Thursday, March 1, 2018
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE Previewing the stellar catalogue for the auction at Oaklands Junction
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE Contents
4-5 Four young Victorian trainers answer our questions 6 Interview with Two Bays Farm manager Rob Carlile 8 Philip Campbell on the resurgence of his Blue Gum Farm 10 Targeting South African buyers at the sale 12 Sire statistics 14-15 A decade on from the sale of superstar Black Caviar
Jameka (right) and her stablemate Jukebox enjoy an early morning Melbourne beach workout and (below left) the former landing the 2016 Caulfield Cup; the phenomenal Black Caviar, a $210,000 buy a decade ago; (bottom) Melbourne in all its splendour
Tantalising question in a city of wonder MELBOURNE is a fantastic place and I am lucky enough to be able to say I have spent some time there. Not nearly as much as I wish I had, but what a time it was during the 2016 Spring Carnival. From Jameka’s (Myboycharlie) Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) win and Winx’s (Street Cry) breathtaking second Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) demolition job, to Charlie Appleby’s country cups domination and Kerrin McEvoy’s second Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) win, 16 years after his first, aboard Almandin (Monsun). The city made a huge impression on me and not just because of the racing. I loved walking and driving around the place, going to watch cricket at the MCG and gigs at Rod Laver Arena, eating at the amazing restaurants and enjoying a beer at the beach. It is a place with sport at the centre of its beating heart and it is here, a decade ago, that a
modern Australian sporting legend was unearthed. She was lot 520. A brown filly by Bel Esprit (Royal Academy) brought to the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale by Swettenham Stud and bought by Peter Moody for $210,000. Plenty made more money but none made a greater impact. This is what makes every sale special. You just never know. She was right there, sporting immortality up for grabs for anyone with enough money to take a chance on their dream. What price life-changing greatness? Is there another Black Caviar lurking in the catalogue this year? It will be a while before we find out but wouldn’t it be fantastic if there was? The pursuit of sporting greatness in one of the world’s finest cities. Honestly, what would you rather be doing?
Mark Scully, bloodstock editor
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
‘Being less circumspect, putting in the leg work and seeing all the produce of the first-season sires can be a great way to find value’ Four prominent young Victorian trainers answer our questions Henry Dwyer Which first-season sires have you been most impressed with based on the yearlings you have seen? I’ve been particularly impressed with the types Dissident is producing. He’s stamping his stock with good conformation, strength and presence. Of the yearlings I’ve inspected, they all have good, fluent movement with a relaxed temperament and these are key elements in my selection criteria when assessing yearlings. Which of the established, Victoria-based stallions are you most keen on? Written Tycoon continues to produce a high percentage of winners. Of the younger stallions I’ve been very impressed with Fiorente and Fighting Sun. They produce yearlings who are precocious types, yet you can see the further development that time will allow them. Rebel Raider’s progeny are developing into impressive individuals who are consistently running well in staying races. How important is it to you to source VOBIS-nominated and BOBS-eligible yearlings? Being able to source high-quality VOBIS-eligible yearlings for my clients is very important to me. The VOBIS scheme has provided a boost to the industry and allows for a higher potential return on investment for my clients. From a training perspective, it also adds another dimension when looking to target horses at high-value restricted races. What are the challenges facing a young trainer trying to buy at this sale? Having the backing of clients who are looking to buy and having a budget relevant to the specific order is always a challenge for any trainer. It’s always a challenge to buy the right horses on spec without clients behind you.
All the answers (clockwise from left): Henry Dwyer, Archie Alexander, Natalie Young with training partner Trent Busuttin, and Matt Cumani
Where is the best spot in Melbourne to spend an evening after the sale? Crown. It provides a large range of options on the waterfront with various bars and restaurants to entertain my clients after the sales. For a more casual night out, The Emerald in South Melbourne is a great ‘racing’ pub. Archie Alexander Which first-season sires have you been most impressed with based on
the yearlings you have seen? Newgate Farm’s Wandjina. They look athletic, running types and I’ll be keen to try to buy a few. Which of the established, Victoria-based stallions are you most keen on? Written Tycoon. He produces consistently good models who are tough performers and have proven results. One of my most promising two-year-olds is a filly by Written Tycoon.
How important is it to you to source VOBIS-nominated and BOBS-eligible yearlings? Extremely. The VOBIS race series is such a valuable incentive to us as trainers. Eligibility can easily make my mind up on a horse. What are the challenges facing a young trainer trying to buy at this sale? Knowing your limits! It’s honestly hard to not get caught up in the excitement
when there’s so much on offer but it’s very important to not over-stretch your budget in terms of what you can get sold soon after the sale in order to not be under pressure for the next few months to a year. Where is the best spot in Melbourne to spend an evening after the sale? Crown has plenty of options for dinner and drinks and is always a good spot to catch up with racing friends, or else
Southbank by the river if the weather is good. Natalie Young Which first-season sires have you been most impressed with based on the yearlings you have seen? The Toronados have been impressive. They’re strong and beautifully put together and he has stamped them well, which is always a great sign. I’ve also loved the Dissidents, they seem athletic with plenty of strength and considering he cost me a million when beating El Roca in the Randwick Guineas, they keep catching my eye! Which of the established, Victoria-based stallions are you most keen on? Written Tycoon. His stock have such a great turn of foot with great brains. The handful of ones we have by him in the barn have already shown brilliant potential. How important is it to you to source VOBIS-nominated and BOBS-eligible yearlings? This is extremely important as the bonuses the owners can accumulate on top of winners’ prize-money is a massive advantage to get a return on an investment, especially for first-time owners. What are the challenges facing a young trainer trying to buy at this sale? We would always like to buy the ones we love, but sometimes the pockets aren’t quite deep enough. However, if the protocols around advertising shares wasn’t so strict it would make it easier to find new clients. Where is the best spot in Melbourne to spend an evening after the sale? I’m usually heading back home for work the next morning, so love to stop at the Laksa King
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down Racecourse Road at Flemington on the way. It’s the best Malaysian food ever and the waiting time is next to nothing. Matt Cumani Which first-season sires have you been most impressed with based on the yearlings you have seen? We’ve tried to focus on buying a nice horse by a proven sire but they’re almost impossible to buy! We’ve found that being a little less circumspect, putting in the leg work and seeing all the produce of the first-season sires can be a great way to find value. This year we’ve liked and bought a Sacred Falls and a Wandjina, selected for their athleticism and robust pedigrees. Which of the established, Victoria-based stallions are you most keen on? I’d love to have a stable full of progeny by Written Tycoon and Zoustar but unfortunately so would everyone else. Some sires get written off prematurely so you can find
some gems for a good price. Helmet under-performed last year but in my experience he produces athletic types and we’ve done well with them and this year his stock are really starting to pick up on the racecourse. I also have a bit of a soft spot for Americain, but it may be another year before we start to see them at their best.
