What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you hear the name, Yarraman Park? If those words are, ‘Exquitise’ or perhaps even ‘Royal’ or anything that is similar to these words. Then you are in the company of almost everyone on the globe. Run and owned by the Mitchell family since 1968. Yarraman Park has made a name for some really exclusive achievements in the business. Very recent one's being as one of the vendors to sell the most expensive horses in 2019 and 2020. We all would agree that this cannot be an easily achieved feat, and we all would be right. This success is a product of not just years or decades, but also generations of blood, sweat and sheer hard work put in the service of this thoroughbred business.
Harry Mitchell along with his brother Arthur manages the farm and they bring an immense experience and family values to this farm. Their ways of working their way through the selection, training and grooming reeks of the Mitchell family ideologies and expertise. We sat down with Harry to understand what is it that makes them such a huge success and an inspiration to many up and comers. We had questions and Harry was more than happy to answer them. Do read.
Q: Last year you were on the vendors who sold the most expensive horses at the 2020 GOLD COAST YEARLING sale. Yarraman has been doing it for decades. What, according to you, is the mix of horses required for a good draft?
A: To have a good draft you need the right types and have the right stallions, we have a lot of I Am Invincible’s who is a great stallion and his stock has dominated our drafts in recent years. In recent years we have had a stack by mainly proven stallions which give buyers confidence. You also have to be known as a genuine breeder who breeds good horses.
Q: As one of the top vendors for the 2020 GOLD COAST YEARLING sale can you tell us a bit more about your draft and your highlight Lots? Please tell us about your highlight horse in terms of pedigree, looks, sire or dam's racing successes etc.
A: Yarraman’s draft is 30 strong this year, some of our highlights are:-
I Am Invincible x Set To Unleash, she is a lovely type of filly and is a full sister to Houtzen, who won the Magic Millions
I Am Invincible x Tai Tai Tess, a full brother to promising horse Volterra and Faretti, the nice colt who is not too heavy and very well balanced.
Siyouni x Upfront, by a great stallion out of a War Front mare, exceptional international pedigree with Australian looks, the strong well-muscled colt who walks well, very good 1st foal.
Hinchinbrook x Harlem Heat, by a good stallion this colt is an outstanding individual from the family of Yes Yes Yes and In Her Time.
Astern x Zimaretto, big scopy colt 1st crop of Group 1 horse Astern, this colt is a half to 3 Stakes Winners including Potential StarCalifornia Zimbol.
Q: Could you please tell us a bit more about your association with this sale? How long have you been showing at the sale and which was the most expensive horse you ever sold at this sale? Where is he or she now and what are his/ her top successes?
A: Yarraman has been selling at Magic Millions since the 2nd year (1987: The sale was a great success from the start, they sold 200 horses in the first year. Yarraman has had a great racetrack success with horses sold at Magic Millions. Most notably being Snitzel, a Group 1 winner and champion stallion, other progeny includes Houtzen, Amelia’s Dream, Bliss St, Jade Marauder and Here De Angels. The most expensive horse we have ever sold was a Redoute’s Choice x Deja Slew colt in 2008, he made 3 million to the bid of Charles Laird. He had 3 starts for 1 win and unfortunately died of a snake bite.
We like to be strong at Magic Millions, we sell predominately forward strong yearlings although you can sell a staying horse as well. Easter is a sale that places more emphasis on pedigree and the type has to be there. Yarraman sells at Magic Millions, Classic, Melbourne and Sydney Easter.
Q: With 2020 fast approaching, where do you see Yarraman Park in the next ten years? And are the top two things on your bucket list to achieve by 2030?
A: The next ten years we would like to capitalise on I Am Invincible, we have his Group 1 winning son Hellbent standing alongside his father and we are very excited about his future.
We have upgraded our broodmare band and invested heavily in our infrastructure. We don’t stand a lot of stallions but we are on the lookout for another horse but he has to be the right one so patience is a virtue