On Sunday, the 2yo gelding The Longest Yard made a winning debut against his elders over 1000m at Bairnsdale, completing an excellent weekend for Ponderosa Park and first-season stallion Lean Mean Machine.
Ponderosa Park bred and part-owned the Lean Mean Machine gelding Title Fighter an impressive winner on debut at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Like Title Fighter, The Longest Yard found it challenging to find a home.
He went unsold through the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale before taking the eye of his trainer, Matthew Brown, at the 2022 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale for $24,000.
After beginning well under Brian Higgins, The Longest Yard drifted back to midfield. Making his run three and four wide, the son of Lean Mean Machine finished powerfully to defeat the 4yo Diddident mare Middle Child by a length with a further length and a half back to the 3yo No Nay Never filly Flower Gallery in third.
The Longest Yard is the second named foal of the Smart Missile mare Launched. Her first foal is the talented No Nay Never mare No Way Ever, a winner at Flemington, Sandown (x2) and Pakenham for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.
From the family of Group II MVRC Alister Clark Stakes and Group II MRC Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Tally (Street Cry), Launched had a Frosted colt sell to Enigma Farm for $40,000 when consigned by Maluka Thoroughbreds to the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Showcase Session.
Launched was covered by Blue Point )IRE) last spring.
The Longest Yard is the fourth first-crop winner for Aquis Farm’s Lean Mean Machine.
