Milburn Creek

by Andrew Reichard

John Muir’s Milburn Creek, situated in magnificent horse country at Wildes Meadow in NSW Southern Highlands has become a byword for quality. Its spacious undulating paddocks and lush pastures are home to one of the finest broodmare bands in the country as attested by the long line of elite performers that have been bred by Milburn Creek.

Under the astute management of renowned horseman Scott Holcombe, the farm is not prepared to rest on its laurels, striving each year to present the best possible offerings among boutique vendors at Australia’s major sales. Milburn Creek’s 2019 Magic Millions draft of 10 yearlings reflects this approach, the 6 colts and 4 fillies are by Australia’s leading commercial sires from a mouth watering lineup of broodmares that epitomize the strength of Milburn Creek’s broodmare band.

In order of entry into the ring they are as follows:

Lot 104 – chestnut colt by Snitzel from Secret Admirer by Dubawi. This colt is arguably the best bred yearling likely to be offered anywhere in the world in 2019, by multiple champion sire Snitzel from multiple Gr.1 winner and a already Group producer Secret Admirer who is by one of the world’s greatest living sires Dubawi. Secret Admirer won the Flight S and the Epsom H and had her last 10 starts in Gr.1 races, while her first to the track, Danawi (by Exceed and Excel) has already distinguished himself this season winning the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty 1400m from just six starts, establishing himself as one of the best colts of his generation.

This colt is bred on the Snitzel/Mr Prospector broodmare cross which is one of the stallion’s best and nothing further we could write would do this pedigree full justice. A stallion prospect if ever there was one.

Lot 259 – bay filly Snitzel-Valdemoro by Encosta de Lago. The dam Valdemoro was multiple Gr.1 placed and one of the best 3YO fillies of her year, placed 2nd in both the VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud S Gr.1. As if that wasn’t enough she is a ¾ sibling to two of the elite international gallopers of recent years in Highland Reel and Idaho. Third dam Circles of Gold won the Australian Oaks and is the dam of champions Elvstroem and Haradasun. Valdemoro is one of the jewels of the Milburn Creek broodmare band and this is a rare opportunity to buy into one of the world’s best families. To complete the package, this filly is bred on the Snitzel/ Encosta de Lago cross which has already produced the Gr.1 2YO winners Invader and Summer Passage.

AT MILBURN CREEK WE ARE ALWAYS STRIVING TO IMPROVE OUR PRODUCT, BY UPGRADING THE BROODMARE BAND AND USING THE BEST PROVEN AND EMERGING SIRES. I FEEL THAT OUR 2019 MMGC DRAFT REFLECTS THIS POLICY, IT’S THE BEST I’VE EVER TAKEN TO MAGIC MILLIONS.

Lot 278 – bay filly Headwater-Vonzelle by Redoute’s Choice. This filly is by Exceed and Excel’s exciting first season sire son Headwater who was a brilliant 2YO, from a mare by leading broodmare sire Redoute’s Choice. The dam is a half-sister to dual Gr.1 winner Sudurka (Oakleigh Plate and Salinger S), a pedigree infused with the speed required for the top 2YO races such as the Magic Millions.

Lot 394 – bay or brown colt Super One-Believe ‘N Achieve by Beautiful Crown. This colt is by super sire I Am Invincible’s Champion 2YO son Super One from the stakes producing mare Believe ‘N Achieve who comes from the family of one of Queensland’s favourite sons Chief de Beers, winner of no less than 20 races including the Doomben Ten Thousand twice. There are prolific high class winners close up everywhere in this pedigree.

Lot 442 – bay colt Vancouver-Cashla Bay by Fastnet Rock. This colt is from the eagerly awaited first crop of brilliant Golden Slipper winner Vancouver from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Cashla Bay who is a daughter of Gr.3 winner Bush Honey from the family of Gr.1 performers Shindig, Shinzig, Strada and Cobbora. The colt is bred on one of the world’s most successful crosses that of Sadler’s Wells sires over Danehill line mares (think Frankel and Teofilo) and is the mare’s first foal.

