Richmond Oaks Winner Yuko Girl Retired

GROUP 1 class bitch Yuko Girl has been retired to stud.

Breeder, Nick De La Roche, announced this today saying the daughter of Zambora Brockie-Yuko would be mated to champion sire Fernando Bale for her first litter.

Yuko Girl is raced by Nick's wife Lisa and was trained throughout her career by Sam Sultana in Sydney.

“I asked Sam to pre-train her and was happy to leave her with him for her race career,” said Nick.

“Sam has been an absolute pleasure to deal with and so much so I have just sent him a couple of Get It Gizmo pups that have broken in with exceptional reports.”

Yuko Girl retires after 62 starts for 21 wins and 20 placings earning $187,000.

She won the G2 Richmond Oaks and a regional final of the Million Dollar Chase, was second in the G3 New Sensation and the G3 Goulburn Cup and third in the G1 Dapto Megastar.

Sam Sultana is rightly very proud of his beautiful Yuko Girl, and described her win in the G2 @ladbrokescomau @richmond_greys Oaks as very satisfying!

Good girl, Yuko! ?#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/2OXM0HCwNz

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 3, 2023

She was also a finalist in the G1 National Futurity, G1 Peter Mosman Opal, G2 Richmond Oaks, G2 Black Top, G2 Ipswich Cup, G3 The Ambrosoli and Listed Bathurst Cup.

“In all she made nine Group finals and was a reserve for the Golden Easter Egg,” said Nick.

“But, she was one of those dogs who needed a little bit more luck in Group races and her prizemoney could have been much, much more.

“She was hot favourite to win the Peter Mosman Opal but got knocked out of the race at the start.”

Nick, studmaster at Newhaven Stud, is well aware of the dominant bloodlines in the bitch and her future as a broodbitch.

“She is from one of the really great US damlines, and has quite a bit of US blood in her pedigree,” he said.

“She's by Zambora Brockie and he has already worked with Fernando Bale to produce Group 1 stars like Amron Boy and Plaintiff.

“It makes sense to follow that proven recipe.”