Some of the more powerful forces in world and Australian racing led the bidding on Darley-sired yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale on Friday, 12 January, seeking out the progeny of a broad selection of stallions.
Leading the way was the queen of Australian racing, Gai Waterhouse, who secured a son of Medaglia d'Oro from Fashion for A$460,000.
The colt offered by Newhaven Park, a traditional home of one of Australia’s finest broodmare bands, is out of a half-sister to the Listed winner Villain, who in turn is a daughter of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner True Jewels.
Waterhouse, who was joined in the purchase by Aquis Farm, described the colt as “a natural”.
“I’ve had a very good relationship with Newhaven, they only send good horses to the sales, and Medaglia d’Oro is a most impressive international stallion,” Waterhouse said.
Waterhouse’s opinion of Medaglia d’Oro was further endorsed later in the session when she and training partner Adrian Bott paid $200,000 for a filly out of the Bel Esprit mare Gabbidon, a winner of two Stakes races.
With only one lot on offer by Darley’s regular flagbearer Exceed And Excel, it was left to the ever-reliable Lonhro to step up, with his colt from the Commands mare Cymbal going for $360,000 to the Australian arm of US-based Spendthrift Farms.
The colt from the Milburn Creek draft is a three-quarter brother to Darley stallion and G1 winner Holler and a half-brother to Yell, also a G1 winner who ranked as Australia’s top-ranked sprinter of 2002-03.
Said Spendthrift Australia general manager Garry Cuddy: “He is a lovely moving colt from a wonderful Woodlands Stud family. We are very happy to have secured him.”
Godolphin again entered the market on day three of the sale, going to $340,000 for a filly by Darley freshman Shooting To Win from the outstanding producer Dane Belltar whose six foals to race have all won, including the three-time G1 winner Fawkner and the G2 winner Tanby.
The filly from the Mill Park Stud draft will be trained by James Cummings.
Another Darley freshman, Brazen Beau, caught the attention of one of Australia’s most successful trainers, Tony McEvoy who paid $275,000 for a colt out of Bella Jewel from the Three Bridges draft.
Bella Jewel, a daughter of Rory’s Jester, is the dam of three winners including Rockshaft, a G3 winner in Adelaide, and is from the family of G1 Flight Stakes winner Danglissa.
McEvoy, one of the busiest local buyers at the sale, also went to $200,000 to secure the Brazen Beau-Egyptian Cross colt, a member of the prolific Our Egyptian Raine family from the Cressfield draft.
McEvoy said he had been keen to acquire some Brazen Beau stock.
“In my opinion Brazen Beau has done a very good job,” McEvoy said.
“These are both quality yearlings who look like definite two-year-old prospects. They are both quite different types, but at the same time they look like colts who will be up and running early.”
McEvoy joined a band of prominent trainers to have purchased Brazen Beau yearlings at Magic Millions, including the stallion’s former handler Chris Waller, rising Melbourne star Henry Dwyer, Kris Lees, Leon Corstens and the Matthew Ellerton, Simon Zahra partnership.
