First Justify yearling in hands of where it all began for Triple Crown winner
In a touch of sweet irony, the first lot sold in the year completed a full circle.
The strapping bay colt who kicked off Magic Millions 2022 was also the debut south hemisphere offering of Coolmore’s shuttling US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), and first foal of former quality mare Eckstein (I Am Invincible).
And he was bought, for a healthy Lot 1 figure of $450,000, by none other than Singapore business magnate Teo Ah Khing of the China Horse Club, at the head of a familiar triumvirate also including Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing.
It was Teo’s well-known, China-centric colours of red with gold stars Justify carried in his US Triple Crown triumph.
And his son’s purchase on day one completed another cycle since it was Newgate’s Henry Field who picked out the son of Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) as a yearling at Keeneland in 2016.
“We’re very excited,” Teo told ANZ Bloodstock News. “First lot – and Justify was always on our list.
“As part-owners of Justify, we know what Justify is and what he can do.
“The southern hemisphere Justifys, some of them we saw look really good. This colt reminds us again and again of the quality of the Triple Crown. He looks just like the father, he’s solid, with good bone and size. I think the Australian or southern hemisphere mares will bring a lot of speed into the Justifys in this crop.
“There’s a lot to say about Justify in the southern hemisphere, and that’s why we were trying very hard for lot number one.”
Coolmore Australia’s principal Tom Magnier said he was delighted for Teo and Field, and more than satisfied with the price the colt fetched having drawn the less-than-coveted No.1 marble.
“Credit to Henry Field. He was the one at the sales who picked out Justify as a yearling, and to see it go full circle now and for Henry to buy the first yearling, is terrific,” Magnier said.
“Henry and Teo are great friends of mine and great supporters of the industry, so I couldn’t have been more delighted than to see them buy the first Justify.
“You’re always a bit apprehensive when the sale starts, but we’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve had a lot of shows, the horse has been very busy, and all the right people have been here. So that probably gives you a little bit of confidence.”
The colt, who of course held the title of sale topper for a while, ended the day in 20th place.
There was a lot of Coolmore about him, since the Magnier empire purchased Eckstein, for $750,000, after she’d been raced by the wife of Coolmore’s Colm Santry, Nikki.
“We bought a lot of mares by these fast, hard-running Australian families to go to Justify, which we think will suit the stallion,” Santry said.
“A lot were maiden mares and we got good foals out of them, and we sent the mares back again.
“One big mare we bought was Invincibella and we got a lovely Justify foal out of her just on the ground.
“We had a great farm, great stallions, we probably needed a lot of broodmare investment in the farm, and the Magnier family have gone out over the last few years and bought the best fillies they can off the track, and are very happy and comfortable to back them with our stallions.”