Shares in TFI horses sell for $235k in Magic Millions Digital

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Straand Beauty commands top price at Magic Millions Digital

Last start Warwick Farm winner Straand Beauty (Exceed And Excel) was the top lot in this week’s Magic Millions Digital sale, with the virtual hammer falling at $75,000 to the bid of Liam Ruddy Bloodstock. A winner of three races and over $160,000 in prizemoney, the John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained 4-year-old has been a consistent performer at metropolitan level across 15 starts.

Offered for sale by Baramul Stud, he is a full brother to G3 Canonbury Stakes winner Mclaren and a half to stakes-performed Cao Cao - First Chief (Sing) (Fastnet Rock), out of Serenada (Encosta De Lago), a winning half-sister to the Group winners First Command (Commands) and Oneworld (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

“James Hetherington put the horse up to me earlier this week,” Ruddy said. “It was my first time using the platform and I found it extremely easy to use. I just logged in on my phone today and started bidding away.”

Ruddy, who trains from Scone, received his trainers’ licence late last year and chalked up his first winner in January with his third starter, 4-year-old Flamboyant Lad (Yes Yes Yes).

“A good group of owners have jumped into him already and he'll race in Greg Stewart's colours,” said Ruddy. “We're going to target a couple of country features in the coming weeks then we'll head back to Sydney.”

TFI shares snapped up for six-figure value

A five-strong draft of shares in Tony Fung Investments-owned horses attracted a lot of attention in this week’s Magic Millions Digital sale, with 5% shares in 3-year-old Snitzel colt Satirically and 3-year-old Zoustar gelding Zoufield selling for $22,500 apiece, valuing each horse at $450,000. A 5% share in 3-year-old Prague gelding Loud Charlie also sold for $13,000, valuing him at $260,000.

B O’Connor signed the docket for Zoufield, a two-time winner from three starts out of Grasslands (Snitzel), a full sister to Champion 2YO Filly Away Game and Listed winner Modern Wonder. The gelding most recently won the $40,000 Canberra Guineas Preview for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and is nominated for the $165,000 Canberra Guineas on Sunday.

Paddington Bloodstock secured the share in Satirically, who was a winner on debut at Warwick Farm on February 18 for the same training partnership. The colt is the only named foal to date from from multiple Group winner Paradee (Epaulette), from the family of Listed Breeders’ Plate winner Law (Denman).

R Dale landed the winning bid on the share in city winner Loud Charlie, a half-brother of Listed-performed All Woke (All Too Hard) and eight-time winner Diablo Bolt (Hellbent). Descending from the family of G1 Winter Stakes winner Absolut Glam (Snowland), Loud Charlie is out of a half-sister to G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Miss Gunpowder (Pendragon {NZ}).

After running in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes at his previous start, the 3-year-old Lloyd Kennewell trainee added a second win to his record during the sale, taking out the fifth event on Wednesday’s Caulfield Heath card under a returning Mark Zahra.

“I consider this sale one of our best to date as we saw a large number of new names log on and bid,” said Head of Digital Bryce Bevan.

“As well as canvassing for entries when putting a catalogue together, the team works extremely hard to identify suitable buyers for each specific lot once a sale is live, with an example of that work paying off today being Straand Beauty.”

One final lot, Ginger Flyer (Gingerbread Man) remains open for bidding until Friday. A descendant of G1 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes victress Not Related (Family Ties {USA}), the 9-year-old mare is an eight-time metropolitan winner and a full sister to multiple Listed winner Phanta. She is offered with a Winning Rupert colt foal at foot.