How important is it to you to source VOBIS-nominated and BOBS-eligible yearlings? VOBIS is hugely important to us as we’re based in Victoria. It’s a fantastic scheme that keeps the money circulating and it’s a great bonus to the already fantastic amount of prize-money on offer here. But, when you’re sweating
under the pressure of the auctioneer, it’s the type and the page that pulls you into one last bid, not the bonus scheme. What are the challenges facing a young trainer trying to buy at this sale? Speculating on a yearling is part of the business plan but it can be deadly, particularly for a young business without a lot of
Inspecting the yearlings; (left) Malaysian eatery Laksa King in Flemington gets trainer Natalie Young’s vote on her return trip home from the sales
cash. A stable might have a few orders but one unsold horse can make life very difficult. The challenge is buying not
only an athlete but one who will appeal to new and current owners. Where is the best spot in Melbourne to spend an evening after the sale? South Yarra is always fun and it’s the home of a great Italian called 38 Chairs. But, as its name suggests, make sure you book in advance as space is limited.
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
Jack Keene talks to Two Bays Farm manager Rob Carlile as the upwardly mobile operation prepares to send its fourth draft to the Premier Sale
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ESTLED among a collection of wineries on the fertile soils of the Mornington peninsula, the boutique thoroughbred nursery at Two Bays Farm has quickly grown into an established and well-respected breeding operation during its short history. The farm is around six years old and this month it will send its fourth draft to the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with the goal of continuing on its upward trajectory. In 2015 three of Two Bays’ four yearlings sold at the Premier Sale for an aggregate of $180,000 and the growth continued into the following year’s sale when a trio of youngsters cleared the $100,000 barrier. In March last year the farm sold its first $200,000 yearling. Rob Carlile has been manager at Two Bays Farm for three years and he believes the pastures just outside Flinders make for an idyllic location to house broodmares and rear yearlings. “We’re in a prime spot for growing out horses with fertile soil. We have everything to cater for horses from foaling to weaning and yearling preparation all the way through to being able to spell horses in big paddocks with their mates trying to get back to nature,” Carlile says. “Our ambition is simple – to try to breed great racehorses who are tough, durable and fast. We want the best outcome for all, whether that be horses we sell and thus our brand, or people’s horses who come through us, out there and winning races.” Two Bays Farm will also prepare yearlings on behalf of Makybe Breeding and Racing for the Melbourne Premier Sale, a significant fillip for the burgeoning operation. “It has been a great boost for the farm being able to prepare Makybe Breeding and Racing yearlings this year for Melbourne Premier. To be entrusted with their horses so early on in our young life as a farm is a big thrill and honour,” Carlile says. As for this year’s draft Carlile believes it is the best offering the farm has yet taken to Oaklands Junction for the four-day sale.
One of four Zoustar yearlings Two Bays Farm is offering at the sale in its 11-strong draft is this filly, lot 242; (top right) farm manager Rob Carlile
One simple ambition for fledgling operation fast making its mark Central to the draft are four yearlings by Widden Stud-Woodside Park stallion Zoustar (Northern Meteor), who currently sits atop the first-season sire standings in Australia by earnings following the exploits in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) of his brilliant two-year-old daughter Sunlight. Two Bays will offer three fillies by Zoustar and one colt as part of an 11-strong draft, and Carlile will be hoping the popularity of the stallion’s progeny will continue into the sale, with four of his yearlings at the Magic Millions Gold Coast making more than $500,000 and another going for $340,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. “It would definitely be the strongest draft I’ve taken to Melbourne for the Premier Sale, both on page and on type,” he says. “For a second-season stallion [Zoustar] to have the sale results he’s currently receiving is quite something. It’s been a long time since a stallion has
seen his yearlings sell so well in just his second year.” Among the yearlings on offer by Zoustar is lot 469, a 22 October-born filly who is the fifth foal out of the unraced American-bred mare Lady Lightning (Birdstone). The mare is a half-sister to the former champion American two-year-old Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even), winner of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr 1, 8.5f) at Belmont Park, and Theyskens’ Theory (Bernardini), who won at Group 3 level in Britain and was Grade 1-placed in the US. This is also the family of champion American turf horse Big Blue Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), dual Grade 2 winner Fair
Judgment (Alleged) and Grade 3 winner Ailalea (Pulpit), and Carlile confirms the filly has the physical attributes to go along with her appealing page. “She’s a very athletic filly, a great physical type and quite typical of the Zoustars,” Carlile says. There is plenty of variety in the Two Bays draft, with Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) and Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) among the established stallions represented, while there is also a colt each for young stallions Eurozone (Northern Meteor) and Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor).
‘It would definitely be the strongest draft I’ve taken to Melbourne for the Premier Sale, both on page and on type’ Rob Carlile, Two Bays Farm manager
The Eurozone colt is catalogued as lot 544 and is the 11th foal out of the dual Grade 1-winning South African champion Mythical Play (Defensive Play), while his second dam Kate’s Myth (Kaoru Star) was a champion three-year-old filly in New Zealand.
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EANWHILE, the Shooting To Win colt, catalogued as lot 232, is the second foal out of a half-sister to the stakes winner Chic Choice (Redoute’s Choice) from the family of Group 1 winners Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor), Easy Rocking (Barathea) and Fairy King Prawn (Danehill). “Zoustar makes up a third of our draft with three fillies and a colt, but we have a few by young stallions. The Shooting To Win is a nice horse, and so is the Eurozone, he’s a very nice colt,” Carlile says. As has been the case at the sales so far this year, Carlile is
hoping the infatuation with yearlings by I Am Invincible continues, while he is also banking on the progeny of Arrowfield-based stallions Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel proving popular. The Two Bays Farm filly by I Am Invincible is catalogued as lot 303 and is the third foal out of the stakes-winning and Group 2-placed sprinter Choice Words (Choisir). The Not A Single Doubt filly (lot 436) is out of a half-sister to Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) runner-up Oh Oklahoma (Singspiel), while the Snitzel colt (lot 206) is the first foal out of a half-sister to Group 2 winner Soapy Danger (Danzig). “Sales-wise, obviously I Am Invincible, Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel are probably the ones everyone will look to, their results are always strong and we’re hoping that will continue at the Premier,” Carlile says. “We have a diverse draft though, with a Stryker and an All Too Hard. There’s something for everyone.”
