Homestead Farm - Yearling Sales

BREEDER OF THE YEAR

More than three decades of excellence and achievement in the Breeding industry was recognized when husband-and-wife team John and Christine Yeomans were named the winners of the Ian Daff Memorial Harness Racing Award for Victorian Breeders of the Year. The award was the highlight of the annual Harness Breeders Victoria Gala Dinner and Presentation Night attended by 120 guests at Tabcorp Park, Melton.

The Yeomans, who conduct Homestead Farm (a model breeding and training complex at Doreen, 26 kilometres north-east of Melbourne) have bred or trained a host of Group winners - mainly fillies - over the years.

They include the Oaks champions Racy Rita and Indigenous, Etoile, Gigi, Jaydare, Gold Cygnet, Yes I Can, Makeyourownluck, Ima High Rolla and more recently, the 2011 Queen of the Pacific winner Life Inthefastlane.

A former HBV committeeman, John estimates he has won more than 300 races and admits that his success has been largely due to a team effort.

"Christine does most of the pedigree matching and we have good staff in Shane Gallagher and Rachael Benns who assist with the breeding, training and yearling preparation," John said.