3 minute read

$1.1 Deep Impact colt becomes trainers first purchase.

Ciaron Maher left it until day two to make his first purchase at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but he certainly made his presence felt when he finally got his name on the buyers sheet going to $1.1 million for a colt by the late Japanese champion sire Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) from the Segenhoe Stud draft - the fifth seven figure lot of the sale. 

Catalogued as Lot 319, the colt is the fourth foal out of South African Grade 1 winner Amanee (Pivotal). 

Amanee herself is out of French Listed winner Moon Is Up (Woodman) - who is a three-quarter-sister to Group 1 winner and champion sire Kingmambo (Mr Prospector), meanwhile she is also the grandam of Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr 1, 8f) winner Karakonite (Bernstein) and Listed-winning duo Bottega (Mineshaft) and Sunday Sunrise (Lemon Drop Kid). 

Due to travel restrictions surrounding the coronavirus, Maher was unable to get round the farms in the Hunter Valley, so the inspections were carried out by his assistant trainer Annabel Neasham and bloodstock manager Will Bourne and Bourne said the colt oozed quality. 

"He was just a very, very good walker and from a great farm in Segenhoe," said Bourne to Racing & Sports Bloodstock.

"He is obviously by one of the well-renowned sires in Deep Impact, he was a lovely type and very well put together. But what Ciaron always looks for is a good walk and he had that, a lovely action both in front and behind."

Bourne said, given the current economic uncertainty, he had expected to get the colt for less than they paid and was surprised how strong the sale had been. 

"I thought we paid what we would have paid three months ago for the colt, so I thought we would get some sort of discount - but that didn't happen," said Bourne. "With these quality horses seem to be immune to the economy.

"The sale has been so strong. It really has surprised me how strong it has been, given what is going on in the world at the moment."

Segenhoe’s general manager Peter O’Brien was over the moon with the result, but admitted he was surprised to see Maher buy the colt. 

“It was a complete surprise to see Ciaron buy him, I thought perhaps a Japanese bidder would get him,” said O’Brien. “I did think there would be three or four people on him.”

“Katsumi Yoshida was the underbidder, I believe. It's interesting. I love the horse and very much love the stallion, but for Australians who aren't used to seeing Japanese yearlings, they are much lighter and longer and not as heavy as Australian horses.”

O’Brien also said the colt divided opinions of buyers during the farm inspections. 

“He was a polarising horse physically, but Ciaron has spent a lot of time in Japan and he knows them.

“I showed a video to a friend of mine John McCormick, who does a lot of business in Japan as well as Harry Sweeney and they both said that colt was exactly the right type of Deep Impact. He had a beautiful action.”

It didn't take long for Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, to make his second purchase of the week, pairing up with Phoenix Thoroughbreds for a filly by Pierro (Lonhro). 

Catalogued as Lot 349, the yearling is out of Bellevue Girl (Exceed And Excel), making her a sister to Group 3 winner Bellevue Hill.

The trainer then added Lot 426  - a filly by So You Think (High Chaparral) from the Tyreel Stud draft - to his portfolio later in the day.