Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Lot 312 - Lucky Vega (Ire) x Allegretto (Anabaa {USA}) (colt)
Buyer: John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA)
Vendor: Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra, NSW (As Agent)
Renowned judge and agent John Foote didn't necessarily set out to buy a Lucky Vega (Ire) yearling, but he was happy with the $40,000 purchase that was lot 312, a Twin Hills Stud son of the city placed winner Allegretto (Anabaa {USA}).
Buying yearlings by a variety of stallions - Brazen Beau, Vadamos (Fr), Vino Rosso (USA), Rebel Dane and Star Turn - for Hong Kong clients - Foote buys on type and liked what he saw in Adelaide, a sale he has enjoyed good success at.
And one he has been attending for quite some time.
“Since 1972 I have only missed one,” he said, recalling the days where we worked in Adelaide under the tutelage of the late, great David Coles.
John Foote | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Well known as the man behind the purchases of such great gallopers as Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}), Karasi (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), Yes Yes Yes and Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Foote has also enjoyed plenty of success in Hong Kong.
The Listed Hong Kong Derby winner Luger (Choisir) was purchased by Foote for $260,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the dual Group 1 winner Contentment (Hussonet {USA}) for $65,000 at the 2012 Inglis Classic Sale and the dual Group 3 winner Champion's Way (Hinchinbrook) for $150,000 in Melbourne.
The Lucky Vega colt is one of those who have, should they show the necessary talent, Hong Kong as their destiny - “if he is any good he will head up there,” Foote said.
Whilst not getting into the specifics regarding his liking of the colt, he said “he had everything I like to see in a horse when I buy.”
“He is a nice horse, simple as that!”
“He (Lot 312) is a nice horse, simple as that!” - John Foote
Twin Hills Stud's Olly Tait - who was happy to have sold all eight horses taken to the sale - described the bay as "a really nice colt with plenty of scope.
“He looks the type to develop into a lovely three-year-old and it is great that he was bought by such a good judge; he will be given every chance.”
Bred by Twin Hills' stud manager Chris Kent, the colt from the debut crop of Yulong Stud's G1 Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega is the seventh foal produced by Allegretto - a lightly raced Seymour maiden winner who was also in the placings (including Sandown) four times from eight starts for the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable.
Lot 312 - Lucky Vega (Ire) x Allegretto (colt) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The dam of three winners including the Hong Kong winner Dancing Flames (Equiano {Fr}), Allegretto is a daughter of the Listed Cockram S. winner Party Dancer (Party Leader {USA}) whose ten winners include the G2 Emancipation S. winner Hec Of A Party (Hector Protector {USA}) and the Hong Kong based Listed winner High Intelligent (Anabaa).
Both John Foote and Olly Tait were happy with the sale, Foote noting that “it started off a bit scratchy - for the first half of the first day it was a bit tough for vendors but it did warm up and day two was good.
“It was like every sale ever conducted,” Tait added - "the nice horses sold well.”
