Neville and Susan Duncan of Oakland Park Stud are looking forward to the Karrakatta Plate with interest this year, following the stellar performance of Oakland Park bred yearlings in the Listed Supremacy Stakes last Saturday.
Oakland Park scored the trifecta having been involved with all three place getters. What a race the Supremacy Stakes turned out to be with the gutsy performances of Petrol Power and Busimiss careering away from the rest of the field for a real old-fashioned dog fight to the line with Petrol Power taking the honours by a half a head over the brave Busimiss, with Danny Rip 5.25 lengths away in third.
Petrol Power topped the 2012 Perth Magic Millions Sale for Oakland Park when he sold for a record price of $240,000. Oakland Park’s draft of 2012 set a new record average for the Perth Magic Millions Sales that year. It is interesting to note Oakland Park has topped the Perth Magic Millions Sales three times in the last 10 years, and all three sale toppers won at their first start.
The Jim Taylor trained Petrol Power has now had three starts for two wins and a third placing, earning his connections $158,450 in prize money and Westspeed bonuses.
Busimiss, by Key Business out of Danana Smoothie, a half-sister to the talented Simon Miller trained Bombora. Busimiss was kept to race by Oakland Park as she didn’t make the Magic Millions final list as a horse suitable for their “Select” category at the 2012 Magic Millions Sales. The Duncans subsequently sold a share off the farm in her.
Busimiss has had five starts for two wins and two seconds, and $111,000 in prize money and Westspeed bonuses.
The story behind Danny Rip racing in the Oakland Park colours is an interesting one. Danny Rip is by Oakland Park’s resident stallion Viscount out of Oakland Park’s stakes winning mare Danerip. The Duncans sold Danerip in foal with Danny Rip to breeder Lyn Shirley of Wave Farm Thoroughbreds.
Shirley offered the horse for sale in the 2012 Perth Magic Millions Sales. At the Sales Neville Duncan inspected the horse out of curiosity and liked what he saw. Although not a big horse, Duncan thought he looked an early runner, so he put his hand up at the auction and the horse was knocked down to him for $15,000. A fortuitous decision by Duncan as the game young galloper has had five starts for two wins and two thirds, earning Duncan and partners $133,700 in prize money and Westspeed bonuses.
Breeding racehorses is a tough game and one that the Duncans’ enjoy. In the last 15 years Oakland Park Stud has produced more than 35 individual stakes horses from an average yearling crop of less than 10, including the Group 1 performers Northerly, Covertly, Shirazamatazz, Marasco, North Boy and Grand Nirvana.
The Duncans are hoping their impressive stakes winning strike rate will continue when the progeny of their exciting young stallion Rogano hit the race tracks. Rogano is the full brother to boom sire Not A Single Doubt, sire of the brilliant unbeaten two year old fillies Miracles Of Life, Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, and genuine Golden Slipper prospect Villa Verde.
Not A Single Doubt currently sits second on the Australian 2YO sires list and it is a fair bet we will see Rogano’s two year olds hit the ground running.
Photo – Busimiss