Each year at the Australian yearling sales, buyers from around the world will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and at times millions in an attempt to find the next champion of the turf.
Some judges will tell you that the breeding is the most important aspect while others will tell you that breeding can count for nothing if the horse is a nice "type".
The most intriguing part of the yearling selection process is that each successful racehorse has a different story and past results have proven that you don't need to spend a lot of money to make a lot of money.
One "bargain" yearling that falls into that category is our star filly Ringa Ringa Rosie (pictured). Now a two-year-old, Rosie has already had six career starts for two wins and more than $138,000 in prize money. To add to that, as she has already won a listed race meaning her value as a broodmare is just as much as her prize money on the track.
These statistics aren't too bad when you consider she was purchased for only $46,000 at the Magic Millions sale. She caught Bevan and Richard's eye immediately, she was a big, strong filly that was very relaxed. Her pedigree page was also exciting and suggested that she was going to be a top two-year-old.
After winning the listed Hampden Stakes, her jockey Chris Munce described her as a future Group 1 winner. She will get that opportunity to prove him right on Saturday June 12 in the TJ Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm, a race worth $500,000 where she will start as one of the favourites.
Owning racehorses can have lots of highs and lows however the owners of Rosie will tell you that they've had the time of their life and the ride has just begun.
Anyone can get involved and we have some lovely yearlings by leading stallions that are still available. For any information, please contact David Cameron at david@lamingracing.com.au