Fourteen yearlings (eight colts, six fillies) made seven figures on Monday, with eight of them colts and six of them fillies. The Day 1 sale-topper was Lot 117, a Pierro filly, who fetched $1.75 million.
Lot 117 - Pierro x Ennis Hill, filly - $1.75 million
After a spirited bidding duel, Michael Wallace Bloodstock and Gandharvi came out on top for this beautiful Coolmore-bred filly, who is out of Group 3 victress, and is a half-sister to one of the best 2-year-olds in the country, the Group 2 winner Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
Lot 117 - Pierro x Ennis Hill (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Listed scorer Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock), the R. Listed winner and now Coolmore resident Acrobat, and the stakes performer Memphis Rock (Fastnet Rock) are also half-siblings to Ennis Hill, who was raced by Coolmore, James Bester, Michael Kirwan and Demi O’Byrne.
This is Ennis Hill’s third foal. The filly’s grandam, Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), was a gun 2-year-old, winning four races in her juvenile year, including the Listed Talindert S. and the G2 Resiling S.
Kuldeep Singh told TDN AusNZ the filly was simply too good to miss.
“That’s been our focus, buying fillies and getting into nice families. Hopefully, we can win races and improve the family and continue to breed from them,” he said.
“That’s been our focus, buying fillies and getting into nice families. Hopefully, we can win races and improve the family and continue to breed from them.” - Kuldeep Singh
“We are focused on the US and Australia, we buy colts with partners, so that we can spread the risk, however, with fillies, we try to buy them ourselves or with some of the leading stud farms out there, and Coolmore is an example of that.”
Wallace added: “I’ve followed her closely. It’s the family that I probably deem to be the most dominant family in Australia currently; there’s so much going on and it’s only going to continue to thrive.
“Being by Pierro she may take a little longer than Learning To Fly, but I’d hope to see her back at Randwick this time next year.”
The filly will be trained by Annabel Neasham, who trains Learning To Fly, and Coolmore retained a share.
Annabel Neasham | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 116 - I Am Invincible x English, colt - $1.55 million
This colt is the first foal of the dual Group 1 scorer English (Encosta De Lago), who amassed more than $3.4 million in prizemoney during her 27-start career. He was bought by Kia Ora Stud, TFI and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing.
A daughter of the two-time Group 2 scorer Court (Anabaa {USA}) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Al Naifa (Redoute’s Choice), English was bred and raced by Newhaven Park, and they bred and consigned this colt.
Lot 116 - I Am Invincible x English (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
English was trained by Waterhouse (and then Bott, too), and among her six wins were the 2016 G1 All Aged S. and the 2018 G1 Doomben 10,000.
“She (English) raced at the top level all the way through, she was very good,” Bott told TDN AusNZ.
“He comes off a really good farm, and we were very interested when we saw it was her first foal catalogued.
“We were able to put a strong partnership together to secure him.”
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 36 - Snitzel x Ballet D’Amour (USA), colt - $1.4 million
The James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership won the day for this beautiful colt from the Newgate Farm draft, who is a brother to the Group 1 winner and Group 1-producing sire Russian Revolution.
Lot 36 - Snitzel x Ballet D’Amour (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bred by Belinda Bateman, the colt is the 10th foal from the winning Stravinsky (USA) mare Ballet D’Amour (USA). She has had six foals race; all are winners, including the Group 3 victress Turbo Miss (Sebring), Miss Interiors (Flying Spur) - dam of the two-time Group 1 scorer and Coolmore sire Home Affairs and the Listed victor Aysar, who will stand at Geisel Park this spring.
“There were a lot of similarities between this colt and Russian Revolution, and what an amazing job he’s been doing,” Harron said.
“There were a lot of similarities between this colt (Lot 36) and Russian Revolution and what an amazing job he’s been doing.” - James Harron
“It’s just the most wonderful family that has produced champion sires Encosta De Lago and Flying Spur, more recently Russian Revolution and also Home Affairs.
“It just keeps throwing up these stallion prospects and that gives you a lot of confidence.”
James Harron | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 223 - Written Tycoon x Meryl, colt - $1.4 million
Bred by Francis and Christine Cook under their Mystery Downs banner, this colt was one of three seven-figure buys for Yulong Investments.
The colt is the first foal of the Group 3-winning mare Meryl (Epaulette), who was raced by the Cooks. She is a half-sister to the stakes performers Chosen Idol (Choisir) and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel).
Lot 223 - Written Tycoon x Meryl (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He just flows. Watching him walk, he didn’t turn a hair and he’s just an athlete,” an emotional Francis Cook said.
“We put the mare up at the (Inglis) Chairman’s Sale last year and couldn’t sell her.”
The colt was consigned by Fairview Park Stud.
“He’s been a beautiful horse from a foal, from birth,” Fairview Park Stud’s Linda Duckworth said.
