Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 499 - Too Darn Hot (GB) x Baveno (Street Cry {Ire}), colt - $750,000
The top spot on the second day of selling at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale belonged to a son of the high flying Too Darn Hot (GB), offered as Lot 499 by Gilgai Farm, who provided a number of the top lots on Monday. The dark brown colt is out of Baveno (Street Cry {Ire}), a winning daughter of G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Neroli (Viscount) and a half-sister to Group 3-performed Enfleurage (Exceed And Excel). This is also the family of sire Benfica and 10-time winning black-type performer Bandipur (Commands).
After a spirited session of bidding, the gavel fell at $750,000 for the colt, with the winning bid secured by Malaysian trainer Han Yong Cheng's X Bloodstock.
“It has been a long-term plan to attend Inglis Premier and I gave (Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager) James Price a specific brief of what we wanted and that was to see the best colts in the sale,” said a spokesperson for X Bloodstock. “I worked with James to identify those types of colts specifically and we have been able to buy four.
“I said to James, 'show me the best colts in the sale', and we went from there. It was James' plan to buy the best colts from the best breeders in the country and the four we got are two from Gilgai, one from Mill Park and one from Segenhoe. That was our plan and we have achieved that.
“I said to James (Price), 'show me the best colts in the sale', and we went from there.” - X Bloodstock spokesperson
“Lot 499, he was just an absolute athlete. He had scope, he had size and strength, he had an amazing temperament.”
“Rick Jamieson tries his best to breed a racehorse, above all else,” said Gilgai Farm's Kelly Skillecorn. “I cannot tell people enough times that if they have a good horse, bring it to Premier and sell it here. This sale just keeps moving forward. Last year it was the only sale that went forward instead of backward, and it has come on leaps and bounds again this year.”
Lot 499 - Too Darn Hot (GB) x Baveno colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 419 - Kermadec (NZ) x Turaath (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), filly - $625,000
Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) landed two decisive blows within minutes of one another on Monday afternoon at the Oaklands sales complex, first nabbing Lot 418 before striking for Lot 419 to the tune of $625,000 in partnership with Ciaron Maher. Offered by Gilgai Farm, the daughter of Kermadec (NZ) is the first foal out of G2 Let’s Elope Stakes winner Turaath (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), with stakes-winning second and third dams on the page.
Le Metayer was on the hunt to expand his elite fillies portfolio, and commented that Lot 419 hit all of the right marks to be his next star.
“We look at thousands of fillies each year and I just thought she was one of the best athletes I've seen all year,” he said.
Louis Le Metayer | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I would have liked her to be $200,000 cheaper, but at the end of day, it’s the outcome that matters. We’re not looking for value, we’re looking for elite athletes, and I think that she is that.”
“I just thought she (Lot 419) was one of the best athletes I've seen all year.” - Louis Le Metayer
The price was a new high water mark for Godolphin's Victorian-based stallion Kermadec, whose eight stakes winners to date include four Group 1 winners; four-time top flight victress Montefilia, Willowy, Amokura, and Tuvalu.
Lot 484 - Extreme Choice x Ariaz (Commands), colt - $540,000
Milburn Creek presented an eye-catching grey son of Extreme Choice as Lot 484 on Monday afternoon, and he dutifully attracted plenty of attention in the ring before the hammer fell at $540,000, with MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman Racing, and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) signing the docket. The colt is a son of G3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes-placed Ariaz (Commands), who descends from dual Group 3 winner Shelbourne Lass (Brocco {USA}).
Ben Willis from MyRacehorse had been keen to go back to the Extreme Choice well after the wonderful ride the syndicate has been on so far with Group 1 winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice).
“He's such a good stallion, isn't he?” Willis said. “The colt will go to Michael Freedman, who has had really good success for us with Apocalyptic. He looks fast, like an early 2-year-old type, so hopefully he can deliver.”
“He (Lot 484) looks fast, like an early 2-year-old type, so hopefully he can deliver.” - Ben Willis
Ben Willis | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 470 - Hitotsu x Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet {USA}), colt - $480,000
Ciaron Maher expanded his portfolio once more with Lot 470 by first season sire Hitotsu out of G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner and grand producer Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet {USA}), making the colt a half-brother to the Group 1 winners Baraqiel (Snitzel) and Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun). Via third dam My Madonna (Prego {Ire}), he is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}).
