The end of this year’s jumps racing season earlier this month marked the completion of a remarkable siring effort from beyond the grave by former White Robe Lodge stallion Yamanin Vital.
The year’s jumps racing was completed when the last leap was made and the last hurdle was brushed at Te Aroha earlier this month.
When the season’s statistics were tallied, Yamanin Vital stood heads and shoulders above the rest as sire of the country’s biggest jumps race winners.
The fallen sire left the winners of five of the country’s 12 prestige category jumping races.
That tally came via Wise Men Say’s Great Northern and McGregor Grant Steeplechase wins, Ready Eddie’s Grand National and K. S. Browne Hurdles wins and Upper Cut’s Grand National Steeplechase victory.
Remarkable stuff for a sire that has not been in the breeding barn since a since sad day at White Robe Lodge in October, 2009.
What started out as a normal day with a routine veterinary procedure booked for Yaminin Vital would end in tragedy when it was discovered the horse had a bowel rupture that would become fatal.
"It was a perforation of the bowel that leaked out into his system."
White Robe Lodge’s Brian Anderton said. The death of the Cambridge Stud-bred horse, who raced in Japan, came at the beginning of the breeding season. Only two mares would go on to give birth to the last foals that would complete his tally of 439 live foals. His progeny continue to leave a undeniable mark on the thoroughbred world, especially through jumps racing, but also prior to that with a string of feature flat-race scalps.
"He was an amazing horse. To think he left derby winners, [and winners of] Auckland Cups, Wellington Cups, Grand Nationals and Great Northerns," Anderton said.
It was not just his untimely death that curbed the legacy of a sire whose stock were renowned for their toughness and staying prowess, Anderton said. Firstly, some breeders and trainers were put off by the stallion’s reputation for leaving highly strung types.
"They were not everyone’s kettle of fish as far as temperament goes.
"He could get a bit hot — he raced in earmuffs.
"Some people gave up on them because they were a bit hypey. They weren’t all like that, but some of them could test your patience."
Secondly, his impact could have been even greater t had he attracted bigger books of high-quality mares, especially towards the end of his stud career.
"He has done remarkably well for the opportunities he got. By the end he was getting some pretty ordinary mares," Anderton said.
And a bigger jewel could still be added early next month. The stallion’s year could go to even more remarkable levels if his 9yr-old son, Who Shot Thebarman, can win the Melbourne Cup.
- Jonny Turner