“When we were prepping him, I thought, ‘This could be a $400,000 colt’, and then when I got here he was really popular, so I thought, ‘Maybe $600,000, but I’m not going to tell Francis, I don’t want him to get too excited’.
Francis Cook and Linda Duckworth | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s exceeded my expectations. She’s just a beautiful mare.”
The colt’s second dam, Academy Idol (Made Of Gold {USA}), won over 1006 metres and is a sister to the Group 3 winner Cosmic Strike.
Lot 164 - I Am Invincible x Heavens Above, filly - $1.35 million
Bred by Reg Kemister, this filly was consigned by Yarraman Park Stud, and was purchased by Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock.
Gallery: Purchasers of Lot 164, images courtesy of Inglis
She is the second foal of the Group 1-winning daughter of Street Cry (Ire), Heavens Above, who is a half-sister to the stakes performer Pindan Pearl (Testa Rossa).
Heavens Above won five races, including the G1 Coolmore Classic in 2017. Her first foal was retained by Kemister, unraced 2-year-old filly I Am Heaven (I Am Invincible) who is with Brad Widdup at Hawkesbury.
Lot 164 - I Am Invincible x Heavens Above (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She’s a filly we had our eye on and progressively liked her more and more as the sale went on, so we’re delighted to buy her,” Luke Simpson of Glentree Thoroughbreds said.
“She ticked all the boxes. She displayed a really good temperament throughout the week and just with her type and pedigree, they’re all the boxes to be ticked for us.
“We knew we had to be strong on her, those top-end fillies have been selling very well and we knew she was in that bracket.”
“We knew we had to be strong on her (Lot 164), those top-end fillies have been selling very well and we knew she was in that bracket.” - Luke Simpson
Lot 12 - Snitzel x Acquired (NZ), colt - $1.3 million
Consigned by Queensland’s Highgrove Stud, who bred him in partnership with Kitchwin Hills, this colt was also secured by Yulong Investments.
Lot 12 - Snitzel x Acquired (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Highgrove Stud’s Ron Gilbert was moved to tears post-sale.
“You know you’ve got the right horse a day after he’s born. There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of stress getting him here all in one piece,” Gilbert said.
“He had good x-rays, a good scope and then you get the result the horse deserves, not so much me, but the horse.
“You know you’ve got the right horse a day after he’s born. There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of stress getting him (Lot 12) here all in one piece.” - Ron Gilbert
“We were hoping he’d make $1 million, but $1.3 million is beyond our wildest dreams. It’s not about the money, it’s about the horse making what he deserved.
“I’m just so grateful for everyone involved in the horse, and also his mother, who is a queen.”
The colt is the eighth living foal of the star producer Acquired (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who has a 100 per cent strike rate from four runners to race.
Ron Gilbert | Image courtesy of Inglis
A Group 2 placegetter, Acquired is a sister to the stakes performer Procurement (NZ) and a half-sister to Hips Don’t Lie, thus closely related to Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) and the sale-topping Pierro x Ennis Hill filly - possessing arguably one of the most commercial pedigrees in the Australian studbook.
Acquired has thrown two stakes winners - Splintex, who stands at Darling View Thoroughbreds, and Invictus Salute (Exceed And Excel), as well as the stakes performer Acqume (Sepoy).
Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer, Sam Fairgray, said: “With a quality individual with a pedigree, you’ve got to front up and we’re really pleased to be able to secure him.
“With a quality individual with a pedigree, you’ve got to front up and we’re really pleased to be able to secure him (Lot 12).” - Sam Fairgray
“He’s a lovely physical and obviously the mare has already worked with Snitzel. We’re really excited to have him join the racing team and hopefully one day he is in the stallion barn.”
Lot 49 - I Am Invincible x Bonny O’Reilly (NZ), colt - $1.3 million
Bred by Widden Stud and partners, purchased by Yulong Investments, this colt is the third foal of Listed winner Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and she is a sister to Dahooil (NZ) - the dam of the Group 1 heroine Espiona (Extreme Choice).
Lot 49 - I Am Invincible x Bonny O’Reilly (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
A $1.2 million mare purchase in 2019 for Widden Stud and David Redvers, Bonny O’Reilly is a three-quarter sister to the stakes winners Rare Insight (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), dam of the Group 1 winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Escadaire (NZ) O’Reilly {NZ}), and Simply You (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who is the dam of the Group 2 scorer Forgot You (NZ).
“We bought Bonny O’Reilly with some other partners and she was an expensive mare for us, but produces a lovely horse,” Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson said.
“We bought Bonny O’Reilly with some other partners and she was an expensive mare for us, but produces a lovely horse.” - Antony Thompson
“I’m very grateful to Yulong, who have invested so much in Australia and they bought the Zoustar filly from Solar Charged from us earlier this year for $2.6 million, so it’s great they’ve come back to us again.”
Pretty To Sea (NZ) is a half-sister to Bonny O’Reilly and that daughter of Ocean Park (NZ) notched four wins, including one in Listed grade.