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
Back on top of their game and riding high V in the auction ring
Steve Moran speaks to Philip Campbell, whose resurgent Blue Gum Farm is riding the crest of a wave
ICTORIA’S Blue Gum Farm has re-established itself among the premier operations in the country after briefly slipping off the pace in a breeding game that is now dominated by major conglomerates and well-funded emerging boutique studs. Its resurgence is readily measured by Blue Gum’s success at Victoria’s major yearling sale – the Inglis Premier – which it has supported for decades. In 2012 and 2013 Blue Gum sold an aggregate of 19 yearlings for less than $1 million. However, the rise in Melbourne sales success has been meteoric since. In 2014 it sold 18 of 18 yearlings offered for $1.7m; that gross climbed to $2.9m the following year before a record-breaking $4.7m in 2016 – the highest ever single draft at a Melbourne Premier sale. “There hadn’t been a draft before which had come within a bull’s roar of that,” says Philip Campbell, who owns and operates the farm with wife Patti. “There really wasn’t a tail to that year’s draft. We sold nine yearlings for $200,000-plus and even more pleasing was the strong results that followed on the track, headed by horses such as Jukebox, Ducimus, Vinland and Fantastic Show among others.” It was a result that no farm was likely to be able to repeat the following year but, in 2017, Blue Gum again had a fruitful Premier with 26 yearlings sold for $3.4m. Campbell concedes that the family owned and operated farm, which sits somewhere between conglomerate and boutique, had probably “dropped the ball” for a while, a not inappropriate analogy given he turned to coaching the local junior football team for six years (one flag!) from 2008 in search of some inspiration. “I left school at 17 and have virtually done the same thing ever since and, alas, I add that’s about 40 years ago now,” Campbell says. “I suspect I’d probably started to take things a little bit for granted as we’d had a charmed run for so many years standing stallions of the quality of Encosta De Lago, Umatilla and Rubiton. “It’s the only business I’ve been in and things soured a little with the stallions. We had a honeymoon period with Elvstroem but his stock didn’t meet expectations on the track
and nor did those of Churchill Downs, although he did produce plenty of winners. “So, two of our best stallion chances on paper didn’t quite work out. We still poked along and had our successes along the way but things needed to change and I probably needed a kick up the bum.” Several factors have contributed to both man and business being revitalised. “We did some work with Paul Guy of Heritage Bloodstock and, while I wouldn’t say that he delivered that kick, I will acknowledge he woke me up a bit,’ he says. “His enthusiasm and positivity were infectious and I’m loving what we’re doing here now.” The process also, of course, involved upgrading mares and cultivating new clients. “It’s not easy to do [upgrade mares] with the top end of the broodmare market consistently hot but we tried to identify value and have had some good results,” Campbell explains. “We bought Vinland’s mum [Viking Turf Belle] with a Charge Forward filly at foot for $80,000 and then sold the filly for $90,000. Plus we’ve since sold her Sebring colt [Vinland] for $340,000 and her Pierro colt for $310,000 last year. “We’ve formed a number of mare partnerships with clients and friends, which has helped us a lot and, hopefully, our clients as it’s strengthened our buying power and we’ll have a number of very good first foals at coming sales.” The process has also been the result of good planning and not necessarily an instant success. “It’s hard to maintain a high level of success over a long period of time in this game, whether you’re a breeder or an owner or a trainer,” he says. “We had to look at how we were managing our broodmare band and the majority of yearlings are raised on the farm, for clients, and they’ll have been the result or matings either here or at other Victorian farms or from the Hunter. “We may have been slow in changing but we’ve rectified that and we’re now producing quality horses who sell well and it’s definitely more fun being at the top of the vendors’ list.” Blue Gum has established or rekindled relationships with several prominent industry
Philip Campbell, who owns and operates Blue Gum Farm with his wife Patti
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MALUKA THOROUGHBREDS
OUR SYSTEM IS
PROVEN Manhattan Rain, a son of Encosta De Lago and one of four stallions on the stud’s roster
figures, including Des Pope, Rupert Legh and Neville and Susan Duncan from Oakland Park, Western Australia, which bred Jukebox (Snitzel) and Ducimus (Snitzel). The farm is currently standing four stallions – a roster headed by Manhattan Rain who is, of course, by Blue Gum’s greatest success story in Encosta De Lago (Fairy King). “Manhattan Rain is a horse we were always interested in and we did make a play for him when he was first retired. He went to Arrowfield then, which was understandable given the Redoute’s Choice connection, but now we’re fortunate enough to have him here,” Campbell says.
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ORTUNATE and, perhaps, fortuitous. Campbell has known Iris O’Farrell, who manages Muzaffar Yassen’s Teeley Assets, for some time. “Iris rang me around this time last year and the deal was done well before She Will Reign won the Golden Slipper,” Campbell recalls. “I think he can really make it. I sent a mare to him two years ago, before he was here. Last year was just his fourth crop to race and he’s won the Slipper. The year before he had another two-year-old filly [Scarlet Rain] who was in Slipper contention after winning the Sweet Embrace and he’s had a Group 1 winner in South Africa. “Last year here he covered 112 mares and they were all outside mares, which shows his wide level of support.” Campbell, at the time of writing, was awaiting the first of War’s (More Than Ready) progeny to hit the track. “We took him on knowing that he’s in the same bracket as several other young stallions so he’ll have to make it himself,” he says. “We’ll begin to see this season when my guess would be that he’d have around 40 two-year-olds who could potentially hit the track. “I’ve had very positive
feedback with several of them and I don’t mind trainers being patient with them. His yearlings have sold well, he had a Ready To Run horse sell for $420,000 last year and I love the More Than Readys; I love the stallions with an international pedigree and so he’s a horse we’re more than happy to take a chance on.” Blue Gum also stands the consistent winner-getter Turffontein (Johannesburg), whose stock have taken a boost of late via the Group 3-winning mare Lyuba, Widgee Turf, who is unbeaten in four runs this season, and Sight Leader, who is unbeaten in two starts in Hong Kong. Plus they stand the Group 1 winner Glass Harmonium (Verglas) who, like War, has been at the Euroa farm since 2014 and whose eldest progeny are two-year-olds. “He’s got some nice youngsters with the likes of leading trainers Mike Moroney, Robbie Griffiths, John McArdle and Symon Wilde,” he says. It is purely coincidental but David Hayes’s development of nearby Lindsay Park has coincided with Blue Gum’s resurgence. “I’m not sure it has directly benefited us but what David has done there is phenomenal and there’s no doubt it’s put more focus on the area as a thoroughbred centre,” Campbell says. Blue Gum has grown dramatically since 1966 when Philip’s parents Graham (one-time golf professional and later general manager of Dalgety Bloodstock) and Margaret purchased their first thoroughbred property, named Gramar Lodge, which was then
on the outskirts of Melbourne, at East Doncaster, but is now very much part of suburbia. The site of the current farm was purchased in 1980 and the business has continued to develop ever since, as evidenced by the aforementioned Premier sale results, and Campbell is, understandably, again looking forward to Melbourne Premier, where it has 30 yearlings catalogued. “It’s as many as we’d want to present,” Campbell says. “We’ve been mindful not to become too big and run the risk of compromising our focus on individual attention. We extended the yearling barn two years ago to allow us to cope with this sort of number. “I believe we have a really good group of horses across the board and some who will stand out to buyers for a variety of reasons. We have three Brazen Beaus and they’re simply bloody good horses in my opinion. They include the half-sister to the promising Vinland and the half-brother to the flying Fontiton.”
