March 21, 2021was a life-changer for four people from the Central Tablelands of NSW and a young guy from Port MacDonnell in South Australia.
It was the day of the annual Bathurst Gold Crown Yearling Sale and from 91 Lots catalogued, both the 2023 NSW Derby and Oaks harness racing winners have emerged.
Lot 13 might not have presented a good omen for some bidders, but itās proven to be very lucky for this yearās Oaks winners, Chris and Fiona Roweth, from Carcoor, along with Lindsay Fryer and John Murphy from the Orange region of NSW.
The Lot 13 filly at the Bathurst sale, byĀ Betting LineĀ from Miss Artistic Tara is now named Windy Hill Tara and on February 25 this year she gave her rivals a pacing lesson in the $200,000 fillies feature at Menangle.
The win not only gave the owners the thrill of a lifetime but provided Steve Turnbull as the trainer and Amanda Turnbull as driver, their first wins in the NSW Oaks.
Chris and Fiona Roweth live at Carcoor, about 50 kms south of Bathurst in an area well known for wind farms and they run a sheep stud known as Windy Hill Poll Dorsets ā so the Windy Hill moniker for their filly did not relate to any of the connectionsā links to the Essendon Bombers AFL team (they actually barrack for the Carlton Blues)!
As a sheep breeder, Chris is a student of pedigrees and so Lot 13 was on his final hit list at the sale.
Windy Hill Tara has a 4 X 4 X 5 X 5 cross to the champion racehorse and Sire Cam Fella, so possibly this is something that attracted Chris to her.
Her third Dam is a full sister to Smooth Dixie, a winner of $242,269, and a horse that provided Steve Turnbull with his first Group One victory back in May 1997.
The filly went to the top of the shopping list after he and Steve inspected her and with a budget of $22,000 to spend, Chris was the successful bidder at $21,000 with no GST to pay.
With earnings now of $144,872 from just 6 career starts, the world is her oyster for Windy Hill Tara.
NSW Derby winnerĀ Nathan Turnbull can thank a post-Miracle Mile party at Luke and Belinda McCarthyās place in April 2013 for meeting a prospective new owner.
Some eight years later Chris Buttigieg from Port MacDonnell, the southernmost town in South Australia, called Nathan to ask him to inspect and bid on a yearling at the 2021 Bathurst Yearling Sale.
It was Lot 66, the first foal from the $50,000 winning mare Patch Maguire and by the son ofĀ ArtsplaceĀ inĀ Shoobees Place.
Nathan took a liking to him immediately.
There are plenty of people who like and admire him now, racing with the name of Better Be The Best. He is clearly the best three-year-old racing in NSW after winning the $200,000 NSW Derby on Miracle Mile night. His time for the 2400 metre journey that night was faster than those recorded by seasoned campaigners Bondi Lockdown and Sicario over the same trip.
āHe was a well put together colt and had some spunk about him. The buying budget was $15,000 but we went to $17,500 to secure him,ā Nathan said.
Nathan liked him even more when starting to work the youngster.
āHe paced straight away, steered really well and gave a good impression from day one,ā he said.
Better Be The Bestās career statistics are 13 starts, nine wins, two placings and $244,079 in prizemoney, making him one of the best buys at a 2021 Yearling Sale anywhere in the Country.
This SundayĀ (Mar 19) the 2023 edition of the Bathurst Gold Crown Yearling Sale will be held at Bathurst Paceway by Nutrien Bloodstock.
Every one of the 87 lots in the catalogue are eligible for the $750,000 Bathurst Gold Crown Series.Ā Additionally every lot in the catalogue, whether sold, passed in or withdrawn, is eligible for the $50,000 Two Year Old Sales Graduate Race to be run on Boxing Night 2024.Ā A once only Fee of $550 is required on Sales day to maintain eligibilty.
The Eligibilities continue with
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- 73 lots eligible for the NSW Breeders Challenge Series.
- 23 lots eligible for the Vicbred Program.
- 33 lots eligible for the Australasian Breeders Crown.
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The Sale will begin at 12:00 noon.
by John Coffey, for Harnesslink