It was another grey day for Yarradale Stud and Greenfields Lodge when Neap Tide made it back-to-back wins in the Nixon Electrical Hcp (2000m) at Bunbury on Thursday.

Yarradale (Lyn Sayers) and Greenfields (Tony & Libby Patrizi) are next-door neighbours in Gidgegannup and they also bred grey mare Point Of Luck (Bradbury’s Luck) to double up at Toodyay and York earlier this month.

Point Of Luck is raced by Gidgegannup-based trainer Gino Poletti with his wife Bethany and her profile is linked here

Neap Tide (4g Puissance De Lune - Apache Point by High Chaparral) took a dozen starts to break his maiden at Northam last month but was equal to the task when asked to win again by trainer Adam Durrant as a $3.10 favourite at Bunbury. 

“He carried 60kg and dived right on the line for Willie (Pike),” stable foreman Jason Miller said.  “He’s done a good job and Willie summed it up and gave him a patient ride.”

Neap Tide is by grey sire Puissance De Lune (Shamardal) who stands at Swettenham Stud.  Yarradale has close links with the leading Victorian nursery going back to Soldier’s Tale (Stravinsky) who defeated Takeover Target in a memorable renewal of G1 Golden Jubilee (1200m) at Royal Ascot.

Back in 2008, Yarradale owner Ron Sayers acquired a significant share in Soldier’s Tale when Adam Sangster bought him out to stand at Swettenham.  And Ron’s homebred filly Fine Copper was the first winner by Soldier’s Tale when she scored a half-length victory in the Westspeed 2YO Plate (1200m) at Ascot in March 2012.

Pike could have been on the end of brickbats instead of bouquets coming back to scale on Neap Tide.  “I missed the boat on the bend,” he confessed.  “He was carrying 60kg and I waited and waited.  But he really wanted the win and it was a good effort to get there.”

Jaz Session (5m Sessions - Jaz Me Up by War Chant) added another notch to the Greenfields Lodge winner-count in the Jess Parnham 40th Birthday Hcp (1000m) at Ascot on Saturday.  She was a $24,000 buy for Justine Erkelens from Greenfields at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has earned $230,000 to date

Back at Yarradale, stud manager Davy Hanratty reports they’re all bar finished foaling and, if push came to shove, he would pick the Playing God colt from War Of Whispers (War Chant) as one of the standouts of the season.

“He’s a stunning colt.  An absolute ripper and the mare has gone back to our sire Shooting To Win.”  Hanratty also reckons the Playing God - War Of Whispers yearling colt will attract attention from prospective buyers at the 2026 Perth Magic Millions in February.

Neap Tide wins at Bunbury / Photo: Western Racepix