Top lots: $1 million Frankel and Toronado colts on top at Oaklands

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Lot 201 - Frankel x Heavenly Curlin (USA) (Curlin {USA}) (colt) - $1,000,000

American John Stewart, under his banner of Resolute Bloodstock, joined forces with the McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) team to make a significant impact on Day 1, triumphing in an intense bidding war for Lot 201 and securing the Frankel (GB) colt for $1 million. The colt is the second foal of Group 3-winning American mare Heavenly Curlin (USA) (Curlin {USA}) and he comes from the esteemed family of Redoute’s Choice.

It was a major moment for Rosemont Stud, as he became only the second horse they have ever offered to reach the $1 million mark. Anthony Mithen proudly stated, “Unbelievable. Proud of the horse, proud of the farm, proud of the staff, and Kelsie, our yearling manager. I know what they will be doing in our row right now—they will be going mental.

“To achieve a result like that on your home deck—in football terms, we're playing at home this week—and it feels pretty good with the black shorts on.

“I’m still shaking a bit. It’s a lot of money, and it takes a lot to get your horses here. You held your breath on multiple occasions, but we got there. It’s a sense of relief but also a great sense of achievement.

“John Stewart—I hope he's having a party somewhere in the world. He’s a world force. He’s my sort of guy, especially when he’s got a million to spend on a Rosemont yearling.

“He was a horse that we really thought would be a headliner here in Melbourne. We want to support our backyard—we are proudly Victorian—and we feel like we’re doing some good things for the Victorian breeding and racing industry. You’ve got to put your best horses where your mouth is when you say those things and back it up with your stock.”

Calvin McEvoy was understandably thrilled, saying “He was a star colt from the first time I saw him.

“He’s by Frankel, who is a star stallion, and he has a lovely American family. I would like to acknowledge and thank John Stewart for backing us—it's great to have him on board.

“We love everything about him. He handled the sale so well, and we are excited to have him. He is a blue-chip investment.”

Lot 197 -Toronado (Ire) x Hardly Surprising (All Too Hard) (colt) - $1,000,000

Toronado (Ire) has long been an outstanding stallion, enjoying numerous highlights both on the racetrack and in the sales ring. However, a new high came on Sunday afternoon when his colt, Lot 197, from the draft of Gilgai Farm, sold for $1 million to the bid of Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Hong Kong Bloodstock.

This athletic colt is the fifth foal out of the Group 3-placed All Too Hard mare, Hardly Surprising, who has already produced the winner The Swooper (Divine Prophet).

He is part of the crop where Toronado served his first book of mares at an $88,000 fee (inc. GST), and breeder Rick Jamieson was ecstatic with the unexpected price.

“I would have been rapt with getting about four times his service fee, so the price was very unexpected. I just love Toronado.”

The co-purchaser Andrew Williams expressed his excitement, saying “It’s very special to buy a horse like this.

“We probably expected to be in that price bracket, and we knew he was going to get there quickly—it was just a matter of when it would stop. All I can say is I’m very grateful to be able to buy a horse like this, he’s a bloody ripper and he comes off a very good nursery in Gilgai. I went back to 2018 when Masked Crusader sold here, found the picture of him and the walking video, and they look very similar.

“He’s been purchased for a Hong Kong client who has some really good horses up there at the moment, and we joined forces with Anthony Fan from Hong Kong Bloodstock.

“We had been waiting for this horse - we purposely didn’t buy at Magic Millions, we purposely didn’t buy in New Zealand or Classic. We’ve been waiting for this horse.

“I have seen him every day since Tuesday, and he’s only gotten better and better, I think.

“Unbelievably forward horse, a lot of strength about him, fantastic head, unbelievable temperament - he's handled it so well.

“Rick Jamieson has bred some bloody good horses in his time. We put a lot of faith in those good nurseries.

“He will go to New Zealand next week to be gelded and then get broken in, and then we will see how he goes.”

Lot 115 - Zoustar x Crack The Code (I Am Invincible) (colt) - $500,000

Yulong Investments have continued their strong support of Zoustar’s progeny, building on their success with their star 3-year-old colt, Growing Empire. The talented colt has been a standout for Yulong, having already secured four stakes races and placed in three Group 1 events. He now sets his sights on the G1 Newmarket Handicap next weekend.

Yulong secured Lot 115 for $500,000 from the draft of Rosemont Stud. The colt is the third living foal from G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes winner Crack The Code (I Am Invincible), who is a half-sister to G1 winner Covertly (Metal Storm {Fr}).

