Hong Kong, December 12 – A long overdue Group One success by outstanding miler The Duke, in the prestigious Hong Kong International Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday, was celebrated by Yarraman Park Stud, who now own both his mother and half-sister having acquired the pair earlier this year.
A seven-year old gelding by Danehill (USA) with earnings of $A4.7 million, The Duke is the third foal of the Bluebird mare Mer du Sud (IRE), who was astutely snapped up by the Mitchells at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale back in June.
By leading broodmare sire Bluebird, the 13 year-old is a half-sister to English Group One winner Sayf El Arab and the Group Two winner Monde Bleu (GB), best known in Australia as the sire of Alinghi’s dam Oceanfast, who is the superstar of the Yarraman broodmare band.
“We bought Mer du Sud empty and liked the family so much we also privately purchased her daughter by Zabeel in New Zealand, a mare called Belle Mia,” said Arthur Mitchell.
“Belle Mia is now safely in foal to Fastnet Rock and Mer Du Sud is in foal to Catbird, so the resulting foal from her will be a three-quarter relation to The Duke.”
