The Nutrien Classic doesn’t end for Select Sires when the gavil drops for the final time. It takes weeks to do the summations & site updates before we can finally sit back and reflect.
A really nice story that unfolded during the Classic is that of RAYMAN. It ticks so many boxes for us it’s unbelievable.
Way back in 2018 Laine Bennett won the Yarrawa Park Classic Aggregate with her grandparents’ gelding KP HYDRIVE CAT (by Hydrive Cat), awarded to the highest aggregate scored across both Classic events by the same combination. It is a lucrative prize pool which includes a free service to KNEIPPS CONRAY.
The mare of choice for the free breeding was STYLISH RAG TIME a mare Laine’s mum Amanda purchased as a yearling through the NCHA Sale. Laine broke her in but unfortunately an injury meant her career was restricted to the breeding barn. She has proved herself to be a valuable asset to the family nonetheless producing quality foals such as RAYMAN.
In 2024 RAYMAN was sold through the Nutrien Classic, touted as, “…a great prospect for the Challenge and Classic for 2025”. It was hard to part with him but Amanda wanted to sell a nice kind horse as her first in her name. He proved to be Conray’s top seller, selling for $32,500 to Wellington Cattle Co. Soon after he was sent to Leah Read to be campaigned.
How wonderful to see him return this year and not only final in the Classic campdraft but win the Gelding Dash For Cash with Leah.
Yarrawa Park principal Codie Law is particularly chuffed saying, “As a sponsor you want the winners to get value out of the service fee.”
Congratulations to all connections on such a great result.
PS: This is the 2nd event over 2 consecutive years won by a Conray at The Classic, YARRAWA CLASSIC having won the Young Guns last year with Fergus Friend.
