Weanling wonderland awaits de Hero
An elite two-year-old, beaten the shortest margin in one of the world's greatest races, the G1 Golden Slipper, Von Costa de Hero broke his maiden the start prior in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Defeating no fewer than 16 individual G1 winners including Whobegotyou, Nicconi, Duporth and El Segundo with outstanding runs in elite races such as the Australian and Caulfield Guineas, Von Costa de Hero clearly has the class. looks and physique to prove successful at stud.
Covering 125 mares during his first season at Darley's Northwood Park, Von Costa de hero will be represented by 15 lots at the first weanling sale of the year, the Inglis Great Southern Sale, a great advertisement for the G1-performing son on Encosta de Lago.
Yarran (as agent) will consign lot 47, the first weanling to be offered at the sale by Von Costa de Hero. The second foal from a half-sister to the G2 winner and G1 performer Infinite Grace, this filly comes from the family of dual G1 W.S. Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh.
Two lots later, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds (as agent) will consign lot 49, a bay colt out of a winning Redoute’s Choice daughter of the dual G3-winning Zabeel mare Arrabeea. From the family of Encosta de Lago’s Stakes winner Bacchanal Woman - proving the cross works with this family - this colt contains the blood of three of the leading sires in the country at present in Zabeel, Redoute’s Choice and Encosta de Lago.
Another consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds (as agent) is lot 101, a bay filly from the G3 winner Spice Doll, a half-sister to dual Listed-winning, G1-placed Oxford Dollar.
Early on the second day of selling, Shadow Glen (as agent) will consign lot 268, a bay colt out of a Galileo half-sister to G1 winner Rustic Dream.
Springview Park have the privilege of offering lot 275, a bay or brown filly from the family of one of the world’s best racehorses. Unbeaten after 21 career starts, Black Caviar is undoubtedly the best mare in the world, and arguably the best racehorse. Sold through the very same Inglis sale ring, Black Caviar appears in the third generation of this filly, as does class two-year-old All Too Hard and the G1 winner and sire Magnus.
Eliza Park will consign lot 373, a chestnut filly from Machova, a three-quarter sister to the G2 Silver Stakes winner Ballybleue. This filly has a very interesting female family - not only is she from the family of G1 Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Flying Spur - but she is also from the family of Encosta de Lago himself.
The final Von Costa de Hero colt to go through the ring late on the second day of selling is from the draft of Bombora Downs (as agent). Consigned as lot 381, the bay colt comes from the family of G2 winner Real Success, the dam of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray and recent Listed winner Bolton. While the pedigree does have a distinct southern hemisphere flavour, it also offers international bloodlines through G1 Santa Monica Handicap winner Toga Toga Toga and Listed winner Smokin Bayou.
With 15 weanlings available for purchase by the Golden Slipper runner-up, there is sure to be something that has appeal to everyone. For any further information on Von Costa de Hero himself, or any of the remainder of Darley's 2012 stallion roster, please click here to contact the Darley Nominations Team.
