3 minute read
Segenhoe celebrating lucrative day on the Gold Coast.
With much of the racing world mourning the loss of the great Prince Khalid Abdullah, the indelible mark he has left on the global industry came to the fore at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Wednesday, as Coolmore's Tom Magnier shelled out $1.8 million for a colt by Abdullah's homebred stallion Kingman (Invincible Spirit) - who resides at the centre of his Juddmonte Farms breeding empire - Banstead Manor in Newmarket.
Offered as Lot 322 and consigned by Segenhoe Stud and the farm's general manager Peter O'Brien told Racing & Sports that the result signalled the global appeal created by Abdullah and his colossal breeding operation, which he dedicated much of his life to creating.
"When I woke up this morning and saw the terrible news I was just told to all the team this horse will be a fitting tribute to the global thinking of Prince Khalid and it was," said O'Brien.
"He was clearly looking down on him in the ring and it was particularly poignant considering the man and his global appeal. He was so aware of the importance of global breeding, hence why you can breed to his stallions in southern hemisphere time.
"I've flown to England twice to get some Juddmonte blood, he was the greatest breeder of all time and obviously the horses he raced were testament to him, but those bloodlines for any serious breeder are the ones you want to buy into."
The son of Kingman was bred by John Camilleri on southern hemisphere time and is out of 2012 Gold Coast Guineas (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Florentina (Redoute's Choice), who has already produced stakes-performing pair Villa Carlotta (Street Cry) and Fasano (Longford).
Florentina herself is a half-sister to 2010 WATC Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Gathering (Tale Of The Cat) as well as Listed scorer California Turbo (Fastnet Rock).
In 2019 Florentina's filly by Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) was purchased by Mike Ryan for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for 475,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and O'Brien said all of the credit falls with the colt's breeder John Camilleri, who also bred the mare.
"All the credit has to go to his breeder John Camilleri," said O'Brien. "He wanted to send the horses up there and we have sent horses up there every year. He was foaled at the National Stud under tutelage of Adrian and Philipa O'Brien at Hazelwood Stud to southern hemisphere time and then came down around 12 months ago.
"From the day he arrived with us I could see what Adrian was talking about because he had been singing his praises from the day he was born. He is an absolute bomb proof horse, wonderful mind and a beauty to look at."
Coolmore's Tom Magnier locked horns with James Harron to take the colt home on Wednesday and in 2019 the pair battled for another Segenhoe Stud-consigned yearling - a colt by Redoute's Choice (Danehill) - now better known as dual Group 1 winner King's Legacy and O'Brien said the that the buyer might be different, but he is confident the outcome could be the same.
"The bidding battle was between James Harron and Coolmore and the last time that happened with one of our horses James won and that was King's Legacy, so we're hoping this time we will have a different buyer but the same result," said O'Brien.
Coolmore have been spending big over the first two days of trade and the operation added this colt to their $1.9 million sale-topping Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) they purchased on the first day and like him, he will also head to the stable of Chris Waller.
"Segenhoe always have incredible horses at this sale and we know what John Camilleri can breed, when you see that Fairway Thoroughbred on the horse you have to take it pretty seriously," said Magnier.
"He was a lovely individual and it is no secret to how well Kingman is going at the moment and we have Calyx at the farm by Kingman, who is also going very well. He will go to Chris Waller. He looks sharp and precocious, but the lads liked him a lot so fingers crossed."
Coolmore's Tom Magnier has had four lots knocked down to him for a total aggregate of $4,380,000 at an average of $1,095,000.
Segenhoe enjoyed a lucrative day in the sales ring on Wednesday, selling six yearlings for an aggregate of $4,430,000, while over the two days they have sold nine yearlings for total receipts of $5,190,000 at an average of $576,667.
Another highlight sale for the farm was Lot 257 - a filly by Yarraman Park-based I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), who was purchased by Godolphin for $900,000.