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E ADDS: “We have a lovely Sepoy filly out of Beauty World who comes from as good a female family as you’ll find. Everybody’s been far too quick to write off Sepoy. This is a dual-purpose filly who’s big and strong like Alizee [also by Sepoy]. “Then we have another horse like the Mossman colt out of Flying Gigi who has every chance to outsell his pedigree. He’s a solid article, a real trainer’s horse who will bounce and run.”
‘We’re now producing quality horses who sell well and it’s definitely more fun being at the top of the vendors’ list’ Blue Gum Farm owner Philip Campbell
YEAR 1 - POWER TRIP Maribyrnong Plate Winner
YEAR 2 - PERAST Caulfield Guineas Prelude Winner
Year 3 - SEABROOK 3rd Blue Diamond Prelude
YEAR 4 Our Best Draft Yet!
malukathoroughbreds.com.au
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
Mark Scully on the lure of the Australian bloodstock market to buyers from South Africa and what is being done to attract them
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ELBOURNE is famous for many things. Routinely voted the world’s most liveable city, it boasts the magnificent MCG, plays host to the Australian Open tennis tournament and stages one of horseracing’s greatest spectacles, the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). For racing professionals in South Africa, however, the city is about far more than those things. As the home of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the capital of Victoria is a rich source of Grade 1 talent and as such, Oaklands Junction is once again set to be visited by a host of South Africans this month. With Australian buyers still, for the most part, desperate to get their hands on gun juveniles with the potential to unlock the riches of a lucrative stud career, leading players from South Africa such as Mike de Kock have been using this sale as a way of tapping into some of the world’s most potent Classic-distance bloodlines they are often either priced out of or unable to access elsewhere. Having recognised this demand, Inglis has worked hard to cater for these international visitors through the work of their South African representative Simon Vivian. “We like to make the South Africans feel welcome, so when they come to Melbourne they’re looked after in such a way that they really enjoy themselves,” says Vivian. “It’s not a chore to come to this sale, they can come and relax and enjoy the company of the Australian people. “It’s become something of a party time for them as well as a chance for them to come and find a horse who totally suits their style of racing.” Last year 11 yearlings went the way of South African buyers for a combined spend of almost $1.5 million. Back in 2013, $2m was spent on 32 yearlings, while in 2015 a remarkable $3.8m was shelled out on 34 youngsters. Key to encouraging and nurturing this type of relationship with an overseas buying bench, according to Vivian, is building strong personal relationships. As a result, he and his teams have been eager to display the commitment of Inglis to racing in South Africa through regular visits to the country’s major
Opportunity knocks for buyers from the Rainbow Nation South African star graduates from the Premier Sale The Conglomerate (above) and Alboran Sea; (right) Mike de Kock has stated his intention to attend this year’s sale
racing and sale days as part of an effort that began in earnest around 2008. Back at home, that work continues through the selection of yearlings for the catalogue, with Inglis keen to maximise South African interest via the inclusion of yearlings who may not be considered for other sales in Australia and New Zealand.
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OR South African buyers, the sale represents perhaps the best opportunity to access some of the world’s most potent Classic bloodlines, via stallions shuttling from Europe to Australia and New Zealand. “The Australian market is still dominated by local buyers trying to buy the precocious sprinting horse,” says Vivian. “The South African market is nowhere near as preoccupied with those two factors; they are far more inclined to look towards a more European style of horse. “For them the perfect horse is one who looks like being a good three-year-old at a mile and a ten-furlong performer as an older horse. “Australia has become the absolute focus for the best European shuttle stallions.
These horses aren’t going to shuttle to South Africa. Those same horses who are proving themselves to be successful throughout Europe are the sort of horses who appeal to the South African buyers and their best access to getting those bloodlines is to come to Australia and buy them. “We have a lot of stallions in Australia and New Zealand who fit that bill but the Australian market hasn’t been demanding them, whereas the South Africans love being able to get their hands on High Chaparrals or Camelots or Street Crys and these sorts of horses. “When we select a Melbourne catalogue, there is a degree of emphasis placed on what will suit the South African market. “So, whereas a lot of sales in Australia will say they don’t
want to take on Camelots or Adelaides or these sorts of horses, we’ll actually look to take them on because we believe they’ll appeal to the South African market.” This selection criteria is evident with a glance through the 2018 offering, with 43 sons or daughters of shuttler Toronado, a Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) who was at his best over a mile but was tried at ten furlongs. Adelaide (Galileo) has two colts and a filly catalogued, while there is representation too for other recent European stars such as Canford Cliffs (Tagula), Dawn Approach and Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit). The list of top-class performers emerging from this sale continues to grow but it is not just the pedigrees that make sense for South African
‘When we select a Melbourne catalogue, there is a degree of emphasis placed on what will suit the South African market’ Inglis’ South African representative Simon Vivian
buyers – the economics work too and the proof lies in the results in recent years. The Conglomerate (Lonhro), the 2016 Durban July hero, was a $160,000 purchase from the Tyreel Stud draft in 2013. Igugu, a daughter of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) who was crowned South Africa’s Horse of the Year in 2010-11, was picked up from the Kia-Ora Stud draft in 2009 for a mere $65,000. Alboran Sea (Rock Of Gibraltar), the champion three-year-old filly of 2014-15, was sold by Rosemont Stud in 2013 for $105,000. “The average price of a horse at the Melbourne sale tends to be within the scope of what they can afford to spend, given that the Rand is about ten to one and it costs around $15,000 to get a horse home,” says Vivian.
