Kalgoorlie Cup Day is always been a feelgood fixture for Yarradale Stud with founder Ron Sayers winning it as an owner, breeder or both courtesy of Forehand (1995), Priceless Matt (2005) and Smart Missile (2008).
A legend in the mining and racing industries, Sayers and his wife Lyn were both born and bred in Kalgoorlie and after accepting the prestigious G J Stokes Memorial Award in 2018, he was proud to tell a large audience at the Diggers & Dealers Forum:
“You have no idea what this award means to me. Thank God I was born in Kalgoorlie.”
The Kalgoorlie Boulder Racing Club honoured Ron after he passed away in 2022 by naming the feature sprint on Kal Cup Day the $100,000 Yarradale Stud Ron Sayers Sprint (1100m). Lyn and the Gidgegannup team saw Ain’t No Other Man win it for Yarradale sire Gingerbread Man in 2023.
And they were blown away watching Last Stylebender (Harry Angel) win it with a front-running exhibition in the stud’s green and gold colours yesterday.
Last Stylebender wins the 2026 Yarradale Stud Ron Sayers Sprint
The feelgood factor then went to another level 35 minutes later when Yarradale slot-holder Want A Winner (Yes Yes Yes) won the $1 million Golden Saddle (1200m) in partnership with his owner Wally Daly.
“The emotions were running high,” Yarradale manager Davy Hanratty admitted on Sunday. “It was a wonderful day and so was the party last night!
“Yarradale has been breeding from Last Stylebender’s family going back three generations and Lyn kept a share after Mitch Pateman paid $100,000 for him at the 2022 Magic Millions.”
Hanratty and his wife Susan approached Daly and co-trainer Sean Casey to negotiate a private financial agreement to sign on as the slot-holder for Want A Winner. “We thought he was a definite chance even at the odds ($19) in the Golden Saddle. They’re good people and knowing Sean and Ron were such good friends made it very special.”
