Day 4 sale-toppers: million-dollar show rolls on

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Lot 900 - I Am Invincible x Madam Rogue (Zoustar), filly, $1.7 million

Having been upstaged by a barrage of bids for sons and daughters of Northern Hemisphere-bred stallions, I Am Invincible hit back hard on Day 4, with a $1.7 million filly out of elite racemare that caused fervent bidding around the auditorium.

Despite the sire not boasting international influence, the buyers certainly did, with the conglomerate of Jes Sikura, Hill 'n' Dale Farm, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Kestrel Thoroughbreds all joining forces to secure one of the richest fillies to pass their way through these grounds.

Offered by Widden Stud, the beautiful filly is the first progeny of the G2 Tristarc S. winner Madam Rouge (Zoustar), who collected a total of six victories across her stellar career on the track.

Her grandam, Cabernet (Al Maher) also enjoyed a sextet of successes when in work, headlined by taking out the Listed Summond S. The strength of the damline doesn’t end there, with great-grandam Golden Weekend (Nine Carat) a talented 2-year-old performer and a producer of three foals to race for as many winners.

Jes Sikura, who is the son of Hill ‘n Dale Stud owner John Sikura, was quick to praise all the parties involved in making the dream happen, and emphasised his excitement for what is to come with this quality filly.

“Being by I Am Invincible out of a Graded stakes-winning mare by Zoustar, she really ticked all the boxes and we thought if there was some point to get involved, she was the one to do it with.

“We’re beyond excited for the future to come.

“It was a pretty big thrill. We knew we were going to have to pay something, we weren’t sure of the exact number.

“They (the auctioneer) were definitely fighting for the $1.8 million up there and we were shaking a little bit, so we were happy to get it at $1.7 million.

“She was worthy of every dollar and we’re excited for the future.”

Lot 786 - Snitzel x In Times Of War (Street Cry {Ire}), filly, $1.4 million

Baramul Stud enjoyed another superb result across the first half of the sale, this time with their Snitzel filly being knocked down to TFI and the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman operation for $1.4 million, one of the highest prices so far seen in the first four days.

The filly was destined to be well sought after on the back of the recent strengths of her half-brother Espionage (Zoustar), who fought doggedly to win the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut back in September, stamping his case to be one of the more promising pre-Christmas 2-year-olds of the crop.

Both this filly and Espionage are out of In Times Of War (Street Cry {Ire}), who was a three-time winner in Australia. Their other half-sibling, the Redoute’s Choice gelding Thorsby, has also been successful on the ractrack, giving her a so far unblemished record as a producer.

Her grandam, Military Rose (General Nediym), was a star juvenile herself, winning five races in her 2-year-old season, including success in the G2 Reisling S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic.

Moody told The Thoroughbred Report that the final price of $1.4 million might have been a shade higher than the original plan, saying, “It was too much money, but we hope she can run and justify it.

“She has handled the day very well. She paraded terrific out the back. It got a bit warm out there and great to see their attitude when they’re presented to a foreign environment, and she coped with it really well.

“Doesn’t make them run but it makes you feel better particularly when you have to pay that amount for them.

“She is from a lovely family and Gerry (Harvey) and the team at Baramul have done a great job and we’re hoping Katherine and I and the team can have a bit of luck with her at Pakenham.”

Lot 795 - Justify (USA) x Invincible Star (I Am Invincible), colt, $1.3 million

Boasting one of the most exciting 2-year-olds in the country currently in the form of Storm Boy (Justify {USA}), it should be no surprise that Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott went back to the well for the Triple Crown-winning stallion Justify (USA), securing his colt out of Invincible Star (I Am Invincible) for $1.3 million in partnership with Kestrel Thoroughbreds.

In another strong result for Coolmore Stud, who have thrown enormous amounts of faith behind Justify, the first living foal for their resident mare Invincible Star attracted sweeping interest across the auditorium, with Waterhouse and Bott able to continue on a legacy from the damline.

They trained Invincible Star in her racing career, in which she won the G3 Ottawa S. as a 2-year-old and would go on to place in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. as a 3-year-old.