H
E ADDS: “It’s never been a massive number of horses going to South Africa, so the strike-rate is quite phenomenal.” The South African landscape has been significantly altered recently with billionaire Markus Jooste forced to close down his racing operation as he faces accountancy fraud
allegations, but Vivian is confident the country’s presence will still be felt at the sale, despite the absence of Mayfair Speculators’ money. “While we’re going to miss the buying influence of Markus Jooste and his Mayfair Speculators, there are still others who will be here and we’re working hard to attract as many South Africans as possible,” says Vivian. “Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock, who has been coming here since 2007 and been a fabulous contributor, is already booked in. “Mike de Kock, who has already trained so many of these top performers from this sale, has booked too. Hassen Adams, who came to Melbourne and bought a horse called Mac De Lago, is coming back. Louis Goosen, a trainer over there, is coming and so is The Conglomerate’s trainer Joey Ramsden. “Often people will come one year but not the next. So you’ll have a big operation, like the Mike Bass stable or the Geoff Woodruff stable who have been great supporters, who are trying to support their market in South Africa as well, but we look forward to welcoming them back in future years.”
11
anzbloodstocknews.com Thursday, March 1, 2018
WHISKEY BARON Group 1, Sun Metropolitan, Kenilworth, South Africa
LIM’S CRUISER Group 1, Lion City Cup, Singapore Turf Club
Flown by IRT With over 45 years experience transporting horses around the globe and offices in the UK, Germany, USA, New Zealand and Australia, IRT is the world leader when it comes to the international movement of horses. With our global network of offices, IRT offers a one stop shop solution, offering peace of mind that your horse couldn’t be in better hands. To find out how we can help you and your horse contact Lachlan Ford, IRT Australia, on +61 411 709 709 or visit our website. www.irt.com
IRT1405 - ANZ Bloodstock Feb2018_FA3.indd 1
IRT Australia: Tel +61 3 9643 3000 IRT UK & Europe: Tel +44 1638 668 003 IRT Germany: Tel +49 171 784 7447 IRT New Zealand: Tel +64 9297 2022 IRT North America: Chicago: Tel +1 630 513 0312 Los Angeles: Tel +1 310 306 0262
26/02/2018 11:20 AM
12
Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE SIRE STATISTICS Sire
*Figures in A$
Year to stud
2015 service fee
Sold
2017 2017 average* median*
Year to stud
2015 service fee
Sold
Adelaide
2015
A$22,000
0
0
0
Al Maher
2005
A$16,500
26
56,130
52,000
Myboycharlie
2009
A$11,000
16
41,358
21,000
Needs Further
2013
A$3,300
20
26,700
25,500
All American
2010
A$11,000
33
47,712
28,500
Nicconi
2010
A$11,000
21
64,380
All Too Hard
2013
A$55,000
93
120,326
99,260
Not A Single Doubt
2005
A$33,000
57
Ambidexter
2013
A$6,600
13
20,000
24,500
A$5,500
0
0
Americain
2013
A$13,750
24
39,316
21,800
A$13,750
0
0
0
O’Lonhro
2010
A$5,500
3
4,600
1,400
A$5,500
0
0
0
0
Ocean Park
2013
NZ$30,000
66
68,852
49,525
NZ$30,000
45
79,309
70,671
Anacheeva
2012
A$6,600
4
19,000
23,000
A$6,600
1
5,000
7,500
Animal Kingdom
2013
A$33,000
32
75,796
45,000
A$27,500
18
62,388
48,000
Olympic Glory
2015
A$19,250
0
0
0
A$19,250
37
99,508
70,000
Onemorenomore
2010
A$6,600
6
14,333
8,750
A$5,500
1
15,000
Artie Schiller
2007
A$13,200
29
69,741
67,000
A$22,000
4
118,000
22,500
66,000
Pellizotti
2011
A$2,200
0
0
0
A$0
0
0
Atlante
2015
NZ$8,000
0
0
0
NZ$7,000
13
0
29,201
18,573
Per Incanto
2011
NZ$15,000
24
75,479
56,792
NZ$15,000
38
91,401
62,742
Bel Esprit
2003
A$18,700
31
54,496
40,950
A$18,700
Bernardini
2007
A$27,500
35
60,895
45,000
A$27,500
16
58,475
48,000
Pierro
2013
A$77,000
90
A$66,000
26
236,733
197,500
1
22,500
33,750
Pins
2000
NZ$25,000
39
60,680
45,001
NZ$25,000
26
90,475
Better Than Ready
2015
A$9,900
0
0
0
76,107
A$9,900
10
38,850
36,000
Pluck
2012
A$9,900
13
16,038
14,500
A$9,900
7
82,408
Blackfriars
2001
A$13,200
26
42,596
56,000
20,000
A$12,000
24
49,428
44,000
Poet’s Voice
2012
A$11,000
33
35,978
21,000
A$11,000
5
42,359
Bon Hoffa
2009
A$0
6
52,718
22,083
22,500
A$4,000
2
14,500
6,000
Polanski
2014
A$5,500
1
30,000
45,000
A$5,500
0
0
Brazen Beau
2015
A$44,000
0
0
0
0
A$44,000
28
142,262
150,000
Primus
2007
A$2,200
0
0
0
A$0
0
0
0
Bullet Train
2013
Canford Cliffs
2012
A$13,200
25
31,860
17,000
A$11,000
13
14,538
13,500
Proisir
2015
NZ$7,000
0
0
0
NZ$7,000
33
37,404
28,993
A$13,750
16
25,781
17,750
A$13,750
2
43,000
9,000
Puissance De Lune
2015
A$11,000
3
4,833
7,250
A$11,000
1
67,500
101,250
Casino Prince Charge Forward
2008
A$13,200
15
42,584
34,000
A$11,000
4
34,750
42,000
Purrealist
2008
A$4,000
2
8,000
9,000
A$4,000
1
22,500
33,750
2005
A$16,500
19
63,394
62,500
A$11,000
11
64,363
67,500
Real Saga
2009
A$15,400
17
29,529
23,000
A$13,500
7
30,142
29,000
Charm Spirit
2015
NZ$25,000
0
0
0
NZ$22,500
43
99,088
83,808
Rebel Raider
2011
A$0
3
38,333
52,500
A$0
0
0
0
Choisir
2003
A$29,700
55
100,227
71,000
A$29,700
26
121,250
115,000
Redente
2009
A$2,200
1
3,750
5,625
A$2,200
0
0
0
Cluster
2015
A$6,600
0
0
0
A$6,600
1
45,000
67,500
Redoute’s Choice
2000
A$110,000
54
378,496 266,845
A$110,000
16
390,937
257,500
Crowded House
2013
A$11,000
1
8,500
12,750
A$11,000
0
0
0
Redwood
2012
NZ$10,000
13
27,565
25,990
NZ$10,000
14
39,930
33,976
Dalakhani
2004
A$22,000
15
77,966
47,500
A$22,000
0
0
0
Reliable Man
2013
NZ$15,000
57
75,645
57,406
NZ$15,000
50
102,613
79,278
Dane Shadow
2005
A$9,900
5
16,700
14,250
A$6,600
0
0
0
Reset
2004
A$16,500
16
64,305
48,000
A$16,500
5
83,308
110,000
Danerich
2007
A$7,700
7
40,214
40,750
A$6,600
0
0
0
Reward for Effort
2011
A$11,000
31
37,758
38,000
A$16,500
2
26,000
30,000
Darci Brahma
2007
NZ$30,000
20
