Birdwood horsewoman Mandy Pascoe is a dab hand at preparing yearlings for the annual sales.
A member of one of South Australia’s best known trotting families, Mandy has won awards for Best Presented Colt and Filly at the Tasmanian yearling sales and has won plaudits from keen judges for her preparation of yearlings in Melbourne and Adelaide.
“I’ve always been very passionate about the breeding side of the Industry,” Mandy said. “I love watching the youngsters transition from a gangly foal into a mature racehorse. I get a lot of satisfaction from the yearlings, too.”
Mandy and her husband, Scott, conduct Ningana Park, an 80 acre training and breeding property at Birdwood in the Adelaide hills which formerly played host to the successful stallions Bad Bert, Tibet, Kawartha Robust, Vanston Hanover, Slug Of Jin and Aberdeen.
Nowadays Scott, who has trained and driven more than 500 winners including the SA Horse of the Year and Victoria Ladyship Cup winner Carvil’s Choice, Aberdeen, Awesome Garry and China Blue, is training only a small team as well as breeding from three broodmares.
The couple’s oldest daughter, Samantha, 21, is a successful junior driver with three winners and 26 placings from only 70 drives, while her sister, Jessica, 17, is a devotee of Western riding.
Mandy has been involved with horses for most of her life, having started driving trackwork and helping out at the stables of Marshall Steer and Barry Forrest at the weekends and during school holidays.
While Mandy still helps Scott with their racing team, she has been heavily involved with preparing five well-bred yearlings – four colts and a filly - for the Allwood Stud Farm SA Yearling Sale over the last two months.
“I’m very happy with all of them. It’s quite a nice draft; there’s something there for everybody,” Mandy said.
Mandy is preparing two colts for former Harness Racing SA boss Mark Carey.
“The colt out of Holla has a huge amount of presence. He’s a very classy individual,” Mandy said. “The one of Majeur Le Crest is really well developed with heaps of topside. He’s the complete package.”
The Holla colt, by the former NZ and Australian 2YO of the Year Follow The Stars, is Lot 7, while the Majeur Le Crest colt, by the USA 3YO Colt of the Year Heston Blue Chip, is Lot 11.
She has two colts from prominent Gosford (NSW) breeder-owner Michael Taylor in her yearling barn.
“The colt out of Tiabamba is a big, rangy fellow, while the colt from Spirit Of Fun is really long striding with a great action and a good attitude,” Mandy said.
The Tiabamba colt (Lot 2) is by last season’s leading first crop sire A Rocknroll Dance, and the Spirit Of Fun colt (Lot 33) is a product of champion sire Rock N Roll Heaven.
Mandy is also preparing a filly by Million Dollar Cam from the successful Safely Kept mare Kiss Me Monty for Adelaide enthusiast Jack Panagiotou.
“She’s a very strong, well developed and mature filly,” Mandy stated.
The five yearlings are all eligible for The Allwood, Southern Cross and Vicbred.
The 2019 Allwood Stud Farm SA Yearling Sale will be held -on Sunday, February 10, starting at 12 noon at the Magic Millions complex, Morphettville.
Catalogues are available from Globe Derby Park, Port Pirie, all other SA country tracks, Tabcorp Park Melton and Tabcorp Park Menangle. The on-line version is available at http://www.saharnessracing.com/site/2019-allwood-stud-farm-sa-yearling-sale/ , and www.saharness.com