The filly is the second foal out of dual Group 3 winner Eloping (Choisir) and she is herself a three-quarter sister to fellow Group 3 scorer Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner), while further back this is the same family as All Courage (Danzero), who best victory also came at Group 3 level.
O'Brien said the filly had always been a standout from the moment she was born, but he was also particularly satisfied to see the filly head into training with Godolphin trainer James Cummings.
"She was an absolute Queen," said O'Brien. "We bought half of Eloping when she retired off Micheal Christian and from day dot this was a special filly.
"But actually it is just wonderful when you have a young mare and the filly goes to one of the greatest homes, where she will get every chance at Godolphin and particularly with James Cummings training her."
Eloping was bred by Victorian-based Micheal Christian and he expressed his delight at Wednesday's result.
"We bred the mare Eloping and Segenhoe came in when she finished racing and they took a 50 per cent share and they have done an amazing job presenting the filly," Christian told Racing.com.
"She was a beautiful filly and some really great people said some really nice things about her and it is great to see her go to a fantastic home. It will be a really great thrill to watch the filly go round in the Godolphin Blue.
"Eloping and her Trapeze Artist foal are at home in Longwood Thoroughbred farm in Victoria right now, so I will go home and give her a good pat."
Godolphin's Vin Cox told Racing & Sports Bloodstock he was a big admirer or Eloping throughout her career and was happy the operation were able to secure this filly at the sale on Wednesday.
"She is obviously by I Am Invincible, who is a serious sire and in particular a serious sire of fillies, out of a particularly good racemare that I have admired from afar throughout the years," said Cox. "She is a very athletic and quality filly. She was one that took our interest across the board.
"We were beaten on a few nice colts and fillies, so you could sense she was going to make that sort of money and it was just a question of the last man standing and fortunately it was us and we are very happy."
Of the sale itself, Cox said: "This is an extraordinarily strong sale and full credit to Magic Millions for pulling together a sale in these circumstances and this environment. It has had huge participation domestically and internationally. The efforts they have gone to to ensure that anyone can participate at any level and it can bring about these results."
Later on in the afternoon, Segenhoe enjoyed another good result when a colt they offered by Coolmore Stud-based stallion So You Think (High Chaparral) was purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for $800,000.
Catalogued as Lot 328, the colt is the third foal out of unraced Commands (Danehill) mare Fragrance.
Fragrance herself is a daughter of 2002 Sandown Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Dextrous (Quest For Fame), making her a sister to 2010 Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Skilled, while she is also a half-sister to dual Group 2 scorer and now Telemon Thoroughbreds-based sire Sidestep (Exceed And Excel) as well as Ambidexter (Commands), whose best win came in the 2012 edition of the Theo Marks Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m).
Further back the colt's third dam is stakes-placed Many Hands (Handy Proverb) - the grandam of Group 3 winner Proverb (Commands).
O'Brien spent many years working at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley and he rated this colt as one of the best he had ever seen by So You Think.
"So You Think was in the top five stallions in the last year in Australasia and this horse was as good a mover as you will ever see," said O'Brien. "He actually had a lot more precocity than a lot of So You Thinks and I think that is what got everyone's attention.
"I was fortunate to see a lot of the stallion's stock during my time at Coolmore and, in my humble opinion, this is the best I had seen by him.
"Just the same with the filly, it is great to see his colt go to such a good home where he will get every chance with John and George Moore," said O'Brien.
Of the sale so far, O'Brien commented: "Everything here is driven by the prize-money on the racetrack. It is the most profitable country in the world for racehorses and it is proven from that.
"Two days ago four trainers came to me and told me they had never had so many orders in their lives. I think after coronavirus people perhaps have more money in the bank and they think getting involved in racing is a bit of sport."
O'Brien was also quick to heap praise on the efforts of the team at Magic Millions.
"But Magic Millions, particularly Barry Bowditch and Clint Donovan, have done an extraordinary job, not only to get the sale happening, but to get the people here on the complex.
"It is a miraculous effort by them and every breeder should be thankful, because if it wasn't for them we wouldn't be having the sale we are having."
