Yarraman Park owner, Harry Mitchell is a rare breed - a well loved horseman as well as a keen golfer and an astute businessman. Champion filly Houtzen who will race in the prestigious Aquis Farm slot, was sired by I Am Invincible standing at Yarraman Park. Mitchell talks to Secretariat's World about his passions which include beloved I Am Invincible.
Yarraman Park has been owned by the Mitchell family since 1968 and stands three highly credentialed stallions along with a top class broodmare band. Harry’s success as a hands-on breeder is reflected in Yarraman’s status as Australia’s leading vendors both of yearlings and broodmares. Secretariat’s World catches a small glimpse into Harry Mitchell’s world just before the historical A$10 million Everest race.
Arthur, Bill and I grew up at Yarraman after our parents emigrated from England in 1969. We always worked on the farm growing up and loved the farm life especially the thoroughbreds. We all worked around the world after school learning the ins and outs of the breeding and racing game. Brother Bill went down the training route and Arthur and I concentrated on the breeding. We took over the reins at Yarraman in 1986.
The stud has gradually been improved and developed over a long period. We stood many stallions, none of any note until Catbird retired to Yarraman. Recent times Magic Albert was a great success. I am Invincible and Hinchinbrook are our two stallions at the moment.
Yarraman has gradually grown and we have always re invested back into bloodstock. We own about 70 mares, many in partnership with clients whom we have been involved with for a very long time.
Yarraman has been a lifelong endeavor and we want to continue improving our bloodstock and be the best run stud farm. We have a great team of people on the farm many who have been with us a long time.
Australian racing is in great shape and we feel very lucky we are involved in such a vibrant industry. Races like the Everest are such a stimulus to everyone in the industry.
We want to breed horses good enough to compete. Having Houtzen bred and reared at Yarraman and being by I Am Invincible is very exciting. I am Invincible has been a game changer for us. We went away from what works for a while but soon went back to the formula of fast Australian horses and he was the sort of horse we were looking for. I Am Invincible is a magnificent looking horse with a pedigree totally suited to Australia. He was a very good racehorse who probably didn’t reach his true potential due to niggling little problems. Both I Am Invincible and Hinchinbrook are very well bred with fast bloodlines and by very successful stallions.
Neither horse won a Group 1 although they were Group 1 placed. Thus they were in our price bracket. Both horses started at the lower end service fees and there stronger crops haven’t yet hit the racetrack. To see them perform so well is very satisfying.
I Am Invincible has 2 sons at stud in Brazen Beau and Super One and they are both throwing some great types.
Hinchinbrook has been leading 1st and 2nd Season Sire and last Season he had 7 individual stakes winner. He already has Press Statement at Stud (Vinery).
When we went to look at I Am Invincible we agreed that if we didn’t love him physically we wouldn’t proceed. He came out of his stable at Peter Morgan’s and just blew us away. He has more presence than any horse I have seen. He is the loveliest type 16.3, magnificent head with a great shape. He is also the nicest natured horse you could have. He is a great ad for seeing what is in front of you. Many people thought he wasn’t a good enough racehorse to make a stallion, but if you watch his races he had a great action and blinding speed. Takeover Target just pipped him in the Goodwood and we know how good he was.
We got great support from many smaller breeders and it’s been very satisfying seeing so many people get the fantastic results with his progeny. Houtzen was bred by the Late Noel Leckie, a great friend of ours who sadly passed away last year. He wanted a mare in foal to I Am Invincible and Houtzen’s mother, Set To Unleash, was the cheapest at $30K so he bought her. Houtzen was a very nice yearling who had a very minor x-ray issue and sold for $105K to Toby Edmonds. At the Gold Coast Magic Millions day it was very special to see Houtzen win and Flying Jess also win. You don’t get too many days like that.
Houtzen must be a good chance in the Everest although it will be interesting to see the 3yo up against superstars like Chautauqua. The Everest has created more interest than any race I can remember and if Houtzen managed to pull it off it would be the ultimate compliment for I Am Invincible.
Breeding good horses is what we strive to do and I think last year’s Spring Carnival in Melbourne was a highlight with the stallions winning 5 Group races, I Am A Star, Illustrious Lad, Invincible Star, Flippant, Spright. All relatively inexpensive purchases, you can’t get better promotion for your stallions.
With 2 proven stallions we are looking forward to watching their offspring deliver on the big days.
Hobbies away from the farm, we all love sport especially golf for which I don’t play enough to be any good.