Star Fillies from the Same Family

Nonagenarian Victorian breeder Helen Head has nominated two fillies for the Australian Pacing Gold Sydney Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm on Sunday, March 15 – both from the same maternal family.

The pair trace back to the prized matron Madame Han, a mare that Helen and her late husband Graham Head, a former Trotting Control Board member and international dog judge, imported from New Zealand in 1973.

The family has produced a cavalcade of stars over the past half century including the ‘Cups King’ Safari, the Derby winners Garnet River and Astronaut, the Vicbred champions Our Maid Marianne and Don’t Hold Back, the Breeders Crown winner Zeuss Bromac, Gemfire and The Godine Machine.

Lot 252, a brown/black filly by the successful Somebeachsomewhere import Huntsville from the Bettor’s Delight mare Trojan Fire, should attract plenty of attention from buyers.

The filly ranks as a half-sister to no less than five sub 2:00 winners including this year’s New Norfolk Cup winner Fleetwood Rock ($169,000) and the Group 3 Breeders Crown Silver winner Concealment ($106,000).

Her grand-dam Gemfire, a Tatlow Memorial winner, left three $100,000 earners including the Tasmanian Derby and Victoria Youthful winner Garnet River (1:50) and the APG heat winner Zante Beach, who, in turn, is the dam of the Group 1 winner Savvy Bromac and the grand-dam of the five-time Group winner Zeuss Bromac.

The filly’s first three dams have left 35 foals for 18 winners with 12 in the 2:00 list.

“She’s an outstanding filly. Tall, strong and athletic with a good temperament,” Teela Park manager Albert Davis, who is preparing the Head draft, said.

The second filly, Lot 231, is a daughter of the NZ 3YO and 4YO of the Year Ultimate Machete from the Mach Three mare Our Star Dust, a half-sister to four $100,000 earners headed up by the mighty Victorian stayer Safari ($535,000) and the Group 1 victors Astronaut ($264,000) and Our Maid Marianne.

Furthermore, she is a sister-in-blood to the dual Vicbred Final placegetter Eureka Jo, the winner of almost $180,000 and still racing.

Interestingly, the filly’s first two dams were both Vicbred Super Series heat winners and Group 1 finalists.

“She’s a nice filly who’s very correct,” Davis stated.

For further details of these or any other lots in the Sydney Yearling Sale then please check out the Online Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!