Singo confirms he’s selling up
Larrikin owner and breeder John Singleton yesterday reaffirmed his shock decision to disperse the majority of his thoroughbreds and sell his prized Strawberry Hill Stud property at Mount White on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Magic Millions will conduct the on-farm dispersal at Strawberry Hill Stud on August 29, the Tuesday after the Hunter Valley stallion parade weekend.
A catalogue for the sale will be published in the coming weeks.
Singleton admitted his interest in the time-consuming breeding segment of the industry had waned in recent times.
“I had noticed this year that my enjoyment has declined in breeding, not in racing or not in gambling, but in breeding,” Singleton told Sky Sports Radio yesterday. “It’s such a long process to get a mare in foal, wait for the foal to be born a year, sell it as a yearling or keep it another year ’til it’s a two-year-old.
“I can’t rationally make plans once people talk ‘in five or ten years’ and you think, ‘yeah, that will be interesting, good luck’.”
In January, Singleton made the snap decision to withdraw six yearlings from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Two fillies – one by Blue Point (Shamardal) and another by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) – were owned by Singleton in partnership and were sold under the Strawberry Hill Stud banner.
Strawberry Hill Stud manager Bridie Sparkes left after 17 years working for advertising guru Singleton, while long-term racing and bloodstock manager Duncan Grimley resigned.
Former Gooree Park Stud manager Andrew Baddock, who spent last season with Edinglassie Stud in the Hunter Valley, was appointed as Singleton’s racing and bloodstock adviser soon after.
“Over the years John Singleton has turned Strawberry Hill Stud into one of the finest thoroughbred breeding farms globally,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
“The record of stock bred at the farm is incredible – a boutique operation which has continually churned out Group 1 winners.
“Singo has played an integral part in the growth and success of Magic Millions and we are honoured to be able to offer his stock to buyers at the end of August.”
At the Gold Coast earlier this year, Singleton did buy into an I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) half-sister to the stakes-placed Calgary Stampede (Snitzel), teaming up with agent Jim Clarke and trainer Bjorn Baker to purchase the Newgate Farm-consigned filly for $575,000.
“I’ve got about five or six in syndicates with groups where I’m a minority shareholder and the ones I bought at Magic Millions last year as yearlings, I’m not going to fob them off,” Singleton said.
“I still love the punt, I love the form, I love the horses, I love the foals, but I can still do that with my association with Vinery particularly, and Coolmore and Arrowfield.”
Singleton retains a share in Sensical (Zoustar), this season’s Blue Diamond Preview (F) (Gr 3, 1000m) placed daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt), who he sold at the Gold Coast in 2022 to trainer Peter Moody for $950,000.
Karuta Queen, who has also produced Listed winner Eawase (Sebring) and the Listed-placed Bezique (Spirit Of Boom), was purchased by Singleton in 2012. He raced her five times before she retired to Strawberry Hill Stud.
Karuta Queen, who was served by Zoustar (Northern Meteor) last season, is one of the mares set to be auctioned at Strawberry Hill Stud, joining the likes of More Joyous (More Than Ready), Dear Demi (Dehere) and Mirror Mirror (Dehere), as well as close relations and relatives of other high-class racehorses and broodmares.
The man who shouted the public bar at Rosehill after Belle Du Jour’s (Dehere) famous last-to-first Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) victory in 2000, Singleton also created headlines when he paid $3.85 million for champion filly Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice), a three-time Group 1 winner for trainer Kris Lees, at the 2009 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
Samantha Miss – the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed mare Miss Fabulass (Frankel) and the stakes-placed Call Di (Frankel) – has a weanling filly by Pierro (Lonhro).
Miss Fabulass, Samantha Miss and the daughter of Pierro are also set to be among those offered in the Singleton dispersal.
“The offering is truly world class. There’s mares in foal to stallions such as Frankel, Zoustar, Home Affairs, Spirit Of Boom and a number of stars are ready for early services this spring,” Bowditch said.
“It is rare that the proven success of a world–class breeder is presented to the open market and this unreserved dispersal will provide prospective buyers with incredible opportunities.”
Soon-to-be yearlings by superstar stallions including Fastnet Rock (Danehill), Frankel (Galileo), I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), Pierro (Lonhro), So You Think (High Chaparral), Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and Zoustar will also go under the hammer.