‘You could eat your dinner off his arse’
We take a look at a selection of lots who have had pedigree updates since the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogue went to press.
Lot 24
B c Trapeze Artist – Thrill by Flying Spur
Vendor: Widden Stud
This son of Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) was subject to a pedigree update courtesy of his Phillip Stokes-trained half-sister La Roux (Zousain), who made a winning debut over 1000 metres at Morphettville on Boxing Day, setting her on a path towards the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (Gr 2, 1100m). With last month’s win, La Roux – a $60,000 buy for her trainer and Rick Connolly Bloodstock at the Inglis Premier sale – became the fourth winner out of the winning Flying Spur (Danehill) mare Thrill, herself a half-sister to Blamey Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Star Of The Seas (Ocean Park) and Listed scorer Spieth (Thorn Park).
“He’s obviously a colt versus a filly, but he’s a stronger version of probably her in fairness to him. He gets over a bit more ground being by Trapeze Artist, and he’ll certainly take a little bit more time than what the filly has at this point,” Matt Comerford, nominations, sales and client relations at Widden Stud, said. “I spoke to Phillip Stokes this morning [Sunday] and he was full of praise for her and he certainly had an opinion of that colt as well, which is great news.”
Lot 115
B c I Am Invincible – Zimaretto by Anabaa
Vendor: Yarraman Park
Placed mare Zimaretto (Anabaa) was provided with her eighth winner from as many runners when Heesen (Astern) landed her second start, a Kembla Grange maiden by 4.8 lengths on Saturday and her colt by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) is sure to prove popular when he goes through the ring at this week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Trained by Michael Freedman, Heesen fetched $260,000 when bought by Mick Wallace and Gandharvi at the 2023 edition of Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. This colt is a brother to dual Group 3 winner California Zimbol, while he also counts Listed-winning duo Cruden Bay (Not A Single Doubt) and From Within (Not A Single Doubt) among his half-siblings.
Matt Scown, general manager at Yarraman Park, said: “Heesen was very impressive on Saturday, winning by five lengths. She was in front coming around the bend and she just kept lengthening and she was sensational to watch. This [I Am Invincible] is a really nice colt. He’s got very similar attributes to his half-sister California Zimbol – he’s very athletic. He’s a beautiful size, he moves exceptionally well and he’s got a great attitude. I think he should be a colt that’s very well received selling on day one. He’s been popular and he’s been well liked by a lot of the buyers.”
Lot 140
B c Prague – All Too Free by All Too Hard
Vendor: Tyreel Stud
This colt’s half-brother the Team Hawkes-trained Stagnum (Exceedance) handed the son of Prague (Redoute’s Choice) a timely update when he made a winning debut over 1250 metres at Canterbury on December 20. Raced in the colours of Rupert Legh, the gelding was bought by his trainers for $130,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Out of All Too Free, the colt is a three-quarter brother to Group 3 winner Ravi (Redoute’s Choice) and stakes scorer Elzaam (Redoute’s Choice).
“The Prague colt is a strong, great mover, great walker, and a very willing individual. He just loves it [the parades],” said Tyreel owner, Linda Monds. “He’s just really coming into his own in this environment. He’s been very well received and very popular. He’s just been a very straightforward individual, who has loved his prep and throughout the time has just really thrived. He’s had so many repeat inspections, we’re very pleased with how he’s being received at the complex.”
Lot 241
B f Stay Inside – Californiasurprise by I Am Invincible
Vendor: Alma Vale
Alma Vale will offer this filly from the first crop of Newgate Farm resident Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) and her family’s credentials were advertised by the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Field Of Play (Deep Field), who sauntered to a 3.3-length debut win in a 1200-metre contest at The Valley on December 28. Out of the juvenile winner Californiasurprise (I Am Invincible), Field Of Play was bought by Kaha Nui Farm for $225,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in 2023, before being sold to Hong Kong-based trainer Jamie Richards and Andrew Williams for $500,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Oscar Engelbrecht, stud manager at Alma Vale, said: “There’s so much I Am Invincible about her in that she’s a lovely mover and very correct. The update was very timely, but she’s a gorgeous individual anyway. She’s taken it all in her stride and she’s paraded super – she just comes out and gets on with the job. There is also a good feeling about the Stay Insides which helps.”
