Lansdowne Park doubles up for million-dollar race

A pair of precocious youngsters have got Lansdowne Park over the Karaka Million try line twice.

Dave Duley’s Mystery Creek operation is proud of their graduates Te Amo and Dijon Bleu making the line-up for Sunday’s feature.

“To have two in a field of 14 gives us great pleasure — we’re obviously doing something right!” said the former Waikato Chiefs lock. “We have been selling for about 10 years after starting off with one or two and we have slowly built it up. We prepare about a dozen every year now.”

Placed in both her runs for Sydney trainer Peter Robl, Te Amo was a $220,000 purchase for Segenhoe Thoroughbreds. “I pin-hooked her from the Melbourne Sale and paid $80,000 for her,” Duley said.

Not A Single Doubt’s daughter Te Amo, to be ridden on Sunday by Australian jockey Jay Ford, is the highest-priced yearling Lansdowne Park has sold at Karaka.

Dijon Bleu was a debut winner on her home track before she finished fifth, after being held up 300m from home, in the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Lisa Latta is part of a syndicate that races the Burgundy filly, who was secured by the Awapuni trainer for $26,000. “She’s out of Pristino, a mare that was owned by the late Joy Robinson and we sold the filly on behalf of the family and Craig Grammer,” Duley said. “The mare is a resident on the farm.”

Lansdowne Park, which also sold the multiple winner and this year’s Sydney Cup hopeful Pacorus, moved to its 20ha Ohaupo site two years ago.

Duley’s wife Philippa is also involved in the business. “She’s a dentist, but helps out on the farm whenever possible.”

Lansdowne Park will present nine yearlings during the NZ Bloodstock Yearling Sale.