Lot 13 – Weanling colt (Native Trail (GB) x Huzzah {Epaulette}) - $20,000
Buyer: St Kilda Lodge
Vendor: Pepper Tree Farm
Native Trail (GB) may not yet be a household stallion name for many in Australasia, but the Godolphin shuttler was a high-class performer on the track. He captured two Group 1 races as a 2-year-old before training on to claim the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh at three.
This colt by him hails from his first Australian book, where the stallion covered 132 mares, resulting in 90 live foals.
Native Trail (GB) | Standing at Darley
St Kilda Lodge’s purchase is the third foal out of dual winner Huzzah (Epaulette), a three-quarter-sister to Holler, winner of the G1 Canterbury Stakes, G2 Australia Stakes and G3 Red Anchor Stakes, and now a sire in his own right.
The pedigree depth extends further, with close relations including Group 1-winning 2-year-old and sire Microphone, as well as Champion Sprinter Yell (Anabaa {USA}), a three-time Group 1 winner.
Buying from afar, but sticking to type
Ben Foote was keen to secure a couple of quality weanlings to provide options for St Kilda Lodge, whether for resale as yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2027 or through other trading avenues.
However, this purchase came under slightly unusual circumstances, with Foote unable to attend the sale in person.
Lot 13 - Native Trail (GB) x Huzzah colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
“To be honest, I had to renew my passport. It was expiring in a few months and I want to escape the New Zealand winter and go to Vietnam next month, so I had to renew it. I didn’t get it back until this week, so I didn’t really have time to go to Melbourne," Ben Foote said.
“I got someone I trust to have a look for me while I scanned through the videos and photos.”
Ben Foote | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Despite the remote inspection, the colt quickly stood out.
“I liked this colt as he has a couple of stallions in the pedigree and plenty of speed in the dam and through the dams. Native Trail was a Champion horse over in Europe, so I was happy to take a punt on him, as you never know where the next Champion stallion comes from.
“He stands for about $22,000 and we got this colt for $20,000, so I think that means it’s pretty bloody good buying, I reckon.”
As is always the case for the operation, type remained the key driver.
“We always buy on type, it’s what we do, and he is a lovely type, so we are happy to get him.
“We always buy on type, it’s what we do, and he (Lot 13) is a lovely type, so we are happy to get him.” - Ben Foote
“Hopefully he turns into a really nice yearling and we will sell him, but we will get him home and see how we go.”
Building towards Karaka and beyond
While Ben Foote has long held a strong reputation as both a trader and trainer, he is now training in partnership with his son Ryan, and the pair are continuing to expand their St Kilda Lodge operation with a growing focus on buying and selling in newer avenues.
Ryan Foote | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“My boy (Ryan), he’s really, really keen on taking a few through the sales and building a bit of a team. We will look at hopefully selling about four or five yearlings at Karaka. He has Bruce and Maureen Harvey next door and they were guns at what they have done, so he has some great people to learn off and get advice from.”
“My boy (Ryan), he’s really, really keen on taking a few through the sales and building a bit of a team. We will look at hopefully selling about four or five yearlings at Karaka.” - Ben Foote
The Native Trail colt was not their only purchase, with another well-bred youngster added to the draft.
“We also picked up a really nice Ole Kirk colt for $100,000. He’s by a really popular stallion, out of a fast enough mare with Danehill as the second dam sire. He has a bit of improvement in him, so I don’t know how we can go too wrong there, and he will be a nice horse for the draft.”
Lot 115 - Ole Kirk x Nikau colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
With further purchases still on the radar, Foote was also quick to praise Inglis.
“We may pick up a couple more here, or maybe Karaka. Inglis have been great, they bend over backwards for you and make things so easy. But we will be looking to get a few more to build up the team in whatever we look to trade them.”