78,549
90,003
NZ$15,000
20
78,190
75,879
Rip Van Winkle
2011
NZ$16,000
29
40,103
36,215
NZ$12,500
9
50,435
43,036
Dawn Approach
2014
A$27,500
33
68,019
42,000
A$22,000
18
99,141
73,922
Rothesay
2011
A$11,000
34
37,570
20,250
A$10,000
5
55,414
46,000
Declaration of War
2014
A$24,750
50
51,650
41,000
A$16,500
16
74,853
66,000
Rubick
2015
A$17,600
0
0
0
A$17,600
62
108,527
85,500
Deep Field
2015
A$22,000
0
0
0
A$22,000
89
155,874
137,000
Sacred Falls
2015
NZ$30,000
0
0
0
NZ$30,000
51
103,661
101,023
Delago Deluxe
2013
A$11,000
40
39,187
30,500
A$11,000
8
32,812
41,500
Safeguard
2015
A$8,800
0
0
0
A$8,800
11
45,772
43,750
Denman
2010
A$27,500
63
51,718
42,000
A$11,000
8
84,353
54,000
Savabeel
2005
NZ$100,000
70
205,989 178,081
NZ$100,000
70
244,552
226,509
Dissident
2015
A$38,500
0
0
0
A$33,000
68
155,572
130,000
Sebring
2009
A$66,000
97
204,418 152,406
A$77,000
30
163,728
145,000
Domesday
2006
A$13,750
15
32,533
21,000
A$8,800
1
45,302
67,953
Sepoy
2012
A$66,000
49
55,768
47,000
A$33,000
17
78,448
84,000
Dream Ahead
2012
A$27,500
53
51,434
40,004
A$27,500
14
63,977
69,000
Sessions
2015
A$9,900
0
0
0
A$7,700
6
40,833
53,000
Dundeel
2014
A$27,500
53
131,779 102,250
A$27,500
28
102,685
98,000
Shamexpress
2014
NZ$12,500
31
116,367
61,125
NZ$12,500
24
54,275
42,809
Elvstroem
2005
A$4,400
1
1,000
1,500
A$4,400
0
0
0
Shamus Award
2014
A$27,500
48
85,247
64,331
A$27,500
23
71,164
65,000
Epaulette
2014
A$27,500
69
73,267
64,500
A$22,000
31
82,399
67,500
Shocking
2011
NZ$7,500
17
59,092
33,690
NZ$8,500
20
41,700
36,694
Equiano
2011
A$13,750
18
18,294
14,600
A$13,750
2
22,750
33,750
Shooting to Win
2015
A$38,500
0
0
0
A$38,500
45
109,887
105,000
Eurozone
2014
A$13,750
69
33,036
21,500
A$13,750
16
35,189
40,000
Showcasing
2011
NZ$10,000
22
36,572
27,165
NZ$15,000
29
83,418
77,466
Exceed And Excel
2004
A$110,000
35
401,922 370,000
A$110,000
20
266,348
220,000
Sidestep
2015
A$11,000
0
0
0
A$11,000
8
38,125
43,500
Excelebration
2013
A$16,500
20
39,279
31,000
A$13,750
3
98,847
114,043
Sizzling
2014
A$16,500
74
65,823
52,250
A$16,500
29
61,794
53,500
Fast ‘n’ Famous
2007
A$4,400
0
0
0
A$5,500
0
0
0
Skilled
2012
A$6,600
20
18,617
11,550
A$6,600
0
0
0
Fastnet Rock
2005
Private
79
307,712 262,500
A$0
46
318,599
270,000
Smart Missile
2012
A$22,000
98
77,387
61,500
A$22,000
56
86,073
77,483
Ferlax
2014
NZ$7,000
24
24,880
20,214
NZ$7,000
4
19,043
16,308
Snitzel
2006
A$88,000
111
375,752 302,000
A$110,000
40
447,762
390,000
Fighting Sun
2014
A$13,750
42
63,661
63,000
A$13,750
12
74,310
52,500
So You Think
2012
A$49,500
74
123,792 105,000
A$49,500
38
91,951
88,000
Fiorente
2014
A$17,600
49
53,867
45,000
A$17,600
1
85,000
127,500
Spirit of Boom
2014
A$11,000
62
40,273
28,000
A$11,000
15
184,000
170,000
Foxwedge
2012
A$27,500
70
81,064
62,500
A$22,000
32
113,051
100,000
Squamosa
2013
A$6,600
3
18,000
26,500
A$6,600
0
0
0
Glass Harmonium
2013
A$6,600
5
38,280
30,200
A$6,600
0
0
0
Star Witness
2011
A$22,000
71
77,686
60,250
A$22,000
44
87,875
67,000
God’s Own
2006
A$4,400
0
0
0
A$3,300
0
0
0
Starcraft
2006
A$9,900
12
64,416
60,000
A$6,600
1
340,000
510,000
Good Journey
2003
A$8,800
12
28,458
18,500
A$11,000
0
0
0
Starspangledbanner
2011
A$44,000
19
82,315
70,000
A$24,750
6
125,500
60,000
Hallowed Crown
2015
A$33,000
0
0
0
A$27,500
19
75,471
56,000
Statue Of Liberty
2004
A$11,000
16
21,062
15,500
A$11,000
0
0
0
Hampton Court
2015
A$8,800
0
0
0
A$8,800
2
32,500
30,000
Stratum
2006
A$33,000
36
136,702 107,500
A$22,000
22
86,349
77,750
Helmet
2012
A$33,000
40
48,721
40,200
A$16,500
4
94,651
74,000
Street Boss
2009
A$11,000
20
70,275
51,750
A$27,500
9
108,111
110,000
Hidden Dragon
2006
A$5,500
5
13,400
12,500
A$5,500
0
0
0
Stryker
2011
A$11,000
22
25,227
16,500
A$11,000
1
45,000
67,500
Hinchinbrook
2011
A$16,500
73
105,346
92,500
A$38,500
49
129,163
127,500
Super Easy
2013
NZ$7,500
20
30,356
15,362
NZ$7,500
8
58,581
65,687
Holy Roman Emperor
2007
A$22,000
0
0
0
A$9,900
10
106,865
115,000
Tapit
2005
-
3
433,333 450,000
0
2
307,500
135,000
Husson
2007
A$13,200
17
24,419
23,500
A$13,200
11
71,208
72,500
Tavistock
2010
NZ$15,000
72
112,448
82,406
NZ$65,000
78
135,308
77,013
Hussonet
1994
A$0
13
60,307
49,000
A$0
0
0
0
Testa Rossa
2001
A$19,800
26
61,125
41,000
A$16,500
7
47,142
47,500
I Am Invincible
2010
A$55,000
116
258,063 207,500
A$55,000
52
418,427
385,000
The Brothers War
2015
A$11,000
0
0
0
A$9,900
3
66,666
90,000
Ilovethiscity
2012
A$6,600
5
17,500
21,000
A$6,600
0
0
0
The Factor
2013
A$16,500
49
57,231
53,200
A$16,500
15
44,766
52,000
Into Mischief
2009
-
1
50,000
75,000
0
0
0
0
The Wow Signal
2015
A$15,000
0
0
0
A$15,000
2
72,500
97,500
Jimmy Creed
2014
A$11,000
0
0
0
A$8,800
0
0
0
Time for War
2015
A$11,000
0
0
0
A$11,000
14
107,892
97,500
Jungle Ruler
2013
A$2,750
1
5,500
8,250
A$2,750
0
0
0
Toorak Toff
2012
A$16,500
21
20,452
11,200
A$8,800
1
14,000
21,000
Kaphero
2009
A$4,400
0
0
0
A$4,400
0
0
0
Toronado
2015
A$22,000
0
0
0
A$22,000
22
67,056
57,362
Keep The Faith
2006
A$4,400
0
0
0
A$3,300
0
0
0
Trusting
2012
A$11,000
3
13,666
13,000
A$0
3
76,666
115,000
Kuroshio
2014
A$8,800
25
36,780
38,000
A$8,800
1
90,000
135,000
Turffontein
2010
A$11,000
15
56,333
49,500
A$11,000
1
80,000
120,000
Lonhro
2004
A$88,000
19
196,582 252,500
A$88,000
5
309,228
417,500
Uncle Mo
2012
A$16,500
21
54,434
47,500
A$16,500
18
75,833
64,250
Lucas Cranach
2013
A$5,500
4
34,000
32,500
A$5,500
0
0
0
Unencumbered
2014
A$13,200
40
49,885
40,929
A$13,200
12
53,206
43,250
Magic Albert
2002
A$11,000
9
46,444
29,000
A$8,800
3
83,000
37,000
Verrazano
2015
A$13,750
0
0
0
0
8
68,062
67,500
Magnus
2008
A$17,500
47
51,776
30,500
A$17,500
14
80,928
83,500
Wandjina
2015
A$33,000
0
0
0
A$27,500
36
104,822
107,500
Makfi
2011
NZ$17,500
14
67,968
55,830
NZ$25,000
16
102,849
99,664
