Lot 228's close relation is 3 x Gr1 winner Triple Honour (pic: Steve Hart)

Only 50km from Echuca and part of the vibrant agricultural region of Nathalia, Ponderosa Park is rapidly developing a reputation as a vendor to watch. This year will see it present its fifth boutique draft at the Adelaide Magic Millions. Meticulously prepared, it comprises 4 fillies and a colt and exploits a clever cross section of established sire strength on equally interesting distaff pages.

In terms of sire strength, coupled with type, look no further than Lot 243, the filly by twice-leading sire of 2YOs More Than Ready from Anabaa mare Very Cherry. Statistically, the maths is simple. More Than Ready has had 11 runners from Anabaa mares for 11 winners. Anabaa is undoubtedly one of the more superior broodmare sires in the studbook: 1056 winners; 165 stakes horses; 81 stakes-winners & 34 Group winners. His broodmare sire roll-call includes multiple Gr1 winner Buffering, dual Arc winner Treve, Horse of the Year Dissident, BMW winner Hartnell, All-Aged winner English etc.This filly is from Listed Gibson Carmichael-placed mare Very Cherry. With only one foal to race she’s already produced a winner in Pop. Meanwhile, her $460,000 Snitzel 3YO colt Able Fun is having his second start this coming Saturday, and her 2YO Snitzel colt Schnapps won a Hawkebsury barrier trial in late February. This is a lovely, well-balanced and well-conceived pedigree that features a double-cross of both Woodman and Northern Dancer. It’s also a family with significant depth, tracing to Gr3 winner and Gr1 Galaxy placed sprinter Dothraki as well as Gr3 winner / Gr1 placed Simonstad.

The next port of call in the Ponderosa draft is Lot 228, the filly by Gr1 Blue Diamond-winning sire Reward For Effort from Tegula. This is a family that offers both precocity and staying potential, with the second dam by Let’s Elope’s influential sire in Nassipour. The dam, a winner at 1200m, is a sister to Gr1 Doncaster Handicap winner Triple Honour as well as being a half-sister to Gr1 ARC Diamond Stakes winner Heroic Valour. Triple Honour himself displayed a distance diversity at racing’s top end to be talented enough to win from 1200m to 2200m. Plus the dam has already produced a winner of 8 races in The Bronx.

First crop yearling sire Rubick is, as expected, receiving serious buyer support with his first yearlings available this year. With a pedigree etched in gold, being by Encosta de Lago from a half-sister to breed-shaper Redoute’s Choice, it’s certainly unsurprising they are the baking equivalent to hot cakes. This filly (Lot 431) is from a Danehill line mare in Bonzerina. A winner of 8 races, this is her first foal, and it’s a pedigree that promises speed. Third dam Regina Madre was precocious enough to win twice at Listed level and place in a Light Fingers, Surround and Sweet Embrace. And she was the goods in the breeding barn with both Listed Rancher winner and Gr2 Phar Lap placed Skittles carrying her family name.

Another young sire with a market appeal on a similar level to Rubick is Fighting Sun. A son of Northern Meteor, he carried a buzz from day one and showed his class in the Listed Canonbury Stakes. This filly (Lot 118) is from Danewin mare Miss Bombay, a winner of two and dam of three winners from three runners. And she’s a half-sister to Gr2 placed Fawaz and stakes-placed Royal Lawyer. Just down the page you’lll find Queensland Gr1 winner One Guinea.

Rounding out another classy Ponderosa Park draft is the colt by Wanted from Polka Dot (Lot 156). Wanted has done a terrific job at stud with 116 winners and many at stakes level. This colt is from a twice-winning half-sister to stakes-placed Magnetic. It’s a strong family that has its roots in stakes class in the US and includes names such as Ton Wa Ka Wa Ma Ni, Graustark Lad and Morluc.