First-timer’s fingers crossed for golden sale

Above: Stephanie Stephen and Lot 119 | Image by Bronwen Healy courtesy of Henstep Thoroughbreds

Disruptions and changes to the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale can’t take away from the excitement for first-time vendor Stephanie Stephen, who will offer a couple of youngsters with points of difference at the auction.

Stephen operates Henstep Thoroughbreds at Geelong and has a son and a daughter of Ocean Park (NZ) – the only two in the sale by the Waikato Stud stallion – to mark her entry as a vendor.

With the COVID-19 situation in Victoria, the Gold Sale has been moved to its own section as part of the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Auction. Bidding opened on Friday and begin closing out next Thursday from 10am.

On the advice of the Hume City Council and relevant health authorities, the sale inspections scheduled for Oaklands from Monday will also no longer take place.

It was planned to still hold physical parades at Oaklands, but border closures and tightening restrictions in Victoria has made it impossible for them to take place.

None of that or uncertain economic times have dampened the enthusiasm of Stephen, who has gained experience from some of the best in the business before striking out on her own.

“It’s my first sale under my own banner and I’m incredibly excited. I’m really pleased to be doing this and I can’t wait to see how it all goes,” she said.

“I’ve been really fortunate to do yearling preps on arguably some of the best stud farms in the country. I started off at Gilgai Farm and did a preparation for them for the 2018 Inglis Premier draft.

“The following season I went up to Newgate and was working with their Magic Millions draft and most recently was with Coolmore Australia with the mares and foals, as well as the yearlings.”

As a fan of Ocean Park, Stephen used the gavelhouse.com platform to secure her sale entrants.

Above:Ocean Park (NZ) | Standing at Waikato Stud

“I bought the filly as a package with the mare and got the colt later on in the year and both through gavelhouse.com,” she said.

Stephen secured the colt for NZ$4000 and he will be offered as Lot 23 while the package deal cost NZ$1500 with the filly to be offered as Lot 119.

Ocean Park’s son is out of Light Bulb (NZ) (Pins), an unraced daughter of stakes performer Chandelier (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) whose son Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) was an impressive debut winner last month at the Gold Coast.

“The colt is really well put together with good strength, a deep girth and a really lovely front. He’s a beautiful-moving colt and I couldn’t be happier with his page,” Stephen said.

“He’s got a female family with several Group winners, including Irlanda, Seraphic, Chenille and Treasure who raced as She’s A Treasure in Australia.

“Being by five-time Group 1 winner Ocean Park, who was victorious on both sides of the Tasman, I couldn’t be any happier.”

The filly is out of Ravelin (USA) (Congrats {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G2 Newmarket Somerville Tattersalls S. winner Rerouted (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}) and the Listed Goodwood Thoroughbred S. winner Critical Moment (USA) (Aptitude {USA}).

View pedigree

Their dam is a half-sister to the G1 Kentucky Oaks and G1 Saratoga Alabama S. winner Flute (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}).

“I retained the mare and she’s carrying a half-sibling to the filly. She visited Pariah at Arrowfield and if I’m happy when this foal comes out and if he’s got the same sort of substance as this filly then she might return to Arrowfield,” Stephen said.

She is currently operating out of a rented facility at Geelong with the intention of purchasing her own property in the near future as the business develops.

Article courtesy of Paul Vettise TDN