5 minute read
Yarraman Park
from 2024 MMGC Magazine
They say good things come in threes. This certainly applies to the Mitchell brothers’ Yarraman Park heading into the 2024 Magic Millions.
Not only is the super sire I Am Invincible heading inexorably to his third successive Australian General Sire title, but the recent Victorian Spring carnival produced a trio of results for the farm’s three stallions that are the stuff of dreams.
Vinnie’s daughter Imperatriz scorched through three consecutive Gr1 sprints, establishing herself as our new sprint queen, Hellbent’s talented daughter Magic Time won the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke S notching a timely Gr1 for his sire, son of the aforementioned Vinnie, and new boy Brave Smash saw his daughter, Kimochi, run a gallant 2nd in the timehonoured Gr1 1000 Guineas for 3yo fillies. Could things be going any better for Yarraman? Bluebloods asked Harry Mitchell.
“It’s a great feeling to finally have the leading sire. With our small operation, only ever standing two or three horses at any one time, we were wondering if it would ever happen. In recent years we always had a decent stallion such as Hinchinbrook or Magic Albert, but to get Vinnie has been amazing, and we have been very fortunate to have had great clients who have supported us over many years. We’re also very happy with the performance of Vinnie’s Hellbent and we will be offering yearlings out of some of the best mares he’s covered. Like father, like son, now a Gr1 sire. Brave Smash looks a very exciting prospect for us going forward too.”
How would you sum up your 2024 draft?
“We have a very even draft, with a nice spread of yearlings by quality proven sires and some young up and comers. We have 12 by Vinnie, five by his son Hellbent and a very attractive one by our new boy Brave Smash. Plus a Frankel filly who is very nice.
It’s hard to pick a highlight but I might just mention a few for you.
The I Am Invincible – Palace Talk colt is one of the best we’ve sent to a sale, he’s a cracker with a great pedigree being a full brother to Gr2 winner Shuffle Dancer. The Vinnie - Jalan Jalan colt is a beauty too.
Among our fillies the first foal of multiple stakes winner of over $1.5 million Outback Barbie by Vinnie is a stunner, and her first four dams are all stakes winners. The Vinnie filly out of Gr3 winner Flippant from the family of Gr1 winning fillies I Am Excited, Atlantic Jewel and Commanding Jewel is a great type and a real dual purpose filly for serious breeders. Our Frankel filly and the Hellbent colt out of Private Dancer are also going to turn heads. And we have a very special colt who is by our young gun Hellbent, he is a full brother to Kristilli, Gr2 winner of over $700K. Lovely colt.”
What makes the Magic Millions sales and races special?
“Magic Millions offers such great prizemoney and incentives, their race day is actually richer than Victoria Derby day. The sale graduates race for huge prizemoney and they can keep coming back, it gets better every year. The sale also caters for mid range buyers as it offers a great range of yearlings. The middle market is very important for most vendors, not every horse can be a sale topper. Then there’s the excitement of being the first sale each year in such a fantastic location, how can you beat it.”
Which past champion do you wish you could have seen at the races?
“I was lucky enough to see the great Kingston Town, so he’ll do me. He was so versatile, winning from 1200m to 3200m in top company, often with a stunning burst of acceleration. And he did it all overcoming near crippling soundness issues.” p: 02 6545 1961 e: studoffice@yarramanpark.com.au
More recently, the Mitchell brothers have had the satisfaction of watching a true modern day legend by their own champion I Am Invincible. During the recent Victorian Spring carnival his daughter Imperatriz embellished her already stellar record by tearing up the best sprinters three times in consecutive Gr1 races in Melbourne, the Manikato, the Moir and finaly the Champions Sprint over the famous Flemington straight six. No track record is safe while she’s around. Imperatriz has now won 17 of her 23 starts, including eight Gr1 races for earnings of over $5.3 million. She’s definitely a modern day champion and should ensure that the massive appetite commercial buyers have for Vinnie’s stock will be further in evidence at MM 2024.
Arthur and Harry will be on duty as usual between their barns ensuring that prospective buyers get their personal attention.