War
2014
A$6,600
16
30,781
19,000
A$6,600
2
4,500
4,500
Malibu Moon
2000
-
2
32,500
22,500
0
0
0
0
Warhorse
2015
A$7,700
0
0
0
A$7,700
1
45,000
67,500
Manhattan Rain
2010
A$16,500
22
69,863
41,500
A$16,500
9
82,222
80,000
Warrior’s Reward
2011
A$13,750
1
43,000
64,500
A$11,000
0
0
0
Master of Design
2012
A$15,000
17
16,220
16,000
A$15,000
2
9,000
13,500
Whittington
2015
A$8,800
0
0
0
A$8,800
4
30,875
22,750
Mawingo
2014
A$4,400
2
42,250
6,750
A$4,400
11
20,227
23,000
Wordsmith
2009
A$3,000
2
16,000
18,000
A$3,000
11
20,818
21,000
Medaglia d’Oro
2005
A$110,000
56
213,288 126,250
A$110,000
7
154,439
101,073
Written Tycoon
2007
A$19,800
70
169,187 102,500
A$49,500
34
227,314
198,750
Monaco Consul
2011
A$8,800
1
More Than Ready
2001
A$66,000
55
Moshe
2012
A$8,800
17
16,647
15,750
Mossman
2000
A$27,500
33
82,585
61,250
Mulaazem
2013
A$7,700
2
58,750
63,750
A$7,700
1,750
2016 service fee
Sold
2018 average*
2018 median*
Sire
A$16,500
6
112,151
116,000
A$16,500
7
37,071
34,000
A$11,000
0
0
0
A$55,000
37
94,606
76,000
2017 2017 average* median*
Sold
2018 average*
A$11,000
4
42,000
60,000
A$3,300
17
34,411
36,500
54,000
A$11,000
17
93,058
69,000
249,736 207,500
A$71,500
47
240,541
227,500
146,545 100,700
2016 service fee
2018 median*
2,625
A$6,600
2
30,000
30,000
Your Song
2013
A$22,000
44
57,238
44,500
A$16,500
17
73,411
80,000
213,354 156,000
A$66,000
42
190,189
153,000
Zacinto
2012
NZ$4,500
15
39,261
26,952
NZ$10,000
9
105,201
114,160
A$8,800
1
20,000
30,000
Zebedee
2011
A$17,600
0
0
0
A$16,500
5
88,000
105,000
A$16,500
11
52,658
52,500
Zoffany
2012
A$8,800
15
38,966
24,000
A$8,800
19
64,395
70,500
0
0
0
Zoustar
2014
A$44,000
89
179,382 157,000
A$44,000
30
272,440
223,750
anzbloodstocknews.com Thursday, March 1, 2018
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
INGLIS MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE
‘She was just a bloody nice filly’ – a superstar’s journey from sales ring to the track Tim Rowe on the early life and auction, a decade on, of wondermare Black Caviar
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LICKING through the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale catalogue, it was a connection to Group 1-winning sprinter Magnus (Flying Spur) that first drew Peter Moody’s eye to lot 520. The then trainer was looking for new recruits for his Caulfield stable but could never have imagined the impact the Swettenham Stud-consigned Bel Esprit (Royal Academy) filly, who would later be known as Black Caviar, would have on his career and the life of his family. Under Moody’s diligent eye, Black Caviar put together a remarkable undefeated career spanning 25 starts, becoming known simply as ‘The Mare’ as she blasted her way into Australian sporting immortality. When Moody looked at lot 520’s page, he will have seen that the brown filly was the first foal out of Helsinge (Desert Sun), a daughter of another classy sprinting mare, the Group 2 winner Scandinavia (Snippets). Helsinge was also a half-sister to Moody’s 2007 The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) winner Magnus, a son of Flying Spur (Danehill) raced by breeder Robert Crabtree who was retired to stud in 2008 after finishing runner-up in the KrisFlyer International Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) in Singapore and eighth in the King’s Stand
Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot in June of that year. He had finished third in the previous running of the King’s Stand and as coincidence would have it, his retirement came only months after Black Caviar had joined Moody’s stables and begun her early education. Recalling that momentous sale now a decade in the past, Moody said that after having his interest piqued by the Magnus link, it was the powerful frame boasted by Black Caviar during parades at Oaklands Junction that continued the intrigue. “My first attraction was that she was closely related to Magnus, who was a good sprinter I had trained the previous few seasons, and she was a big, strong girl,” Moody says. “She had a couple of faults. She was back in one knee and slightly offset, but only in a small way, and she had a terrific action about her. “She had a very good presence about her, moved well and carried herself well enough that I thought she could overcome her physical faults. She presented well at the sales and was just a bloody nice filly. The fact we paid $210,000 for her, which was considerably more than the average the Bel Esprits were making that year, suggested that I really liked her.” In 2008, when Bel Esprit’s oldest progeny were three-year-olds, Black Caviar was the second most expensive yearling sold by the then Eliza Park Stud-based stallion at $210,000. The most expensive Bel Esprit of that year changed hands at the following Australian Easter Yearling Sale when
Black Caviar signs off an unblemished career with victory number 25 in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in 2013
Freyer Bloodstock went to $460,000 to secure a filly from the Eliza Park Stud draft. By Scandinavia, she was a three-quarter sister to Black Caviar. Helsinge, who died in January 2017, was the second foal out of Scandinavia but never raced. As well as being a half-sister to now Group 1-producing stallion
Magnus, she was a half-sister to Group 2 winner Wilander (Exceed And Excel), Group 2-winning juvenile Scandiva (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed winner Arctic Flight (Flying Spur). “She coped with everything at the sales, which is what you want to see from them, and the rest is history, as they say,” Moody says. It was the late Tim Jones who led Black Caviar through the sales ring, having been a vocal supporter of the yearling throughout her preparation, and Swettenham Stud principal Adam Sangster recalls: Black Caviar captured the imagination of racegoers the world over during her 25-race undefeated career