Yulong Stud’s General Manager Vin Cox shared his thoughts, “He’s a big, strong, forward colt. He’s by a good stallion out of a good stakes-winning mare, and the boss took a bit of a shine to him—and when the boss does that, he’s hard to hold back.”

When Cox was asked about a trainer he commented “We will get through the sale, get him broken in, and then decide on a trainer from there.

Since producing this impressive colt, Crack The Code was served by Starspangledbanner last spring, a stallion that Rosemont stud have a great affiliation with.

Lot 252 - Home Affairs x Kononkop (Arg) (Pure Prize {USA}) (colt) - $440,000

Mulberry Racing has been highly active throughout the 2025 Yearling Sales, and they have added another quality colt by Home Affairs to join the Brad Widdup stable at Hawkesbury.

Lot 252 was secured for $440,000 from the draft of Morning Rise Stud. The son of Argentinian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Kononkop (ARG) (Pure Prize {USA}) is an imposing type with plenty of presence.

Brad Widdup shared his thoughts on the colt via his Facebook page, “A lovely, strong colt that has a beautiful walk on him. He presented himself well at the sale, and we had to walk away with him.”

This colt is the fifth foal from his dam, who has already produced the winners Birdonawing (Fastnet Rock) and Justaboom (Justify {USA}).

Since producing this colt, Kononkop has left a full brother last spring and was subsequently served by Tassort.

Lot 208 - Toronado (Ire) x Iamican (I Am Invincible) (colt )- $400,000

Hong Kong has a strong affinity for the progeny of Toronado (Ire), and they are always in high demand when they come up for sale. Successful Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu secured one of the most sought-after offerings, purchasing Lot 208 -a striking son of Iamican, a three-time winning mare by I Am Invincible.

His granddam, If I Can I Can (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), was a stakes-winning filly in New Zealand, claiming victory in the Listed Warstep Stakes at Riccarton. Other notable family members include Epingle (NZ) (Pins), Etoile Du Nord (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and Our Libretto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

Yiu shared, “He’s very athletic and will improve even more with time. I can see a lot of strength in him as a yearling.”

“He is out of an I Am Invincible mare, who is a very good sire and will be a good broodmare sire, so that’s another tick for this horse. The pedigree is very important, and Toronado does very well in Hong Kong.”

“He is very correct, and I think he has a strong mind, a good mindset, and he is very focused. He will get stronger and stronger in time.”

Lot 225 - Alabama Express x Janie Runaway (So You Think {NZ}) (colt) - $380,000

Alabama Express has been kicking plenty of goals for Yulong Stud, and Matt Laurie knows the stallion’s progeny well, as the trainer of the outstanding Group 1-winning filly Treasurethe Moment.

At the sale, Laurie secured Lot 225 -an athletic colt offered by Yulong Stud - for $380,000. He was thrilled to welcome another Alabama Express into his stable.

Sharing his thoughts on the stallion Laurie said, “She’s (Treasurethe Moment) obviously very good, and even putting her aside, he (Alabama Express) is doing a wonderful job. It’s fantastic for Yulong -they have obviously invested heavily.”

“I just really loved this colt and was very keen to get him home.”

“He looks like an athlete to me -nice, smooth, silky mover and just an overall very good-looking colt. I was really drawn to him.”

When it was suggested that the colt has some scope, being out of a So You Think mare, Laurie responded “Exactly. Who knows what this one could be? The sire is adaptable and So You Think has done a wonderful job as a broodmare sire, so plenty of ticks.”

Lot 218 - Lucky Vega (Ire) x Intricately (Fastnet Rock) (filly) - $380,000

On the back of a scintillating win by his star gelding Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday, Dominic Sutton has struck while the iron is hot, securing Lot 218—a lovely Lucky Vega (Ire) filly—for $380,000 in partnership with Johnny McKeever and Byron Rogers.

She is the third foal out of Intricately (Fastnet Rock), a 1000-metre winner who is notably a three-quarter sister to Noire (Foxwedge), a seven-time winner, including at Group 2 level.

Sutton described the appeal, “She is a beautiful filly. I inspected her at the farm, and she stood out straight away - she ticked all the boxes.”

“The biomechanics that Byron looks at all worked, and we were happy with them. Johnny McKeever looked at her five or six times at the sales.”

“We are really happy with the purchase, and we are confident that the sire is going to do big things.”

Lucky Vega has made a strong start to his career in Australasia, siring three winners from only seven runners. Over the weekend, his progeny continued to impress, with Within The Law claiming victory in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.