Written by Paul Vettise
A partnership forged a dozen years ago has reaped Group 1 rewards and will go to a new level at Karaka in 2019. New Zealander Sarah Green and her Holland-based racing partner Ger Beemsterboer have been regular and successful buyers of fillies at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale series.
They will continue that approach next January and will also take on a fresh role as first-time vendors.
“We’ve got one to sell at Karaka, a More Than Ready colt out of Joy Of Life who is a Zabeel mare, and we’ll no doubt be looking at the fillies.” – Sarah Green.
“It’s quite exciting. We’ve got one to sell at Karaka, a More Than Ready colt out of Joy Of Life who is a Zabeel mare, and we’ll no doubt be looking at the fillies,” Green said.
Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer with co-trainer Peter Williams
Joy Of Life (NZ) was a NZ$600,000 purchase for them from Cambridge Stud’s draft in 2012 and won once from a handful of starts. She is out of a sister to the Group 3 winning siblings Gold Lottey (Encosta de Lago) and Besame Mucho.
Her colt will be sold through the draft of Dave Duley’s Lansdowne Park.
Green and Beemsterboer, who operate under the Barneswood Farm banner, first struck Group 1 gold when Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock) won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas in 2011 and Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) claimed the gavelhouse.com-sponsored Riccarton feature for them again on Saturday.
Byerley Park-based
Both fillies were trained by the Byerley Park husband and wife team of Peter and Dawn Williams.
“It was an unbelievable thrill and after all the problems with the delayed flights to Christchurch to do that was spectacular,” Green said.
Peter and Dawn Williams
“She’s such a tough filly and there was a query about the distance, but she showed her class.
“She’ll have a wee spell now and Peter and Dawn always likes to take a step back before making a plan.
“I’m sure there will be races during the Christmas and New Year carnival for her.” - Sarah Green.
“I’m sure there will be races during the Christmas and New Year carnival for her.”
Media Sensation was a NZ$425,000 Karaka purchase and is out of Different To (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}), a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed {USA}).
From business to racing
Beemsterboer was a client of Green’s husband Chris’ seed and grain operation and the racing partnership was formed over a business dinner.
“We were talking and Ger said you really love your racing so why don’t we buy a horse together?” Sarah Green said.
“It’s gone from strength to strength and it’s been an exciting partnership with Planet Rock our first Group 1 winner.” - Sarah Green.
“It’s gone from strength to strength and it’s been an exciting partnership with Planet Rock our first Group 1 winner.”
She is currently at Sledmere Stud in the Hunter Valley and has this year produced a filly by More Than Ready (USA) and has gone to Yarraman Park’s G1 William Reid S., winner Hellbent (I Am Invincible).
“We’ve also got Vavasour over there as well and she’s got a Lonhro weanling filly and she’s in foal to I Am Invincible,” Green said.
Vavasour (Redoute’s Choice) was a NZ$425,000 purchase out of Haunui Farm’s consignment in 2013 she was prepared by the Williams’ to win five races, including the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic.
Karaka purchases
At Karaka earlier this year, they purchased a filly by Zoustar for NZ$650,000 from Lansdowne Park’s draft and went to NZ$210,000 for Waikato Stud’s daughter of Sacred Falls (NZ).
“The Sacred Falls is with Neill Ridley and the Zoustar is with Peter and Dawn,” Green said. “They’ve done some pre-training and been in and out of the stables. We don’t want to push them too much, particularly the Zoustar.”
She is out of Snow Blitz (Zabeel {NZ}), an unraced daughter of the G1 Golden Slipper S., winner Polar Success (NZ) (Success Express {USA}) while the Sacred Falls is out of the Pins mare Nadel Dame (NZ), a half-sister to the former Singapore Horse of the Year Currency (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}).
