This is going to be an exciting weekend in Melbourne. For the Sporting purists , the Australian Tennis Open comes to its finale with hopefully a victory to the 2020 Young Australian of the Year Ash Barty.
For our Harness Racing followers the track at Melton will be hot with the $500,000 Hunter Cup and the $250,000 Great Southern Star being conducted.
This all acts as an Entrée for the 2020 version of the APG Melbourne Yearling Sales , commencing at 10am on Sunday.
Unfortunately there have been thirteen Withdrawals notified to date from the Pacing Sale – they being LOTS 67 , 73 , 93 , 108 , 111 , 124 , 152 , 197 , 200 , 209 , 213 , 219 and 228.
There are complete Drafts though from Durham Park , near Ballarat and Grand Lodge at Kilmore.
Today we feature the stories of those two young ladies who are preparing 33 Yearlings between them – Jamie Lee King and Monique Burnett.
JAMIE LEE KING – DURHAM PARK
Almost everyone who has visited Tasmania returns from there singing its praises as to a great place to live.
Well Jamie Lee King would totally agree with you as she grew up on a Sheep farm at St Helens on the far north east Coast …. and loved the place and the lifestyle.
Riding ponies and horses came hand in hand with living on a farm and as a teenager she took up riding trackwork for a Tasmanian Thoroughbred trainer.
However opportunities in the Equine field in Tasmania are limited so Jamie Lee crossed that stretch of water named in honour of the early explorer George Bass.
Although she was intent on work in the horse department , the first two years in Victoria saw Jamie Lee working as a roustabout on a shearing team.
Then the opportunity presented itself for employment with the powerful Emma Stewart / Clayton Tonkin stable , which Jamie Lee took hold of with her heart and soul.
That experience for 4 or 5 years was invaluable . But then Bruce Edward provided another golden opportunity to manage his Durham Park property on the outskirts of Ballarat.
So to 2020 and Jamie Lee has fourteen yearlings under her wing – 6 colts and 8 fillies. They will be available for inspection at Oaklands Junction from midday Friday in Barn B.
Now it is tipping time and despite the fact that Jamie Lee has a soft spot for almost the entire draft , we have managed to find a few that Jamie Lee has a little extra liking for.
She said she did take a liking to LOTS 51 and 177 amongst the colts as well as her favourite , which we will come to at the end.
LOT 51 is the first horse into the ring at 10am and is a big strong lad with a lovely temperament – by Rock N Roll Heaven from a Christian Cullen mare.
LOT 177 is a half brother to last season’s Group One winner winning filly Askmeilltellya and is by the debut Sire Always B Miki.
“ He just might be the dark horse of our draft “ said Jamie Lee yesterday.
Of the Fillies there are two by Bettors Delight that Jamie Lee has fancied. Neither are overly big although she said that LOT 61 from Whatahottie acts and thinks like she is a big horse.
LOT 181 is from the $660,000 winning Dream Away mare My Double Dream and has a quirky and likeable personality.
Jamie Lee’s Selections
Colt – LOT 215 Bettors Delight – Rockaround Sue.
“ This boy has been my favourite for quite some time. He is the first foal from a mare who won over $600,000 in USA. He is just the perfect horse – a great personality , loves his work and is nicely conformed. “
Filly – LOT 237 American Ideal – Tamara Hall
“ She is elegant , has a perfect temperament and is great to work with. She is a full sister to the brilliant Ideal For Real. Can lightning strike twice – I think so. “
MONIQUE BURNETT – GRAND LODGE HARNESS RACING
Some of the preparers we have spoken to have become associated with horses in their late teens , some have started out with ponies but for Monique Burnett , she was born into Harness Racing and probably got into doing something with the horses the day she started walking.
Her mother is Rita Burnett , known to everyone in Harness Racing in Victoria whilst Monique has numerous relatives through the Mifsud family that are training and spending their daily lives with Standardbreds.
Over the years in visiting the Kilmore stables and property of Rita’s , I have noticed it is always a hive of activity. Long hours and hard work are daily occurrences and Monique is continuing the Mifsud tradition in fine style.
Monique started out in her mid-teens preparing Yearlings for Victorian Sales and it was very noticeable immediately that she had a gift for presenting horses in spectacular order.
It is about up to Sales number ten this year for Monique and she certainly has a lovely draft for the 2020 Melbourne Sales on Sunday. Of course it is a team effort at Grand Lodge with her Mum Rita and longtime employee Thomas Parnell amongst others providing never ending assistance.
It is not just the Yearlings that keep the Burnett’s busy – there are racehorses to be trained , youngsters to be broken in , horses on agistment to be fed and amongst all this Monique is picking up regular drives on the Victorian circuit. For example on the day of this interview she has a drive in Race 7 at Bendigo at 9 10pm.
So the Grand Lodge team this year consists of one Trotting colt , ten Pacing colts and eight Pacing fillies.
“ The Trotting colt should be busy on sales day as he is a Majestic Son from a Safely Kept mare and is so flashy with his three white feet and white blaze “ said Monique.
The Pacing boys and girls will present themselves impressively this weekend and it has been difficult seeking an answer from Monique about her favourites but she did admit that amongst the colts – LOTS 206 and 239 definitely should be on Buying Lists.
LOT 206 is from Repelem and is by the late and great Somebeachsomewhere whilst LOT 239 is an exceptionally strong looking lad by Bettors Delight from a full sister to Lizzie Maguire $465,570.
“ I have so many nice fillies as well – maybe LOTS 70 and 106 are amongst the best of them whilst my favourite is LOT 221 “ remarked Monique.
LOT 70 is a tall and strong filly by Somebeachsomewhere from a full sister to Follow The Stars and LOT 106 is by the debut stallion Always B Miki from a Bettors Delight mare Cosmic Delight.
Monique’s Selections
Colt – LOT 199 Art Major – Picobello
“ He has such a lovely nature and a great attitude to his work. There is just something about this guy that is a bit special “
Filly – LOT 221 Betting Line – Spirited Storm
“ She is strong and very , very classy. Being a half-sister to The Storm Inside means she is in for a busy weekend. “
We will have online and telephone bidding options available if you are unable to attend. If you have any issues with the online registrations, I have personally inspected all of the Melbourne yearlings and will be pleased to answer any questions that you may have on the individuals featuring in the sale, or to bid on your behalf. My best contact is 0418 500 211.
Please phone Louise Toulmin on 0400 950 699 or e-mail her at louiset@apgold.com.au and she’ll be pleased to assist you with your pre-sale bidding approvals or to answer any other questions that you may have.
Sale commences on Sunday at 10am, Inglis sales complex, Oaklands Junction
John Coffey