Positioned in the prime reaches the lower Hunter Valley on 340 acres of rich alluvial soil and the beneficiary of Martingale Creek irrigation as its spine Bylong Park is poised to present a dynamic draft of 3 fillies and 2 colts at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. And it's a draft that commands respect because, to use a cricket analogy, this operation already has some serious runs on the board as the breeder of Mosheen, Driefontein, Luger and Psychologist from its top drawer broodmare band.
The filly by Zoustar from Canny Lad mare Encenito (Lot 113) is set to open the batting in style. A gorgeous first foal, she's a close relation to French Gr2 winner and Gr1 placed Dansili filly Testosterone, while her grand-dam is a half-sister to Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes winner and highly rated Australian sire Scenic. From a sire perspective, Northern Meteor's son Zoustar has a stranglehold on the First Season Sires' Premiership and his yearlings have sold to $800,000 already in 2018 after selling for up to $1 million at this sale last year.
Lot 141 is next in. She's a filly by highly sought-after first season sire son of Northern Meteor in Deep Field, whose yearlings have sold to $675,00 this year. A well balanced filly, she's from Commands mare Fool's Gold, and is a half-sister to the Chris Waller-trained and highly rated 3YO filly Charlayne. Fool's Gold is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Driefontein and her only other runner to date (other than Charlayne) is a winner of over $300,000.
The third of the Bylong Park fillies is Lot 233, by Gr1 winner and Gr1 producing sire Choisir. A very robust type, this filly is a sister to both Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude-winning filly Psychologist as well as Listed Hong Kong Derby winning gelding Luger (winner of over A$2.8 million). This is obviously a proven cross that is suggestive of again producing a black-type horse. And as for Choisir? He continues to produce at the top level with the likes of 2YO fillies Sestina and Secret Lady, together with last seasons's Gr1 winning 2YO The Mission flying the flag for him in recent times.
The first of two colts in the Bylong Park draft is Lot 352. He's a colt with a physique that suggests the early 2YO races are well within his scope. Very much in the mould of his Gr2 Light Fingers winning dam Sharp (by Danzero), the dam of this strong-looking colt is not only a Gr2 and Listed winner but has produced 4 winners already, headed by Gr2 Sweet Embrace runner-up In The Vanguard. By Stratum, a sire to finish in the top 15 on the Australian Sires list for the past 6 years, this colt will be looking to follow in the footsteps of current season Stratum stars such as Gr2 winner Bella Martini, NZ Gr3 winner Miss Wilson, WA Listed winner Battle Hero and 2018 ATC Inglis Classic winning 2YO The Enzo.
Lot 518 completes a superb Bylong Park Easter draft. Another by Choisir (Top 15 Australian Sire for the past 9 years), he's from Octagonal mare Capto and is a half-sister to stakes-placed filly Rendzina. This is a family that looks classy and runs with striking athleticism and includes names such as Gr1 Oakleigh Plate winner Khaptingly and Listed winner Khaptrist (both half-sisters to this colt's dam).