“Tim was always very complimentary of her and he wanted to put her through the ring, which he did. He always said, ‘Adam, you want to have a look at this filly’.
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ANGSTER said it was an honour to be associated with the champion unbeaten mare, whose statue takes prominence in the Victorian country town of Nagambie near where she was bred. “She was a very powerful unit with a great walk and certainly kept the imagination of the buying bench,” Sangster says. “Troy Corstens was underbidder and he has been a great supporter of Swettenham and the VOBIS scheme and Black Caviar was the glamour girl for that. “In retrospect it was an honour to have her, not knowing how good she was going to be at the time.”
Bred by Gilgai Farm’s Rick Jamieson, Black Caviar was conceived on a $20,000 (including GST) service fee in 2005 and born on 18 August 2006. Reflecting on those early days, Jamieson described her as an intelligent filly who stood out from other foals in a paddock at the farm. “She was always an obvious yearling as she grew out. She was a fairly solid girl,” he says. “The one thing I really liked was her temperament. Most yearlings play and jump and carry on but she was never like that in a paddock. She would just put her head down and eat. “You could see that through her racing career. She was so mild you could put kids on her back. Usually good fillies have got a bit of anger in them, but she wasn’t at all.” That attitude and presence carried through to the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and ultimately saw her exceed her $100,000 reserve.
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anzbloodstocknews.com Thursday, March 1, 2018
Black Caviar’s 22nd success at Royal Ascot in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes
Wins 23 (Flemington) and 24 (Moonee Valley, left) for Black Caviar to the delight of her adoring public
“I had a $100,000 reserve on her and I was surprised she made $210,000, so I was pretty happy about it,” Jamieson says. “When I sell I put it behind me and I’ve never regretted selling her. I’ve had a great run with the family and the owners who bought into the horse have been fabulous. It’s a bloody good story.” To this day Jamieson remains in awe of the way Moody and connections handled Black Caviar’s racing career, which attracted the attention of the non-racing public and mainstream media around the world. Since Black Caviar retired, only Chris Waller with his star mare Winx (Street Cry) can claim to come close to the challenges Moody was faced with while training the unbeaten mare. “I tell you, you can’t understate Peter Moody’s handling of the mare. Really,
you can give credit to Peter for her unbeaten record. The job he did with her was absolutely outstanding,” he says. “I don’t know how he did it with the pressure he was under.”
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LACK CAVIAR’S sire Bel Esprit, who was trained by John Symons from Macedon Lodge, now occupied by Melbourne Cup-winning owner Lloyd Williams, won twice at Group 1 level including the 2002 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). Jamieson believed Helsinge was a good match for the son of Royal Academy (Nijinsky) and sent her to him three times during a breeding career that also saw her visit Casino Prince twice, one of which resulted in the four-time Group 1 winner All Too Hard. “I have a particular model
and I’m a genetic breeder. I thought the mating was right for her. I got a bit of flak for that because some thought Helsinge should have gone to a more obvious commercial stallion,” he says. “Helsinge was a big, strong mare who was a good 16 hands. She was dominant. Where a stallion would normally stamp the type of foal born, she was the one stamping them and everything out of her has been similar.” Jamieson, who has also bred Group 1 winners The Quarterback (Street Boss) and Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Jameka (Myboycharlie) in recent years, has a sister to Black Caviar, the unraced Naturale, in foal to Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) and an unraced sister to All Too Hard among his broodmare band. Named Brigite (Casino Prince), she is in foal to Cable Bay (Invincible Spirit).
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Thursday, March 1, 2018 racingpost.com/bloodstock
From Manfred to Winx... M
anfred, foaled in 1922, was one of the first champions ‘raised and grazed’ on the land now farmed by Coolmore at Jerrys Plains. Manfred won the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, AJC Derby, VRC Derby, Champagne Stakes and Caulfield Stakes amongst a host of top-class races during his illustrious career. The precedent set by Manfred has been followed many times over the years. In recent years, the likes of Vancouver, Catchy, Pride Of Dubai, Inference, Mighty Boss and Pinot have joined our honour roll of Group One-winning graduates and in 2017 another graduate, champion racemare Winx made history by winning her third consecutive Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. It’s something to consider when attending the yearling sales.
• ADELAIDE • AIR FORCE BLUE • AMERICAN PHAROAH • CHOISIR • FASTNET ROCK • NO NAY NEVER • PIERRO • PRIDE OF DUBAI • RUBICK • SO YOU THINK • STARSPANGLEDBANNER • VANCOUVER • Michael Kirwan, Colm Santry, Sebastian Hutch, Paddy Oman, Sam White or Tom Moore. Tel: 02 6576 4200. New Zealand: Gordon Calder Tel:+64 218 41612. www.coolmore.com