Bruce Edward to rebuild Durham Park

The fire that burnt Durham Park to the ground last December may have burnt all the buildings and fences on the farm but it certainly hasn't dimmed the enthusiasm of the owner Bruce Edward.

Interviewed on APG TV during Sunday's yearling sale at Oaklands Junction, Bruce was looking forward to completely rebuilding the property.  

" My accountants were not that keen for me to rebuild the property but I have a real passion for the industry."

" It's what I want to do when I wake up in the morning so the planning is underway to rebuild all of the buildings and fences on the property."

" I had spent ten years developing the property when the fire struck but now we have a clean slate I will get the opportunity to change a few things for the better."

" Its going to take anywhere from nine to twelve months to get the property back to where it was and all the broodmares and foals will remain at Alabar until everything is completed,"Bruce said.

After the fire Bruce took up a generous offer from Alabar surpremo Alan Galloway to move his stock to the Alabar farm free of charge and to use the facilities there to prepare his yearlings for Sundays sale.

Durham Park catalogued eleven yearlings on Sunday and sold ten of them on the day with the only yearling not sold being the full sister to last years brilliant two year old filly, Heaven's Trend 1:52.1 ($136,933) who was passed in at $25,000, just short of her reserve of $28,000.

The other ten yearlings all found a new home and when the dust settled, Durham Park had grossed $244,000 with an average for those sold of $24,400 which was not far short of the overall sale average.

Considering Bruce had no yearlings by Somebeachsomewhere who was in such hot demand on the day and only a couple by Bettor's Delight who was the other stallion whose stock were in demand, he achieved a good result overall.

Two yearlings in his draft drew particular praise from Bruce even before the sale.

" I have a lot of time for Lot 99, the full brother to last years New South Wales Derby winner Ideal For Real 1:55.8 ($182,485).

" He is such a nice horse to do anything with."

" He is bred on the American Ideal – Real Desire cross which has already produced the brilliant He's Watching 1:46.8 ($1,129,215) and Ideal For Real still holds the quickest last quarter in a race in Australia so that high speed is coming through."

"The other yearling is Lot 195 who is a Bettor's Delight colt from an American Ideal half sister to three in 1:50 including the champion Maltese Artist 1:48.3 ($2,322,671)."

"Andy Gath has his two year old half brother and holds him in high regard," Bruce said.

The last few months must have been really trying for Bruce and his family but to see the passion he still clearly holds for the harness racing industry is quite special.

Harnesslink Media