Murrumbidgee Turf Club director Brett Bradley is bracing himself for one of the biggest moments of his racing career in Saturday's $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
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While Bradley does not own a horse in the race, he can lay claim to the next best thing, he is the breeder of Todman Stakes winner Yes Yes Yes.
Bradley raced the dam, Sin Sin Sin, and sold the colt for $200,000 at last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The colt started out with Darren Weir, before being transferred to the Chris Waller stable recently, where he was an impressive first-up winner in the Todman Stakes.
"It's very exciting. It's everyone's dream to breed a good horse but to have one that is close to favourite in the Slipper and a real chance is pretty exciting," Bradley said.
Yes Yes Yes has won three out of his four starts and so impressive was his Todman Stakes win that it prompted Coolmore Stud, the world's largest breeding operation, to buy into the horse.
The barrier draw brought little joy for Yes Yes Yes, coming up with the outside gate. Blake Shinn will take the ride.
"It's unfortunate he's drawn out wide but to be honest, I'd probably prefer he drew out wide than up against the rail," he said.
"He races in the second half of the field so he'll probably get back and Slippers are always run at a pretty quick pace, as long as he can find cover out there then I think being wide is going to suit him.
"I think he's a chance, I hope it doesn't rain anymore because he's won on the soft but I think he prefers it on top of the ground. If it doesn't rain anymore between now and Saturday that should be okay for him.
"As long as he gets a bit of cover out wide then he'll be hitting the line that's for sure."
While there is no direct prizemoney or bonus involved for the breeder on Saturday, a Yes Yes Yes victory in the Slipper will prove beneficial financially for Bradley.
Yes Yes Yes is the third of Sin Sin Sin's progeny to race and Bradley has a Sebring colt that he will sell at the yearling sales next year. He recently sold a Press Statement colt for $70,000.
Sin Sin Sin has also produced stakes-placed mare Dee Nine Elle and the Brett Cavanough-trained Another Sin.
Sin Sin Sin was purchased by Bradley after winning a trial in New Zealand. He brought her to Australia, where she won the Wellington Boot on debut for Trevor Sutherland.
Bradley loves the family that much he recently brought back Dee Nine Elle at a broodmare sale and has her in foal to Merchant Navy.
"I love the family," he said.
"Sin's mare Steam Heat was an absolute cracking mare and great broodmare. Now the family has In Her Time as well so it just keeps on improving. Plenty of speed.
"It's by far my best achievement from a breeding perspective and even though I don't have any ownership in the horse that's racing on Saturday, you still feel like you're apart of the horse, simply because you bred the horse and I've still got the family."
Bradley started breeding horses seriously about 10 years ago and will travel to Sydney with his wife Andrea to be trackside for the Slipper.
"We're going with a pretty big group and actually sitting with the owners of Time To Reign so we'll have a little bit of competition in the race," he said.
Bradley, who admits he will feel the nerves on the day, said a Slipper win would be huge.
"Just the value that it puts into the family. Even just a top three finish, to be group one placed," he said.
"Obviously a group one win would be even better but group one placed, particularly as a two-year-old is great for the family. It adds a lot of value, not only to the mare, but to the Sebring I'm going to be selling next year, it makes him a lot more valuable."
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