“Angel Of Mercy is a great broodmare, and it has been fantastic to see the progeny of Hitotsu going through the ring and making their mark,” said Maher. “Credit to Glen Lee for presenting the horse as they have done today. He is the highest priced horse they have sold and they are quite excited, and we are very excited as well to secure him.”
“It has been fantastic to see the progeny of Hitotsu going through the ring and making their mark.” - Ciaron Maher
Glen Lee Thoroughbreds’ Mikayla Day was presenting the colt at Inglis Premier on behalf of breeder Arrowfield Stud. Day was effusive with gratitude for Arrowfield for entrusting them with the colt's preparation and sale.
“It's fantastic, it really is,” Day said. “To be supported by someone like Arrowfield, it means so much to us.”
Ciaron Maher and Mikayla Day | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 418 - Written By x Tune Doubt (Not A Single Doubt), filly - $450,000
Minutes before purchasing Lot 419, Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) snapped up Lot 418, a Written By filly out of Not A Single Doubt mare Tune Doubt offered by Gilgai Farm. Already the producer of two multiple winners from her two foals to the track, Tune Doubt is a half-sister Jukebox and the dam of first season sire Bruckner.
Lot 418 - Written By x Tune Doubt filly | Image courtesy of Inglis
“This filly is all speed,” said Le Metayer. “I was the underbidder on the sister Miss Ole two years ago, who was a genuine early good city class mare. We get all our prospective purchases rated by a pedigree specialist, and she rated extremely high. She’s a powerhouse, all speed.”
“She’s (Lot 418) a powerhouse, all speed.” - Louis Le Metayer
Le Metayer purchased the filly for a ladies' syndicate based in Adelaide, and indicated that she would also join the stable of Ciaron Maher, along with his Kermadec purchase.
“When you look at thousands of horses a year, they just jump out at you, and when they’re bred from an elite family, it all makes sense,” he said.
Lot 329 - Ole Kirk x She Shao Fly (Epaulette), filly - $430,000
Bennett Racing were keen to snap up the third foal out of G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes victress She Shao Fly (Epaulette), offered as Lot 329 by Gilgai Farm. The Ole Kirk filly is a full sister to dual winner Aerodrome, who was fourth in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes.
“We raced the dam and, of the three foals we have seen on the ground from her, this one reminds us the most of mum,” said Bennett Racing’s Nathan Bennett.
“Of the three foals we have seen on the ground from her (She Shao Fly), this one (Lot 329) reminds us the most of mum.” - Nathan Bennett
“She’s a touch stronger in the girth, but she has a lot of quality about her and she really stood out. Every time we saw her, the quality of her mum stood out to us.
“A beautiful filly, and we are very happy to get her on board. We weren’t leaving without her.”
Nathan Bennett | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lot 322 - No Nay Never (USA) x Setarhe (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), colt - $420,000
Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald Racing continued to have a hand in the top lots through the second day of selling, going to $420,000 to secure Lot 322, the only yearling available in the sale by No Nay Never (USA). Offered by Segenhoe Stud, the colt is the third foal from Group-performed Setarhe (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), a half-sister to Listed Committed Stakes winner Inverleigh (Ire) (Excelebration {GB}) from the family of Spieth and Festival Dancer (Choisir).
“He has been one of my favourites since he was born,” said Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien.
“He’s a real 2-year-old and he’s the image of the stallion. I am delighted for (breeder) John Camilleri, he puts a lot of money into the game.
“It’s not often you have a horse at Premier out of a mare that was sent to Royal Ascot.” - Peter O'Brien
“It’s not often you have a horse at Premier out of a mare that was sent to Royal Ascot. He is typical of the good No Nay Nevers in Europe. He’s a great mover and he has had so many inspections, he has had the legs walked off him. It’s a great result for everyone and I think we will see him run as a 2-year-old.”
Peter O'Brien | Image courtesy of Inglis
