2020/21 racing season comes to a close
02 Aug 2021
The 2020/21 racing season has come to a close, with a number of notable results for Willow Park graduates.
Leading the way was our superstar Bella Vella’s win in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes back in September, before she ran third in the Group Moir Stakes by less than a length. Bella Vella (Commands x Forget The Weather) then made us even more proud when she sold to Rosemont Stud for $1.9 million at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale!
Willow Park born Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard x You Can’t Say That) strung three stakes placings together in New Zealand, before adding a well deserved Group 3 winner to her resume.
Fellow NZ trained, Willow Park foaled, Star Tsar (Fastnet Rock x Zarzuela), gained black type in running third in the Group 2 Avondale Cup, before unfortunately succumbing to injury during the running of the Group 1 Auckland Cup, forcing his retirement from racing. The Group 1 looked his for the taking, but we’re glad to hear he’s found a fantastic home post racing!
Super fast mare, Vulpine (Snitzel x Elusive Leone), hit a purple patch of form early this year, putting together two wins and a close second, before taking out the Group 3 Wenona Girl in a hot field at Randwick.
The John McArdle trained pair So Let’s Toast (So You Think x Slainte) and El Rocko (Fastnet Rock x Butters) both achieved black type placings in light racing preparations, showing huge promise for the future.
Our black type graduates were joined by a number of other impressive winners this season, including the likes of Brutality, Cape Breton, Eight Diamonds, Molly Nails and Papal Warrior.
We also saw some great results for the progeny of Willow Park sold mares, led by Fortune’s Choice, who produced Group 1 winning star filly, Bonham. We were proud to sell Bonham for her owner Gary Harding at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale, for $1.6 million.
It’s been a great season of racing and we’re looking forward to the return of many exciting horses in the coming weeks!