By Peter Wharton
Lilydale breeder Shane Hawes, who bred and sold the Tasmanian 2YO of the Year and dual Group winner Mickey Oh, Rockandahardplace and the Melton juvenile winner Roryville, has a single entry in the Tasmanian Harness Yearling Sale to be held at Carrick on Sunday, March 12.
And, on the score of blood, the youngster, Lot 24 in the sale catalogue, should attract more than casual interest.
He’s a son of the world champion and Canadian 2YO of the Year Warrawee Needy (1:46.8), whose first Australian crops have produced horses the calibre of the multiple Group winner Uncle Shank 1:50.4 ($162,953), the NSW Breeders Challenge Blue winners Ideal In Dreams and Saveeon and Im So Needy.
On his dam’s side, the bay gelding belongs to one of Tasmania’s most successful families.
Shadow Art, the dam of the youngster, is an Art Major half-sister to the outstanding racemare Shezallapples 1:50.4 ($350,614), whose 27 successes included the NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO, the NSW Ready To Run Stakes and a heat of the Victoria Oaks, the Matron Stakes winner Ima Ginger Rogers and the prolific Victorian winner Feisty Phoebe.
The grand-dam Apple Sorbet was a daughter of a fine racemare in Apple Cake, the winner of 23 races including the Danbury Park Cup and a heat of the Globe Derby Stakes and ancestress of Ponderosa’s Gamble (Tas. Sires Produce), Twenty Two Carat (Light Harness Cup), Totally Perfect and Only Crumbs Left.
The yearling combines the blood of Art Major, Fake Left, Torado Hanover and Aachen, all champion sires and broodmare sires.
Well-known Sassafras horsewoman Shelley Barnes is preparing him.