Koolman taken by Classic offerings

Written by Paul Vettise

Bloodstock agent Oliver Koolman has been impressed with the depth and quality of young talent on offer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and an auction he describes as one with a definite point of difference.

Koolman has been busy doing the rounds at the Riverside Stables ahead of Sunday’s opening session, completing his due diligence ahead of the opening session on Monday morning.

The catalogue features more than 800 yearlings, 613 during Book 1 and 195 in the Highway division, and in recent years the sale can boast Group 1 winning graduates including Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}), Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) and She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain).

“It’s more of a sale of type rather than pedigree and we’ve seen more than 200 horses so far and I’ll be having a second look,” Koolman said. “I’ve been more than happy with what I have seen.”

While he predominantly doesn't look for youngsters by first season sires, Koolman has been taken by the first crop representatives of Stratum Star, winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the G1 Kingston Town Classic before his retirement to Widden Stud.

“We generally don’t jump into the first season sires, but I’ve seen some really nice Stratum Stars. There’s two or three I really like in the Widden draft so he’s one that comes straight to mind.”

Koolman will be on the hunt for likely types to syndicate among current clients.

“We’ve got a number of different people that we buy for and syndicate to race in Sydney and have a bit of fun,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of syndicates that race Youngstar and Funstar and they’re always keen to jump into another horse at a reasonable price.”

Koolman is also the Racing Manager for Eugene and Karen Chuang’s successful Hermitage Thoroughbreds operation and its focus will be on Saturday’s Te Rapa meeting where its smart 3-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro) will be in action.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 3-year-old is the current favourite for the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby and will consolidate his position in the market with another strong showing in the G2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas.

He has won two of his three starts and is coming off a last-start success in the G2 Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie.

Dragon Leap was purchased out of Coolmore’s Inglis Easter Sale draft for $1,050,000 and signed for by Hermitage, the O’Sullivan family’s Wexford Stables and Andrew Williams Bloodstock. He is a half-brother to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think {NZ}).

“Hermitage generally does its buying at Easter. He’s a really nice horse and Lance and the team have done a fantastic job with him because he’s been a very backward and immature horse,” Koolman said

“The guys at Wexford have done a super job and not overtaxed him and as a lightly-raced animal he will continue to improve.”

Hermitage has enjoyed a successful association with the stable through past Group 1 winners Willie Casals (Ire) (Aussie Rules {USA}) and Summer Passage (Snitzel).

“Lance buys one or two every year for us and he gets to take them home. His brother Paul trains for the boss in Hong Kong and there’s where it all stems from,” Koolman said.

“There’s no set criteria. The trainers have to like the horse and put their reputation on the line and the boss puts his money on the line.”

Dragon Leap’s long-term future will be assessed after his 3-year-old campaign in New Zealand.

“It’s quite interesting. The boss’ brief when buying yearlings is to find a Derby horse so realistically anything could happen after the New Zealand Derby,” Koolman said.

“There are races in Australia and he’d be staying with Lance and if he goes to Hong Kong I daresay he’ll be going to Paul. We’ll just wait and see what happens.”