This colt’s grandam, Pretty (NZ) (Pins), won over 1200 metres and is a blood-sister to the stakes winners Crepe De Chine (NZ) and Glam Slam (NZ)
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 192 - Zoustar x Lady Jivago, colt - $1.3 million
Acting for Hermitage Thoroughbreds, Guy Mulcaster signed the ticket for this colt, who was bred by Widden Stud and Dodgy Investments, and was offered by the former.
The colt is the second foal of Beneteau mare Lady Jivago, who won the R. Listed Inglis Classic in 2015, and is a brother to the Matt Laurie-trained 3-year-old Zamborghini - a two-time winner.
Lot 192 - Zoustar x Lady Jivago (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s a beautiful colt,” Mulcaster told TDN AusNZ. “We know Zoustar, we know the shape of the good ones.
“He’s going to be owned by Hermitage Thoroughbreds and they’re great supporters of myself and Chris, and fingers crossed he turns out really good.
“We will take our time with the colt and let him tell us (when he’s ready to go).”
“He’s (Lot 192) a beautiful colt... We will take our time with the colt and let him tell us (when he’s ready to go).” - Guy Mulcaster
The colt’s second dam, Hussterics (Hussonet {USA}), was a winner of two races and is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}) - dam of the Group 1 winner and now Coolmore Stud resident King’s Legacy.
The colt hails from a big black-type family that includes Champion Sire Not A Single Doubt and Group 1 scorer Oohood (I Am Invincible).
Lot 201 - I Am Invincible x Listen Here, filly - $1.3 million
China Horse Club had the final say on this blueblood filly, who was offered by Cressfield.
She is the eighth living foal of the blue hen Listen Here (Elusive Quality {USA}), who has of course thrown exceptional sire Deep Field, Group 1 winner Shooting To Win, as well as the Listed victress Zaniah (Zoustar).
Lot 201 - I Am Invincible x Listen Here (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Listen Here, who has seven foals to race and all are winners, is a half-sister to the stakes performer Spectro Power (Spectrum {USA}).
The unraced Military Plume (NZ) mare Announce is the second and final dam of the filly’s page and she is a half-sister to the stakes winners Emerald Dream (Danehill {USA}) and Special Bond, as well as the stakes performer Mancini (Zephyr Zip).
Lot 157 - The Autumn Sun x Grisi, filly - $1.2 million
Arrowfield Stud bred and offered this filly, who is a sister to the G3 Black Opal S. heroine Autumn Ballet. She was bought by Emirates Park Stud.
She is the fourth foal from the Street Cry mare, Grisi, who placed at three and is a half-sister to the stakes winner Zakouski (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), Albrecht and King’s Command (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Lot 157 - The Autumn Sun x Grisi (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly’s second dam, O’Giselle (Octagonal {NZ}), was unraced and is a sister to the great Lonhro, as well as the Group 1 winner Niello and the Listed victress Shannara.
“We’re here to buy one or two fillies and this one ticked all the boxes,” said Emirates Park’s Bryan Carlson.
“The Autumn Sun’s doing a great job, and with her being a full sister to Autumn Ballet… sometimes you’ve got to pay a little bit extra to get them.
“That’s the biggest thing for us, type and residual (value). Coming in here, we knew we would have to pay a bit, but we got her in the end.
“That’s the biggest thing for us, type and residual (value). Coming in here, we knew we would have to pay a bit, but we got her (Lot 157) in the end.” - Bryan Carlson
“She’s a lovely type with a lot of Street Cry in her and looks a bit stronger than her sister.”
Top lots
| 117 | Pierro | Ennis Hill | F | Coolmore Stud | Mick Wallace/Gandharvi USA | $1,750,000 |
| 116 | I Am Invincible | English | C | Newhaven Park | Kia Ora Stud/TFI/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing QLD | $1,550,000 |
| 36 | Snitzel | Ballet D'Amour | C | Newgate Farm | James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership NSW | $1,400,000 |
| 223 | Written Tycoon | Meryl | C | Fairview Park Stud | Yu Long Investments VIC | $1,400,000 |
| 164 | I Am Invincible | Heavens Above | F | Yarraman Park Stud | Glentree Thoroughbreds/Badgers Bloodstock VIC | $1,350,000 |
| 12 | Snitzel | Acquired | C | Highgrove Stud | Yu Long Investments VIC | $1,300,000 |
| 49 | I Am Invincible | Bonny O'Reilly | C | Widden Stud | Yu Long Investments VIC | $1,300,000 |
| 192 | Zoustar | Lady Jivago | C | Widden Stud | Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd NSW | $1,300,000 |
| 201 | I Am Invincible | Listen Here | F | Cressfield | China Horse Club SINGAPORE | $1,300,000 |
| 157 | The Autumn Sun | Grisi | F | Arrowfield Stud | Emirates Park NSW | $1,200,000 |
