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Boomer takes home four well-bred yearlings.
Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock who was working on behalf of Hong Kong Jockey Club, went hard on the first day of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Tuesday, taking home four yearlings for a total spend of $2,110,000 - with the most expensive of the quartet coming in the shape of a colt by Exceed And Excel (Danehill), who they purchased for $760,000.
Catalogued as Lot 191 and offered by Willow Park Stud, the colt is the first foal out Group 3-winning mare Serious Satire (More Than Ready).
Serious Satire is out of Group 2 winner Zarzuela (Zabeel), who is herself out of Group 1 winner Star Satire (Volksraad), who also produced Group 2 winner Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) - the dam of Listed winner Satin Slipper (Pierro).
Rounsefell said he had confidence to buy the progeny of Exceed And Excel (Danehill) given how well they do in Hong Kong, headlined by Group 1 winner Mr Stunning.
"Exceed And Excel's progeny have done very well in Hong Kong, the latest of his stars including sprint champion Mr Stunning and up and comer Big Party," said Rounsefell.
"This colt is the first foal out of a very fast Group 3-winning mare, bred on the same cross as Bivouac from one of New Zealand's best families. He's a beautiful scopey colt who will develop into a lovely horse."
The Jockey Club's next most expensive purchase was a colt by Yarraman Park's superstar sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) for $700,000.
Catalogued as Lot 213 and consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, the colt is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Dee Ex Bee (Farhh), who also finished second in the Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f).
"I rated this I Am Invincible colt as high as any I have seen this year," said Rounsefell. "He is an outstanding type from a significant international family.
"I love the way Three Bridges raises their horses in large open paddocks, it's a very natural environment for young horses to lay good bone and muscle tone. I thought he was a special colt and was delighted to secure him."
Another lot headed for Hong Kong was a colt by Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) out of Listed winner Roses 'N' Roses (Broken Vow) - the dam of Group 1 winner and now Spendthrift Farm-based sire Hampton Court (Redoute's Choice). The colt was offered by Milburn Creek and catalogued as Lot 170.
"The Roses 'n Wine colt is a very well balanced, short-coupled horse," said Rounsefell. "He looks fast and is by a promising sire out of a mare who has already produced a Group 1 winner from a strong international family.
"He was raised off Milburn Creek, one of Australia's premium boutique farms who have an excellent graduate record."
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's quartet was completed by a colt by the late Tavistock (Montjeu) - whose exploits in Hong Kong have been advertised by Group 1 winner Werther. The colt was catalogued as Lot 239 and offered by Newgate Farm and was from the family of Group 2 winner Champagne Harmony (Choisir). This is also the family of multiple Group 1-winning mare Bonneval (Makfi).
Rounsefell said he was encouraged with the results on the first day and said the competition was very strong, despite the global problems surrounding the coronavirus.
"Despite what is happening in the world right now with the coronavirus, I think the sale held up tremendously well today," said Rounsefell. "The nice horses that vetted well sold strongly with good competition from people around the globe."
"The standard of the sale was extremely high. After inspections, my shortlist was the largest I've had for any sale this year. Sebastian and his team have done an exceptional job - it is as good an Easter catalogue as I've seen in recent years, they should be congratulated.
"We are trying to buy superior types by proven stallions off the best farms. I think we achieved that with the four purchases today. We are very much looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully purchasing more quality stock."
