Ballarat breeders Steve and Chelsea Dickson have pledged five percent of the proceeds from the sale of their filly at the Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne Yearling Sale on February 15 to support research into treatments and ultimately a cure for Friedreich Ataxia, a cause deeply personal to their family.
Affecting one in every 30,000 Australians, Friedreich Ataxia is a genetic neuro-muscular disorder that robs children and adults of their mobility. It causes progressive damage to the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness, co-ordination loss, speech issues and heart disease.
The research is being conducted by the Melbourne-based not-for-profit organisation FARA (Friedreich Ataxia Research Association).
The filly, nicknamed ‘Clover’, is Lot 176 in the catalogue.
She’s a daughter of the Breeders Crown and North America Cup winner Pebble Beach and the Rock N Roll Heaven mare Heavenly Scent, whose first two foals in Celestialfragrance and Melfield Soryt are both sub 1:57 winners.
Heavenly Scent, who was only lightly raced, is a half-sister to eight winners including the multiple Queensland classics winner Miss Moneybags and belongs to a very strong branch of the prized Ar Miss family.
“She’s a beautifully put together filly, athletic with a little bit of spirit,” Steve said.
“We are going to paint one of the filly’s hooves in the foundation’s colours of blue, orange and pink to help raise awareness to the disease.”
The Dickson couple, who conduct Black Horse Naturals, a company distributing equine nutritional products, are also represented at the APG QLD Sale at Ipswich Turf Club on Sunday, February 8.
It is Lot 17, a bay filly by the 1:46.8 Captaintreacherous import Catch A Fire out of the 2016 Australian Pacing Gold winner Park Life, dam of last year’s smart juvenile Eyeneedthat, a placegetter in the $150,000 APG Final and a finalist in the Vicbred Super Series and Breeders Crown.
For further details of these or any other lots in the APG Melbourne Yearling Sale then check out the Online Catalogue or Register as a Buyer today!
