3 minute read

Victoria breeding operation sell three lots.

A filly by Frankel (Galileo) and a colt by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) were the highlight on what proved to be a tough day at the sales for Victorian breeding operation Yulong, as they sold three of the 12 lots they offered. 

The filly by Juddmonte Farms stallion Frankel was purchased by Japanese-based Dr Yamazumi for $500,000, while that was the same price Colm Santry Bloodstock paid for the colt by I Am Invincible a few hours later. 

Catalogued as Lot 6 the daughter of Frankel is out of unraced Shamardal (Giant's Causeway) mare Lake Hamana, who was purchased from the draft of Godolphin by Seamus Mills Bloodstock and Yulong for 210,000gns at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale. 

Lake Hamana herself is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Sixth Sense, while she is also a half-sister to 2017 Prix Saint-Alary (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Sobetsu (Dubawi), who is out of dual Listed winner Lake Toya (Darshaan). 

Further back this is the family of Japanese Grade 1-winning pair Tower Of London (Raven's Pass) and Dee Majesty (Deep Impact) and Dr Yamazumi said those elements of the pedigree made the filly an attractive prospect. 

"There's a very strong Japanese influence through the first three dams especially, the likes of Sobetsu and Sixth Sense and Tower Of London so it's fantastic to be able to buy this filly," said Dr Yamazumi. 

"I tried to buy one from the family a couple of years ago but missed out so it's a great relief and very exciting to be able to secure this beautiful filly. It's a world-class pedigree being by the great Frankel and we liked everything about her."

Yulong sold subsequent Group 2 winner Hungry Heart (Frankel) for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2019 and the nursery's chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said there were similarities between this filly and Hungry Heart. 

"We're really pleased," said Fairgray. "She's a lovely filly who had been popular all week and even prior to that. To get $500,000 for her in this market, we're definitely pleased with that. 

"She's a belter of a filly, she had the size and strength about her and is such a good-moving filly. She was similar to Hungry Heart but probably with a bit more substance to her. She's just a horse who everything was easy for her from the outset.''

Meanwhile, the I Am Invincible colt, who was catalogued as Lot 85, was purchased for a stallion syndicate and will now head into training with Chris Waller. 

"He'll go to Chris Waller as part of our stallion syndicate with him," said Santry. "He's a lovely horse. He was highly recommended by all the team, we all liked him. We're very happy to be taking him. He's a high-quality horse, a strong and mature horse who really should be highly effective as a two-year-old. 

"He's already broken in which is good so he can basically go straight into the Waller system as normal immediately and just see how far he gets with him this first preparation. He's well down the road. 

"It's great to be able to buy a lovely colt from Yulong, they have been great supporters of our stallions and Mr Zhang and his team continues to invest heavily in our industry. Yulong had an extremely high-quality draft at this sale and it's a credit to their team."

The colt is out of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt), who Yulong purchased for a sale-topping $1,350,000 at the 2018 Chairman's Sale Breeding Prospects carrying this foal in utero.

Further back this is the family of Grade 2 winner Chapel Royal (Montbook), Grade 3-winning pair Toorak Affair (Toorak Toff) and Genial (Gate Dancer) and Listed winner Silky Sweep (End Sweep). 

Fairgray said he was happy the colt would be heading to Waller's stable. 

"Another great result under the circumstances and he'll get every opportunity with Chris Waller," said Fairgray. 

"We've got the mare as well so it's positives all round. This colt was from day one the perfect article and he just kept progressing in the right direction. Nothing was ever a problem for him, he's strong and everyone who saw him fell in love with him. 

"He's a beautiful animal and I'm sure the Waller team will get the best out of him.''

Yulong also sold a Pierro (Lonhro) filly to Nat McCall Racing for $200,000, who was catalogued as Lot 59.

The filly is out of Listed-placed Redoute's Choice (Danehill) mare Albaicin, making the filly a three-quarters sister to Group 3 winner Generalife (Lonhro). 

The filly is bred on one of the most sought after crosses in the stud book, with Pierro producing nine stakes winners, headed by three Group 1 winners, when mated to daughters of the late Arrowfield Stud stallion Redoute's Choice. 

Fairgray was quick to praise Inglis for holding the sale amidst the difficult circumstances.

"Everyone has to deal with the current economic circumstances, everyone is in the same boat globally," said Fairgray. 

"It will stay like this a bit longer yet where it's probably a buyers' market at the moment but that said, to get $500,000 for those two horses we're really happy about. It's been great Inglis has been able to even create a marketplace with this live auction, so credit to them.''