18 months before the appearance of Shooting To Win’s first yearlings, one of the most astute buyers in the business, Michael Wallace, bid A$3.4 million for his dam Listen Here when she was offered at 2016 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in foal to fellow Darley stallion Medaglia d’Oro.
Shooting To Win now has an impressive selection of 30 yearlings catalogued in January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and another 16 at the Inglis Classic Sale a month later.
He has an impeccable pedigree and a physique that made him the pin-up in a stable full of stars, so there is little surprise that he and his family have already proved popular with buyers in the sales ring.
For Shooting To Win’s trainer, Peter Snowden, who prepared the son of Northern Meteor in partnership with his son Paul, there was never any doubt the horse would be a star on and off the track.
“He was simply a beautiful horse, a real specimen,” Snowden said.
“He had everything. The looks, the pedigree and incredible ability.”
“The great thing about him was that every time he stepped out he got better.”
Shooting To Win arrived at the Caulfield Guineas as the second choice behind favourite Rich Enuff, but swept aside any doubt that he was the best colt of his age in Australia, flying home in the final 100 metres to win the million-dollar contest.
“We could always trust his ability to shine through as it did in the Caulfield Guineas,” Snowden said.
“He was a very special horse. From day one you just knew he was good.”
Snowden had a good gauge against which to measure Shooting To Win having previously trained Long John and fellow Darley stallion Helmet to win the race in 2013 and 2011 respectively.
“He’s every bit as good as Long John. He’s always worked in a manner suggesting he had similar ability.”
The colt traces back to Cotehele House, a daughter of the mighty Eight Carat and dam of G1 winners Danewin and Commands.
According to Darley’s Australian Head of Sales Alastair Pulford, Shooting To Win has let down into a stunning stallion.
"Anyone who sees Shooting To Win will be impressed by his physique,” Pulford said.
