First yearling for keen Perth vendors

Perth owner-breeder Gordon Day, who, along with wife Carol, will make his debut as a vendor at the Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sale at Magic Millions on Sunday, has been a harness racing and trotting enthusiast most of his life.

“I was a massive fan of pacing as a youngster in the 1970’s, never missing a meeting at Gloucester Park and also travelling to many country meetings,” Gordon recalled. “This interest never waned, but my career called and together with the family I spent the next 30 years working globally in the mining industry.  However, whenever I returned to Perth I would always manage a couple of trips to Gloucester Park.”

“I still continue to consult globally for a large engineering company, but on a much more measured basis.”

About seven years ago Day went into semi-retirement and returned to his five acre property at Wandi, on the southern outskirts of Perth.

“Carol and I decided it was time to set down our roots and move into horses both from a racing and breeding perspective. This step was always going to be about enjoying the journey, not chasing the glory,” Gordon said.

“We purchased our first yearlings in partnership at the 2020 APG Perth sale.”

One of these was Mister Montblanc, a winner of 10 races to date and over $80,000 in stakes.

“We followed up with further purchases at the 2021 APG Sydney Sales and at the 2022 Perth sale we bought our first 100 percent owned yearling, the now three-year-old Gaitcrasher which we have been able to share the ownership with our three children,” he said. “Our journey has been supported by Colin and Annie Belton, to whom we are very grateful.  When they had Westburn Yield NZ, a Bettor’s Delight mare available for sale we jumped at the chance to start out on the breeding side.”

Lot 403 at the APG Perth sale is the first foal from Westburn Yield (1:57.5), a winner of five races and a member of the family of the Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Westburn Grant, one of the greatest horses ever produced in this country.

He’s a leggy, athletic colt by the champion racehorse and sire Rock N Roll Heaven, the sire of the winners of almost $100million worldwide including horses the calibre of Swayzee, Rock N Roll Doo, Expensive Ego and Let It Ride.

The colt is being prepared by experienced horsewoman Lisa Adams, who conducts Lancefield Park, a 60 acre breeding and agistment property at Boyanup with her husband Michael.

Westburn Yield is now in foal to Downbytheseaside, Day reports.

The couple have since purchased the well-bred, well-performed Sweet Lou mare My Sweet Deal NZ, who has left a lovely filly by Always B Miki and is back in foal to Bettor’s Delight.

“We will continue to mix racing and breeding. We intend to breed from the three fillies purchased through the yearling sales and aim to add one or two more mares to the breeding side,” Gordon said. “Some of these foals will be sold at the sales and some will be kept for racing.

“We are late starters to the industry, but we see this as a significant part for our life for quite a while into the future.”

For full details of all catalogued yearlings in the 2024 Australian Pacing Gold Yearling Sales please visit our Online Sales Catalogue or Register as a Buyer now.

From APG Ltd