Three Darley stallions have first-crop yearlings being sold this year and Nadeem has the honour of heading into the Magic Millions’f flagship sale with 22 offerings, a glowing endorsement for the progeny of the Group One-winning son of Redoute’s Choice.
The second of the Nadeem yearlings through the ring on day one will be the Fairview Park Stud-consigned lot 116. The bay or brown filly is out of the Spectrum mare Cash For Comment, a half-sister to Elusive Quality Stakes winner Listen Here and comes from the family of successful sires Danewin and Commands.
Another noteworthy yearling is lot 246, a bay colt from the Strategic mare Gas, a half-sister to Quest For Fame’s G1 Victorian Oaks winner Tributes. Consigned by Raheen Stud, the colt is a three-quarter brother to 2008 Singapore Horse Of The Year Top Spin.
Although Nadeem will have the largest representation of Darley’s first-season sires, both Ad Valorem and Gonski are sure to make their presence felt with three yearlings apiece included in the catalogue. On account of Glastonbury Farms as agent, lot 255, a bay colt by Danzig’s multiple Group One winner Ad Valorem out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Girona is bound to lead the way for the first-season sire. From the family of G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Ruffles, the colt will be the first offering by his sire and is set to go through the ring on day two.
With three Gonski yearlings set to sell on the Gold Coast, the best may have been saved for last, with lot 908, a bay colt to be offered by Victorian-based Erinvale Thoroughbred as agent. Of out the Diesis mare Vigne Vierge, the colt is a three-quarter-brother to the Group Two-performed Valedict.
Of Darley’s more established sires, the progeny of 11-time Group One winner Lonhro are sure to be in demand. With 15 yearlings split over the first three days of the sale, there are numerous stand-outs. Lot 88, from the Patinack Farm draft, is a filly out of the Marscay mare Biscotte and is a half-brother to the Lee Freedman-trained Barkada, while Bellerive Stud will present a full-sister to this season’s G3 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Deer Valley as lot 168.
Having previously bred and sold world champion sprinter Silent Witness, Edinburgh Park Stud is selling lot 543, a bay colt from the Flying Spur mare Roedean. Reported to be one of the better yearlings by Lonhro this year, the colt is sure to create much interest come sale time.
Currently sitting second behind fellow barn mate Lonhro on the third-season sires’ table, Exceed And Excel will once again have a plethora of quality yearlings available. With 17 in total catalogued for the six-day sale, the Baerami Thoroughbreds-consigned 143 is out of the El Gran Senor mare Condescendance, making the filly a three-quarter sister to G1 New Zealand Derby winner Redoute’s Dancer.
Also rating amongst his nominal top lots is 182, a bay colt offered by Attunga Stud from the Canny Lad mare Discretion, whose previous foals include Stakes winners Royal Discretion and Roulettes, as well as the Stakes-performed Tactfully. Multiple Group One-winning sprinter Spark Of Life was purchased from this sale ring and Segenhoe Stud will offer his half-brother as lot 611. From the Stakes mare Sparkling Bounty, this family represents the desirable trait of speed on speed.
Currently the leading sire based on individual winners, Commands will once again have an extensive representation with 20 lots catalogued. It was at this sale last year where Commands had his top-priced yearling sell: a colt from the Gold Fever mare Isadora that was knocked down to trainer Alan Bailey for $600,000.
Of the 12 fillies and eight colts entered, lot 260 could prove to be one of his top achievers in the ring. Out of the multiple Stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Gold Lottey, the colt will be offered on behalf of Oakwood Farm as agent and hails from the family of Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva.
Another to take the eye is lot 344, the second foal of Lady Of The Desert, a dual Stakes winner by Desert Prince. Consigned by Kulani Park as agent for Millburn Creek Thoroughbreds, this filly comes from three generations of Stakes-winning dams highlighted by Solveig, a triple Group One winner in her homeland of New Zealand.
Zabeel’s undefeated dual Group One winner Reset has seven yearlings catalogued throughout the sale. One trainer sure to be keeping an eye on the Reset yearlings is South Australian Leon Macdonald, who in 2007 purchased the first yearling from the Dehere mare Picholine for $150,000. That colt was none other than the dual G1 Derby winner Rebel Raider, now four and winner of in excess of $1.3 million in Stakes earnings.
Lot 205, the fifth yearling scheduled to pass through the ring on day two, is a Reset colt on behalf of Victorian-based farm Makybe. Out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Even, the colt comes from the heavily black type-laden family of Stakes winners Custard (Lonhro), Fravashi, Pure Joy and Russian Caravan.
Covering his first book of mares from Northwood Park this year after relocating from Twin Hills, Strategic has three lots catalogued for the sale with the Mane Lodge-consigned lot 422 sure to create plenty of interest. The filly is a half-sister to this season’s Listed Debutante Stakes winner Dark Valley, a leading contender for the $2millon Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Canny Lad filly Graceful Anna blew her rivals away last start when taking the Magic Millions Stakes at Wyong, smashing the previous track record, and heads to the Gold Coast as one of the favoured runners for the Magic Millions 3YO Classic. Based on her last win alone, the progeny of Canny Lad are sure to be well admired on the Coast. With six lots on offer, Racetree Farm as agent is in the position of offering lot 814, the first Canny Lad yearling through the ring. From the famed Eight Carat family, the residual value of this filly is sure to tempt many keen judges.