Also decorating his page is the G1 Flight S. winner Unearthly (Zabeel {NZ}), who went on to produce a further six winners herself, and the G2 Sandown Cup winner Royal Snack (Lunctime {GB}), who won 15 races across his career from 1200 metres all the way up to 2400 metres, including as a 2-year-old.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott has plenty of belief in the ability of the colt to live up to his lofty purchase price, saying, “We know mum very well and we’re starting to get to know a little bit about the progeny of dad as well with Storm Boy obviously going into the Magic Millions.

“This colt seemed the profile that we were looking to going for into the sale.

“Invincible Star was such a sharp horse, we had her and she won first time out of asking up the straight at Flemington, she was so quick, and we had her lined up for an Everest at one point and she just went down a nose in the Coolmore.

“She was the fastest filly of her generation and we’ve seen what Justify is starting to do down here, so it deemed a nice mix and he was a nice physical.

“We’re going to give him the chance to (perform as a 2-year-old). We’re always looking for horses that can potentially get us back here next year with the ultimate aim being looking for Golden Slipper winners with colts out of this sale.

“In saying that, he’s a colt with some nice scope about him and I think there’s a lot more options for him. We’re going to see a lot more from him going past his 2-year-old career as well.”

Lot 838 - Zoustar x Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler), colt, $1.3 million

Veteran Western Australian owner-breeder Peter Walsh, whose multi-faceted Amelia Park operation is well known across the state, achieved his biggest ever result as a seller on Friday, with a Zoustar colt out of his star mare Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) going to the James Harron Colt Partnership for $1.3 million.

Bidding escalated rapidly as the colt purposefully strutted around the ring, with bidding furiously blasting past the $1 million mark, with plenty more still to come.

Ultimately it was Harron with the desire and the pockets, coming out on top of a titanic battle across the auditorium to ensure he races in the distinctive dark green and gold colours of his partnership.

Lady Cosmology enjoyed a stellar career as a filly in Western Australia, and had it not been for running into Arcadia Queen (Pierro) throughout her 3-year-old season, she would have taken out a treble of some of the most valuable filly’s races in the state.

She ran second in the G2 WA Guineas and the G3 Champion Fillies S., but did manage to get one over on the darling in cerise and white, getting the win in the Listed Burgess Queen S., before going on to take out the G3 Proud Miss S. in South Australia.

Her half-brother, Outspoken Lad (Awesome Rock) is a three-time winner, and has placed at Listed level on two occasions.

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report following the sale, Walsh told of his delight at a banner result for his Amelia Park operation.

“She (Lady Cosmology) was probably my second-best horse that I’ve ever owned, she ran second to Arcadia Queen in the (WA) Guineas and the Champion Fillies and she beat her in the Burgess Queen so she only raced in Group races and black type and she always performed very well and she was a tough, tough mare.”

As for James Harron, he experienced glee on the other side of the settling sheet, with high hopes around the future of Lady Cosmology as a producer.

“She (Lady Cosmology) was a super-fast mare, she had great form around the likes of Arcadia Queen etc, etc., a household name in the west, and he was a cracking colt; a beautifully-balanced horse who handled the sale very well and we were very keen to get him.

“She’s just getting going, a young mare and it’s very exciting. I’m pleased to get him, he was born and raised at Segenhoe and we’ve had a lot of luck off that particular farm.”

“Zoustar is going great. He just keeps going from strength to strength. I quite like this colt on the dam side and he was a nice, medium size, well balanced and lot of quality, so hopefully he’s fast.”

Lot 768 - Farnan x I Am Excited (Snitzel), colt, $1.2 million

Outside of the gigantic success of Wootton Bassett (GB), Farnan has been right up amongst the top of the locally raced first-season sires, with a $1.2 million colt being bought in partnership of his former trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, his current landlord Kia Ora Stud, and the appropiately named Farnan Partnership from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds.

He is the second foal from the superb daughter of Snitzel, I Am Excited, who achieved success at the highest level in the G1 Galaxy H., the most notable of her seven victories when competing as a racemare.

There is plenty of quality throughout his page away from his superstar dam, including one of the greatest equine athletes of the 21st century, Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), as well as the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook) and the revered Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who claimed the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup and the G1 Champions & Chater Cup.

For Kia Ora Stud, they now have the opportunity to throw support behind the stallion that helped them push forward inro a new era with one of his most glamorous colts, and Bloodstock Manager Shane Wright is very excited that the operation will have an interest in him as he embarks on his racing career.

“He’s the best horse by the stallion here and he made his money.

