Cover image courtesy of Figtree Thoroughbreds
The Hinterland-based Figtree Thoroughbreds made their January debut at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and on Tuesday celebrated a landmark result when their eight-horse draft produced Lot 1273, a colt by Newgate Farm’s Cosmic Force for $180,000 to Campton Racing.
Figtree Thoroughbreds, formerly owned by Murry and Sue Murdoch, had sold horses the calibre of the Hong Kong Group 1 winner IVictory (Mossman) and Aquis Farm's Jonker, who claimed the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
In 2021, the Murdochs sold Figtree Thoroughbreds through a joint venture with Magic Millions and iThink Property to Sophie and Scott Weitemeyer.
Ashleigh Webster
Figtree Thoroughbreds is now managed by Ashleigh Webster, with Tuesday’s result not only being the operation's debut January sale but the top-priced lot they have sold since under new management.
Outside of the Cosmic Force colt, Figtree Thoroughbreds also achieved two nice results with Lot 1461, a filly by Harry Angel (Ire) selling to Steve Kirkwood for $72,500 and an Invader filly catalogued as Lot 1466, who made $65,000 to the bid of Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA).
Cosmic colt tops draft
The son of Cosmic Force was born and raised at Swettenham Stud and sent to Figtree Thoroughbreds to consign specifically at the January sale. However, Webster was confident the quality of the colt would see him popular wherever he went.
Lot 1273 - Cosmic Force x Misshiraz (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“We thought it was timely to offer this colt in January because Adam Campton, who is based at the Gold Coast, trains his half-brother Deepour,” Webster told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We thought that Adam would be interested in this horse. The funny thing was this colt (Lot 1273) didn’t get into Book 1, but then Cosmic Force sired a 2-year-old winner, and a few more got rolling as the catalogue went to print, so it really raised his profile.
“On top of the fact he was just a beautiful-moving horse.”
Willy Chandler and Adam Campton | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Figtree Thoroughbreds felt they had built a draft of eight, which would be well-placed in Book 2, while also sharing the Harry Angel and Invader fillies' option to head to the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
“We had looked at sending the two fillies by Invader and Harry Angel to Sydney for the Classic Sale. They were the first ones that foaled down on the farm, and they have our brand on them now.
“They were two really nice fillies, and I thought instead of sending them to Sydney, we would be better placed to stick closer to home and just try and have a really nice first Book 2 draft.”
Future updates?
The Cosmic Force colt is from the Secret Savings (USA) mare Misshiraz. A versatile commodity, she won five races, including twice as a 2-year-old from 1100 to 1600 metres.
Her runner to date has been Deepour, a son of Exosphere, who has won six races, including four in succession. Deepour was placed in the G2 Missile S. and the Listed Lightning H.
Deepour | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The progressive Campton-trained gelding looks set to continue his rise through the grades and add more valuable black type to the page.
Misshiraz was served by Widden Stud’s G1 Blue Diamond winner, Written By, after slipping to Swettenham Stud’s I Am Immortal.
“Swettenham sent us his colt on behalf of their client. They weren’t sending a draft in Book 2 and we were lucky enough that they entrusted us to prep him and sell him for them,” Webster said.
“It’s a great advertisement for Figtree to be trusted by a farm like Swettenham with their stock. I think the colt will be a late 2-year-old but he had a lovely temperament. He just did everything right throughout the whole sale.”
“It’s a great advertisement for Figtree to be trusted by a farm like Swettenham with their stock. I think the colt (Lot 1273) will be a late 2-year-old but he had a lovely temperament.” - Ashleigh Webster
Webster admits they felt they were onto a winner with the colt popular throughout parades and inspections. However, they weren’t sure how far buyers would go in a challenging market.
“He was very popular, but you never know until they enter the ring. Although I think a lot of people would be disappointed they were outbid.
“It was really exciting and rewarding for people competing against each other for your horse. It’s validated in the ring whenever you’ve got a good one and I’m thrilled our assessment was correct.
“It was really exciting and rewarding for people competing against each other for your horse. It’s validated in the ring whenever you’ve got a good one and I’m thrilled our assessment was correct.” - Ashleigh Webster
“I think the exciting thing also is he’s a November foal, so he’s got a lot of growing to come. It was just so exciting; there were bids everywhere. After he sold, Magic Millions interviewed me and I was still shaking, not only from the price but because I had another horse heading into the ring in five or so lots (later).”
Attention turns to March
Figtree and Webster’s attention will now turn towards the 2024 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, with the farm set to offer a draft of 12.
The draft will be headed by a colt from Yulong’s Pierata, who was withdrawn from the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pierata | Standing at Yulong
The colt is the fourth foal from the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Too Chat.
Too Chat has produced the four-time winner Super Solar (Makfi {GB}) and has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Dubious. She was served by Aquis Farm's freshman Stronger, a Group 1-winning son of Not A Single Doubt in November.
“We have a draft of 12 heading for the Magic Millions March Sale. The Pierata colt would’ve been a really nice Book 2 horse, but we had to withdraw him, and we’ll send him to March; we feel he’ll stand out there.
“We have a draft of 12 heading for the Magic Millions March Sale. The Pierata colt would’ve been a really nice Book 2 horse, but we had to withdraw him, and we’ll send him to March; we feel he’ll stand out there.” - Ashleigh Webster
“He will be one of three Pierata colts in our draft. We also have a well-related Kobayashi filly that Magic Millions really wanted to get into the March sale.”
The filly by Kobayashi is from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Aura Lee (NZ). She was a winner over 1400 metres and is related to the Listed Warstep S. victress Te Akau Sun (NZ) (Desert Sun {NZ}).
Other relatives include the G1 Queensland Oaks-placed Rathsallagh (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Belle Savior (Not A Single Doubt), who was placed in the G2 The Roses.
“I think the Pierata colt and the Kobayashi filly will be our top ones at this stage. We have a Lean Mean Machine and a Brave Smash. Our draft is made up of many sires who were then based in Queensland.
Kobayashi | Standing at Aquis
“We like supporting Queensland sires. But we really like Pierata and I sent my mare to him this year down in Victoria. We were fortunate when he stood in Queensland for a while, as we were with Brave Smash.
“I’ve had success with Brave Smash. I sold a weanling by him last year that made $120,000. So, we have good results with their sires.
“Figtree Thoroughbreds are basically all client-based, and then the owner of our farm has two or three mares, and I have a couple of my mares. I would describe it as a boutique.
“We just want long-term clients that can have their mare on the farm, and we can sell them as a yearling, or they can race the horse if they wish to but still be able to use our services such as spelling. So, we tend to have the same horses on the farm.
“For a smaller farm that is only a couple years in operation under the new management it was a great result. It’s our highest price result overall, and to achieve that in our January debut is quite special.
“For a smaller farm that is only a couple years in operation under the new management it was a great result. It’s our highest price result overall, and to achieve that in our January debut is quite special.” - Ashleigh Webster
“Before Tuesday, we had only done the QTIS and (the) National sale. So, it is brilliant that our third year has this result. Hopefully, he can perform on the racetrack.
“It’s going to be exciting when all our graduates from this draft start racing.”