Lot 401
B c Pinatubo – Fitna by Fastnet Rock
Vendor: Eureka Stud
This colt from the first southern hemisphere crop of Darley shuttler Pinatubo (Shamardal) was provided with a timely update when his half-sister, Formula Rossa (Spirit Of Boom), a $340,000 buy from Magic Millions sale last year, showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in a 1200-metre contest at Eagle Farm on December 7. Out of Fitna (Fastnet Rock), the colt is also a half-brother to Listed winner Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai).
“This guy is a colt, so he’s very big, powerful and strong, as you would expect out of a Fastnet Rock mare,” said Harry McApline, head of nominations and bloodstock at Eureka Stud. “Fastnet Rock mares go unbelievably well with that Shamardal line, such as with his son Lope De Vega, so that is what attracted us to send the mare to Pinatubo. He’s a very big powerful colt, bred the right way, and the family is flying.”
Lot 424
B c Zoustar – Fuddle Dee Duddle by Red Ransom
Vendor: Longwood Thoroughbreds
Space Rider (Zoustar) produced one of the most impressive juvenile debuts of the season so far when he broke the ice at the first time of asking in a 1200-metre event at Eagle Farm on December 28 and his brother will be offered on Wednesday. Out of Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom), the colt is also a sibling to a further four winners including his brother, Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Brereton (Zoustar), while further back this is the same family as multiple Group 1 winner and The Everest (1200m) heroine Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai). Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr combined with co-owners TFI and Dermot Farrington to purchase Space Rider for $500,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last January.
“The good mind has been a common theme of all her progeny and she herself is the most beautiful mare and the colt going to the sale is the same,” said Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbreds. “In terms of physicality, I think he has actually got a bit more power, a little bit stronger bone and more strength than Space Rider and we’re super excited to offer him at this sale because he really is a magnificent specimen – I think it’s the best foal the mare’s thrown.”
Lot 668
B c Home Affairs – Miss Iano by Equiano
Vendor: Lime Country Thoroughbreds
Miss Iano’s (Equiano) first foal – Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) – was bought by Lindsay Park for $400,000 at the last year’s edition of the Gold Coast sale and he repaid their faith on his first appearance on a racecourse when he landed the Maribyrnong Plate on Melbourne Cup day. Lime Country Thoroughbreds will offer the Group 3-winning colt’s Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) half-brother on Thursday and he goes to the sale having been bought by James Bester Bloodstock for $280,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale last year.
Jo Griffin, co-owner of Lime Country Thoroughbreds, said: “The Miss Iano colt’s half-brother is Tycoon Star, who came out and won on Melbourne Cup day without even a trial for the Hayes boys. I think it is a huge testament to the nature of that mare’s stock that on a day like Melbourne Cup day, no trial straight into it. His half-brother [Home Affairs, colt] is a very laid-back individual. I didn’t see that colt as a yearling, but plenty of people have told me he’s the same sort of style, so the mare is obviously leaving her mark on them when you’ve got two such different sires. He’s got short cannons, huge girth and very strong – he’s very neat with a good topline, you could eat your dinner off his arse – it’s like a plate.
Lot 755
B c I Am Invincible – Outback Barbie by Spirit Of Boom
Vendor: Yarraman Park
Hi Barbie (I Am Invincible), the first foal out of multiple Listed-winning mare Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), turned heads at last year’s edition of the Magic Millions sale when she sold to her breeder Jennifer Acton and trainer Tony Gollan for $1.2 million. She made an instant impact on debut with a victory in the Phelan Ready (Listed, 1100m) at Doomben on November 30 and her brother will go through the ring during Friday night’s super session. Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom), herself is a sister to fellow stakes scorer Barbie’s Sister.