“There were a lot of syndicates on him, I reckon we beat Henry (Field, Newgate) in the bidding, and I know a lot of other stud farms liked him.

“We’re happy to support out stallions and we’re thrilled to have such a nice prospect going forward.

“We’re all trying to get our Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper winners, so he will be put on that target.

“Gai Waterhouse will train him and she knows how to win a Golden Slipper.”

Lot 766 - Extreme Choice x I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible), filly, $900,000

After two and a half hours of anticipation to find out which lot would push the brink of $1 million, it was to be a daughter of Extreme Choice that required a bid of $900,000 to be bought, with the progeny of the in-demand sire still commanding high prices as the sale continues on.

It was Shane Nichols, the trainer of I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) who was eager to keep the family legacy alive, securing both her first foal, Orion The Hunter (Deep Field) and now her second, this one being in conjunction with Kia Ora Stud.

Speaking following the successful bid, Nichols highlighted the love he has for I Am A Star, and his delight to be able to continue his association with both her and her progeny.

“We always knew she was going to be popular. She’s by a stallion who is flying at the moment and there’s not that many to select from.

“This is probably one of the better mares that he has received. We were lucky to be able to partner with Kia Ora and secure her.

“She’s got a fairly significant value for the rest of her life and let's hope she makes it better on the racecourse.

“She (Lot 766 is) a chestnut and I Am A Star was bay but similar physique and I think over the next three months she’ll improve significantly. She is a little bigger than I Am A Star was at the same stage but athletic and a good action.

“More importantly a good attitude and handled the sales process really well. We looked at her most days and she was going through the process.”

I Am A Star is a racetrack performer that requires little introduction, having taken out the G1 Empire Rose S. at the highest level, one of just 10 victories across her illustrious career, nine of which came in black type level.

Plenty of quality reinforces the filly’s page outside of her superstar mother, including the G2 Etheral S. victress Tiamo Grace (Monaco Consul {NZ}) and the G3 Gladness S. winner Common World (USA) (Spinning World {USA}).

Lot 775 - Snitzel x Iffranesia (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), colt, $900,000

From early on Friday morning, there was intrigue as to how the Arrowfield Stud-offered son of Snitzel would fare, with interest from all corners of the bidding area driving the price up to $900,000, which was paid by China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy.

The colt is out of stakes winning mare Iffranesia (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), who enjoyed victory in the Listed Prix de Bonneval at Chantilly as her most notable success amongst nine career victories.

Also present on the page is a promising son of the talk of the town, Wootton Bassett, with The Summit (Fr), a winner of the G3 Prix de Fontainbleau appearing, as well as the G3 Prix du Petit Couvret hero Dibajj (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}).

Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Henry Field of Newgate Farm drew some impressive comparisons for this colt, linking him to similar runners they’ve had go on to achieve tremendous success.

“We thought he was a very good Snitzel colt. Very well-balanced, athletic horse.

“We’ve had a lot of luck buying Sniztel colts for our partnership. Horses like Russian Revolution, Wild Ruler, and others.

“He’s been a lucky stallion for us. We’ve had a lot of luck with one from Arrowfield and we thought he was, for us, probably the best Snitzel colt in the sale and we were delighted to get him.”

Lot 818 - I Am Invincible x Just Fabulous (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), filly, $850,000

Tom Magnier branched his spending spree on colts into the realm of fillies, parting with $850,000 to secure a daughter of I Am Invincible from the draft of Yarraman Park.

The ever-calm Principal of Coolmore Australia was happy to go the distance in order to hold the winning bid on the first foal of Just Fabulous (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was a four-time winner and a placegetter in the G3 Eulogy S.

Magnier told The Thoroughbred Report some of the names that could eventually end up on a date with this filly, and also revealed that Chris Waller will be the man to prepare her when she makes it through race education.

“Obviously with Home Affairs’ foals being very good and with Shinzo coming through and Wootton Bassett and Justify going as well as they’re going, it gives you the confidence to buy these fillies.

“Chris (Waller) was very keen on her, so we bought her together.

“She’s a lovely type and, as always, Yarraman do a great job with their horses so you always take that draft very seriously.

“It’s a very good family, so we’ll let Chris work his magic on her. She’s very exciting.”

Just Fabulous is a three-quarter sister to both sublime racemare Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), who ascended to elite-level success when winning the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington in 2022, as well as Hong Kong-based Group winner Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).

Top lots