Eliza Park’s continuing rise to prominence in the
Australian breeding scene took another step during the week when they provided the sales
topping yearling at the William Inglis 2002 Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne.
The grey filly by Desert Sun from the top producer Song of
Norway was always destined to be a star from the time she was born in September 2000.
A half sister to the classy stakeswinners Scandinavia,
Midnight Sun, Frosty the Snowman and Russian Tea Room, the filly was sold for $175,000
shortly after being passed in for $145,000 in the ring.
Eliza Park’s Lee Fleming said the sale was a great
result for Desert Sun, one of the resident stallions at the stud’s Kerrie base in
Victoria, and he was pleased that Sydney based owner Frank Tagg was the buyer.
"I’ve been dealing with Frank for a number of
years and he’s been a good client of the stud," Fleming said.
Tagg has raced a number of top performers including the
former glamour race mare Circles of Gold. Tagg is also keen on breeding. Circles of Gold
has visited Danehill three times.
There’s plenty of excitement for future members of the
family, with a full brother to the sales topper set to be the next member of the
illustrious family to go through the ring.
 "Song of Norway
currently has a Desert Sun colt on the ground and is presently in foal to Festival
Hall," Fleming added.
Festival Hall, another stallion standing at Eliza Park, is
a Group Three winning son of Sadler’s Wells who entered stud in 2000.
Fleming’s policy has been to support his stallions
with top quality mares.
"Desert Sun has achieved his results to date with
fairly low quality mares in New Zealand. Since coming to Eliza Park he has had big books
of much higher quality mares. We think the best is yet to come for him," Fleming
added.
Commenting on Eliza Park’s relatively rapid climb to
the rank of leading vendor, Fleming was keen to emphasise the contribution of Eliza
Park’s staff headed by General Manager Denis Roberts.
"All of the staff have worked very hard and topping
the sale was recognition for the effort they have put in." |
