NEWS: Breeders rewarded as buyers flock to the progeny of Brazen Beau

15 yearlings by Australia’s leading second-season sire fetch six figures.
Mark Pilkington and Trent Busuttin after purchasing Lot 364 for $450,000.

A sale-topping colt, three of the top five and five of 10 highest-priced Lots at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne have given Brazen Beau a clear and worthy claim to the title of Australia’s hottest young stallion.

In the style of the grand sprinter that he was, Brazen Beau jumped to the front his first yearling into the ring making $800,000, a figure that was unsurpassed by Lot 458 who followed.

Catalogued as Lot 4 and a member of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft, the top-priced colt, the second foal of the O’Reilly mare Up In Lights from the family of the four-time G1 winner Metal Bender, went to the Hong Kong-based Orbis Bloodstock.

The same buyer waited until late in the final session to purchase a second Brazen Beau, paying $560,000 for Lot 452, a colt from Sistine Princess, another O’Reilly mare.

Paul King, who signed for both on behalf of Orbis, said his purchases fulfilled all the ambitions he brought to the sale.

“They are two colts that I’d set my sights on, so to be taking them home is a great result.,” King said.

“Both of them are very typical of the Brazen Beaus, very stylish and very athletic.

“We try and buy what we think is quality and hopefully they can pay us back when they hit the racetrack.”

The Up In Lights colt will be trained by John Hawkes and sons Wayne and Michael, with the Sistine Princess going to Queensland trainer Michael Costa.

Col McKenna after purchasing Lot 227 with Andy Makiv and trainer, Ciaron Maher.

Brazen Beau’s second-highest-priced yearling was Lot 227, a colt from the exceptional sprinter Innovation Girl, the winner of 10 races and a daughter of the noted speedster Rubiton.

Melbourne trainer Ciaron Maher made the winning bid on the colt offered by Blue Gum Farm.

Maher described the colt as a natural who “selected himself”.

“He has it all, good conformation, great balance and very athletic,” Maher said.

Brazen Beau finished the sale with 15 yearlings having made six figures, his 17 to sell grossing $4.85 million at an average of $285,294.

The $800,000 colt meant Brazen Beau’s first two crops have included the top-priced Lot at three Australian yearling sales.

Upper Bloodstock's Andy Lau, Ross Lao with Kelly Skillecorn after purchasing Lot 388.

Next best of the Darley stallions was the first-crop sire Kermadec whose colt from the Lonhro mare Promenades made $520,000.

Offered by Gilgai Farm and purchased by the Hong Kong-based Upper Thoroughbreds, the colt is closely-related to the champion racehorse and stallion Redoute’s Choice and the G1 winners Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors and Al Maher.

Among the remaining Darley stallions, Exceed And Excel maintained his traditional high standards, the best of his three yearlings, Lot 379, a filly from the Street Cry mare Pittsburgh Flyer making $380,00.

He also had a part in Lonhro’s top-priced yearling as damsire of his colt from Exceedingly Royal who made $200,000.