family of Zeditave. A full brother Lot 14 to currently racing stakes placed winner Steady Ready is from the family of Better Than Ready’s sire More Than Ready, giving him some interesting linebreeding. His dam, Our First Lady, was a two year-old winner out of an imported American half-sister to More Than Ready.

A full brother to stakes placed two year-old winner Ana Jaahza, Lot 930, is the third foal of winning American mare Merirosvo who is out of a daughter of dual Gr1 winner Smuggler.

A three-quarter brother to Gr1 placed winner More Secrets (More Than Ready) and a half-brother to Gr3 winner Amangiri, Lot 152, is out of winning mare Secret Indulgence, who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Amalfi. The second foal of American Listed winner Dreamarcher, who ran fourth in the Gr1 American Oaks, is Lot 608.

Nine fillies by Better Than Ready are headlined by, Lot 1005, a full sister to recent Gr2 winner Chrysaor, out of two year-old winning mare New Wings, who is a half-sister to stakes winner of 13 races, Religify. Commanding Epic has been doing a great job as a broodmare with five winners from as many to race, and her filly, Lot 1104, is a full sister to all of them, who have collectively won 20 races including just turned three year-old Epic Proportions who was a city winner last season at two. “Classy filles from Yukon Dance, Lot 376 and Istiraaha, Lot 799 have dual purpose pedigrees and are a must to inspect.”

Lot 1153 is the third foal of winning mare Finishing Touch from the family of Gr1 winner Fantastic Light and Your Song; while Lot 1262 is the third foal of Snitzel mare Miller Avenue, a half-sister to Listed winner Dublin Lass, dam of this season’s Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Dublin Down.

“Of note is Lot 1446 who is a full sister to Umabett, who was a rapidly closing sixth place on debut in the recent Gr3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick. More will be heard of Umabett in coming months.”

What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?

“The timing suits the trainer’s early race preparation programs, and the exciting concept encourages the market to get involved in that process.”

What has been your most satisfying result at the Magic Millions?

“Selling a record priced Better Than Ready Colt at the 2023 sales for $530,000.”