3 minute read

Bahen and McDonald snap up son of Kermadec in Adelaide.

Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald left last week's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale with six yearlings in tow for a total outlay of $1,045,000 and on Tuesday he continued his spending spree when he paired up with Justin Bahen to purchase a colt by Darley first-season sire Kermadec (Teofilo).  

McDonald revealed at the Melbourne sale he was preparing to go into a training partnership and it has since been mooted he is in talks to enter a partnership with former trainer Tim Martin, who is famed for training Exceed And Excel (Danehill) to a pair of Group 1 victories. 

Offered by Squillani Park Thoroughbreds as Lot 211, the colt is the eighth foal out of Belong To Me (Danzig) mare Bay Breeze, whose progeny includes Incognitus Stakes (Listed, 1100m) winner Falcool (Falvelon) and Listed-placed I'm Cool (Falvelon). 

Further back this is family of Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Toulouse Lautrec (Danewin) and Listed scorer Fluoro (Rory's Jester).

Kermadec is the sire of one winner so far, and Bahen, who out-battled local trainer Will Clarken to secure the colt, said he was a fan of the stallion and has been hearing good reports from trainers who have them in their stable.  

"I love the stallion. I bought him for a Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald who came over and I showed him the list and he fell in love with the horse," said Bahen. "For me, the horse looks a lot like his dad - he is a really good colour of horse, really proud head on him, a beautiful eye on him and plenty of bone. But he also had a great temperament and handled the sale well. 

"Importantly, the dam has had five runners for five winners, including a stakes winner and I think she gets a good big upgrade going to Kermadec, I have been hearing really good things about the stallion from trainers who have them in their yard."

Squillani Park sold four yearlings on Monday for an aggregate of $350,000 and Kerrie van Tijn said she was over the moon with the result and had not expected the colt to make that figure. 

"It's just fantastic, it's absolutely brilliant. It definitely exceeded our expectations and we are thrilled to bits," van Tijn said.

"He spent more time out of his box than in it over the past few days. He was extremely popular and he sold himself. He's a nice colt. He is impressive to look at from a good family, so there wasn't a lot not to like about him."