Meet the new Inglis poster boy
The Deep Field-Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt) colt who will go under the hammer as Lot 154 on day one of the upcoming Inglis Easter sale could well become the poster boy of the TBA Learning courses, an initiative announced last night and in ANZ Bloodstock News this morning.
Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien used the colt as his “live model” to describe the conformation of a horse and, according to the experienced studmaster, the Kevin Maloney-bred yearling is hard to fault.
The colt certainly has the attributes to be a top racehorse and he is sure to be on many of the leading buyers’ lists.
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Shinzo’s Golden Slipper win was just reward for Coolmore’s Tom Magnier and his partners who have spent enormous sums on yearlings in recent years, an investment which has already yielded dual Group 1-winning sprinter Home Affairs, who covered 202 mares in his maiden season at stud.
Shinzo, who is out of Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper-placed Samaready, did not see a sales ring.
Instead, we’re told Coolmore didn’t want to risk the colt ending up in someone else’s colours, so Magnier and co instead syndicated him privately to the colts group, rather than putting him through a public auction.
Given the price the group paid for yearling colts in 2022 – averaging $1.716 million at Inglis Easter and $1.275 million at the Magic Millions – it’s safe to say Shinzo was valued at more than $1 million at this time last year.
Now, he’d be worth at least 30 times that and his trainer Chris Waller, a shareholder in the syndicate, is treating him with kid gloves until the spring.
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The first crop yearlings by Aquis Farm stallion Dubious (Not A Single Doubt) have sold up to $500,000 so far this year and he was also responsible for providing the sale-topper at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale on Tuesday.
Waylon J Stud’s Brian Smith sold the $170,000 top-priced yearling at the QTIS sale and the breeder is a believer in the Group-winning juvenile.
His biggest problem is getting access to the stallion.
“I really like him. I think he’s every hope. We bred a few more mares to him this season and I am desperately trying to get breeding rights in him and hopefully I can secure one,” Smith said.
Dubious, who has also had fillies sell for up to $250,000 this year, is averaging $77,739 this year from a service fee of $13,200 (inc GST).
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The breeding industry often cops an unfair rap for not pulling its weight or contributing enough to the prize-money coffers of the racing industry.
It’s just plainly wrong – the vast majority of horses are raced by breeders either outright or in part – and it doesn’t help the perception of largesse when the mainstream media – and people who should know better – suggest this week that a win by Anamoe in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes could add up to $50,000 to his service fee.
As some may say, puh-lease! Anamoe’s stud credentials are well and truly already there for all to see and whatever he does from here until the end of the season – be it the QEII and/or at Royal Ascot – will have little bearing on his opening service fee.
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Tyler Schiller has ridden 286 winners during his short career, but none bigger than Mariamia (Toronado) in last Saturday’s The Galaxy, his first at Group 1 level.
The victory saw a wave of emotion overcome Schiller, who revealed his father was battling cancer, and that the momentous occasion of winning The Galaxy was one he had craved not just for himself, but his family.
Schiller, a southern NSW Riverina boy, has climbed the Sydney apprentices ladder under trainer Mark Newnham, but his initial master, Jerilderie-based Phil Sweeney deserves much credit for the jockey’s development.
The 24-year-old’s talent was obvious to many long-time trainers and owners when he was riding around at places like Hillston, Leeton, Corowa and Albury, attracting attention from leading stables in Victoria and Sydney to continue his career.
Sweeney, who shuns the media before a race and equally so after he’s trained a winner, sensed Schiller may have been getting ahead of himself and, in a rare print media interview, told the journo that his young apprentice was banned from speaking to the press.
You wouldn’t think it now with a mature and humble Schiller, second on the metropolitan jockeys premiership this season with 47 city winners behind James McDonald, but those wise words and actions from Sweeney no doubt have had a long-lasting impact on the exceptional rider.
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If we’re allowed to heap praise on one of our own, then the author of By The Numbers, Bren O’Brien, has been a great addition to the ANZ Bloodstock News team. He’s already pumped out three quality columns and he’s promised he’ll churn out another three next week.
I’m glad we were able to fit Bren under the ANZ salary cap. Not sure how, but if the Melbourne Storm or Carlton Football Club could do it, so could we.