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Mark Player purchased a colt by Woodside Park’s lynchpin sire Written Tycoon for $400,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Mark Player of International Thoroughbred Solutions is hoping lightning can strike twice after he purchased a colt by Woodside Park's lynchpin sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) for $400,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on Monday. 

Player, who paired up with Rob Roulston Bloodstock on Monday, purchased another son of Written Tycoon - now named Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) - for $675,000 at last year's edition of the sale and he made a winning debut in the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) in February and Player said he saw similarities between this colt and Ole Kirk. 

"He is that athletic type that you would think would be fast," said Player. "I was lucky enough to buy a colt by Written Tycoon here last year, who now races as Ole Kirk and hopefully lightning can strike twice. 

"The similarity between the two is that they were both really good athletes and extremely good walkers, who look like they will progress really well."

Catalogued as Lot 313 and offered by Blue Gum Farm, the colt is the first foal out of Group 3 winner Miss Promiscuity (Magnus). 

Further back this is the same family as dual Group 3 winner Amtrak (Flying Spur), Listed winner Furio (Testa Rossa) and Group 2 winner Exploding Wonder (Francis Bacon). 

Player said he thought the colt stood out among a very high-class group of horses at the sale and said they would make a decision on a trainer at a later date. 

"He was a lovely colt from a really good breeder in Robert Crabtree and he was prepared very well by Blue Gum," said Player. "Written Tycoon is a very good stallion and the mare was a very good racemare who was trained early on by Peter Moody. 

"I thought he stood out here amongst a very good draft of horses at the sale. He will stay in Australia and we will sort out all the partners and get that finalised and then make a decision on the trainer. He was a first foal so he was a very neat colt and reminded me of a Capitalist type of colt, short-coupled, very athletic terrific walk and very strong chestnut colour. 

"He was a really good mover who had a bit of presence about him and every time I saw him he just seemed to be doing the right things. I'm not sure who the competition was, but hopefully they are good judges and hopefully we will come out of it looking like we've got the right horse and I'm pretty confident that we have."

Echoing the thoughts of Shane McGrath on Sunday, Player said that when the good colts enter the ring you have to be prepared to pay for them and was not surprised to have to fork out $400,000 for the youngster.  

"When those sorts of colts go in the ring you know you're going to have to go pretty hard to get them," said Player. "There was a good team of people behind it and Rob Roulston and I really loved him and he's a terrific judge and has been for a long time, so when we are on the same horse we have a bit of luck and hopefully we will be this time."

Player landed the knockout blow to get rid of his competition by jumping straight from $360,000 to the winning bid of $400,000 and he said he felt he had to make the bold move given the strong competition at this year's sale. 

"You do wonder when you're going to get a turn (to bid)," said Player. "You have to be prominent with where you stand so you can get the eye of the auctioneer or one of the bid spotters. There is just really competition. 

"The optimism surrounding the industry is great - we are in great times for racing. We have got great infrastructure and great people involved in the industry at the moment and with the strong prize-money, racing and breeding is in a really good place in Australia."