Lot 491 – black or brown filly Written Tycoon-Cymbal by Commands. Written Tycoon has emerged as one of Australia’s elite sires in recent years and his fillies are as good as his colts with stars such as Luna Rossa, Tycoon Tara and Booker among the best. This filly is bred on the cross of Written Tycoon with sons of Danehill which is one of the stallion’s best for winner production and stakes winners. Cymbal is already a winner producer and is similarly bred to many of the best representatives of her Gr.1 family such as Holler, Yell, Sung, Anthems and Lamasery.

Lot 624 – brown colt Written Tycoon-Golden Penny by Blevic. This colt is another by the outstanding sire Written Tycoon whose colts include Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, Music Magnate, Written By, Winning Rupert and Rich Enuff who were all sired off the stallion’s early low fee base. Here is a colt from a stakes winning mare who won 8 races and $349K being Gr.3 placed also. She is by Scenic’s successful sire son Blevic who is also the broodmare sire of Magic Millions and Golden Slipper winning colt Phelan Ready. A real 2YO pedigree.

Lot 762 - bay colt I Am Invincible-Luluoru by Redoute’s Choice. This colt is an early September foal by sire sensation I Am Invincible whos 2YOs just keep winning and with stock coming through out of better mares as his service fee increased on the back of spectacular early results, the trend is sure to continue. This is just the second foal of a mare by Australia’s best young broodmare sire Redoute’s

Choice and bred on the broad I Am Invincible/Danehill line cross which has already produced this season’s flying 2YO Espaaniyah, Overshare, Invincible Star, Eckstein and others.

Lot 797 - brown colt Exosphere-Midnight Fantasy by Commands. This is a colt from the first crop of Lonhro’s explosive son Exosphere. Who can ever forget the big brown horse’s devastating finishing sprint, and this colt is the same colour. He is a half-brother to two winners (dam’s first two to race) from a mare by leading sire Commands out of Gr.1 winner Ancient Song. To complete the package, this colt is inbred to blue hen Eight Carat via Octagonal and Commands, with this cross having already produced spectacular results through runners such as Obsequious, Rain Affair, Washington Heights, Rainier, and Verry Elleegant just to name a few.

Lot 903 – brown filly Sebring-Arabian Beauty by Shamardal. This filly is the second foal of a winning mare by the leading international sire Shamardal from a prolific stakes winning family. She is by leading sire Sebring whose fillies are as good as his colts and include current Gr.1 winners Amphitrite, Egg Tart and Bring Me The Maid. Shamardal is an emerging young broodmare sire whose daughters have already produced four Gr.1 winners including Latrobe.

We left the last word to Scott Holcombe: “At Milburn Creek we are always striving to improve our product, by upgrading the broodmare band and using the best proven and emerging sires. I feel that our 2019 MMGC draft reflects this policy, it’s the best I’ve ever taken to Magic Millions. Buyers can inspect our yearlings with confidence and we are offering colts and fillies out of our best mares at this sale. I look forward to meeting all our regular clients and hopefully some new ones at the Gold Coast in January”. l

2019 DRAFT

104 Snitzel (AUS) - Secret Admirer (AUS)

259 Snitzel (AUS) - Valdemoro (AUS)

278 Headwater (AUS) - Vonzelle (AUS)

394 Super One (AUS) - Believe ‘n Achieve (AUS)

442 Vancouver (AUS) - Cashla Bay (AUS)

491 Written Tycoon (AUS) - Cymbal (AUS)

624 Written Tycoon (AUS) - Golden Penny (AUS)

762 I Am Invincible (AUS) - Luluoru (AUS)

797 Exosphere (AUS) - Midnight Fantasy (AUS)

903 Sebring (AUS) - Arabian Beauty (AUS)

www.milburncreek.com.au | John Muir: 0418 232546 | Scott Holcombe 0452 213 762 | Scott.H@Milburncreek.com.au | Wildes Meadow, NSW