“Outback Barbie has had two I Am Invincibles now and she’s back in foal to I Am Invincible, off the back of her first foal, who obviously was an incredibly good type selling for $1.2 million,” said Scown. “That filly [Hi Barbie] stepped out and won her first start, the Listed Phelan Ready. Hopefully she’s going to be running in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic this coming Saturday. Her brother is a beauty. He’s not as big as she was at the same age, but he’s a really good loose mover. He’s got the best attitude and is athletic. He’s not overly heavy – he’s just a really classy looking colt.”
Lot 944
Ch c Home Affairs – Single Sapphire by Not A Single Doubt
Vendor: Newgate Farm
Newgate Farm’s colt by Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) had a last minute update before he is offered on Friday night courtesy of his half-brother Quietly Arrogant’s (Capitalist) victory in Saturday’s Aquis Gold Nugget 2YO (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast. Newgate sold Quietly Arrogant to China Horse Club, Newgate and Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $400,000 at last year’s edition of this sale. The yearling by Home Affairs and Quietly Arrogant are out of dual winner Single Sapphire (Not A Single Doubt) and she also produced Group 3-placed winner Customized.
Jim Carey, stud manager at Newgate Farm, said: “It was a fantastic win [from Quietly Arrogant]. The colt was bred by Belinda Bateman, who is a fantastic client of the farm and she has a broodmare band that any breeder in Australia would be delighted to have, and it’s great that she trusts Newgate and the team with looking after her quality broodmare band. It’s fantastic for the colts syndicate, we always liked them on the farm. It was great Henry [Field, Newgate managing director] bought him for the syndicate, and it’s a great update for his page. This colt by Home Affairs is a good moving yearling, all the progeny of this mare have been good movers and hopefully he will be a brother to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner by the time the end of the week. The Home Affairs colt has a lot of natural strength and has a good action. He will probably get up and go early. Like Quietly Arrogant, he is straightforward and has a great mind.”
Lot 1001
B c Hellbent – Sugar Hill by Hinchinbrook
Vendor: Yarraman Park
Yarraman Park will offer a brother to Hell To Pay (Hellbent), winner of Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate (1400m), on Friday at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Hell To Pay was bred by Yarraman Park and sold for $280,000 through their draft to Champion Thoroughbreds at the 2023 edition of the sale. The Hellbent yearling and Hell To Pay are out of Sugar Hill (Hinchinbrook), who is herself a three-quarter sibling to Listed scorer Harlem River (Fastnet Rock). Further back this is the same family as Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) and Group 2 scorer Yes Yes Yes (Rubick), winner of The Everest, who stands at Coolmore.
“Hell To Pay won in extremely good fashion. He was three wide, came into the race and he hit the line extremely well and looked like he had more to offer,” said Scown. “Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton for Jason Abrahams and Champion Thoroughbreds. This colt [Hellbent, yearling] sells on Friday night as Lot 1001. He’s an outstanding physical and moves well. He’s very similar to his brother in that he’s a top–class colt. He’s been extremely well received here. That pedigree update was enormous for him.”
Lot 1019
B f So You Think – Sweetener by Snitzel
Vendor: Segenhoe Stud
Winning mare Sweetener (Snitzel) has been subject to a pedigree update since the catalogue went to print with her daughter Jasmin Rouge (Dundeel) taking out the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield on November 16 and Segenhoe will offer her So You Think (High Chaparral) filly at this year’s sale. Jasmin Rouge herself was bought by her trainer Clinton McDonald for $70,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2023. Sweetener herself is a half-sister to Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Secret Agenda (Not A Single Doubt).
“Jasmin Rouge obviously won a Group 3 very impressively. Sheamus Mills bought her and she’ll stay with Clinton McDonald,” said Segenhoe Stud’s general manager, Peter O’Brien. “I think a hell of a lot of her and there’s a lot more improvement in her. The So You Think half-sister is a totally different type of filly. Jasmin Rouge was small and neat, whereas this filly’s big and strong, almost like a colt with a huge action. There’s a lot of the distaff side in the yearling filly and it’s a filly’s family, so I think she’ll sell well.”