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Co-trainers purchase sister to star filly Loving Gaby for $1.2 million.
The sister to star filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) was one of the headline acts of the third session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Thursday as trainer Ciaron Maher - who trained her sister to - purchased the Kia Ora Stud-consigned filly, with Next Level Syndications, for $1.2 million.
Originally passed in, Maher said there were a few negotiations outside the ring for the filly, but after five minutes of tense haggling they finally came to an agreement for the daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit).
"It wasn't straight-forward, it was a bit awkward at the end there, but we're rapt to be able to get her," Maher told racing.com.
"She's one of the fillies of the sale obviously and hopefully she can be as good as her sister."
Catalogued as Lot 500, the filly is the third foal out of Maastricht (Mastercraftsman), whose first foal was Loving Gaby, who Maher and Eustace sent out to four victoires headed by wins in the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) which saw her accrue $2,281,250 in career prize-money.
Loving Gaby was also placed in a Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m), Black Caviar Lightning (Gr 1, 1000m), Darley Sprint Classic (Gr 1, 1200m), ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at the elite level, while she also finished fourth in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
"Gaby was very big and raw, this horse has probably got a little bit more quality even, a little bit more strength, but same sort of physical; quite tall and plenty of strength to go with it," Maher said.
"Gaby came to hand pretty early for a big filly and this horse seems well structured and if they've got plenty of ability they normally get there (racing) earlier than what you think."
Co-trainer David Eustace echoed the sentiments of his co-trainer and told Racing & Sports Bloodstock there were similarities between the filly and her famous sister.
"I think for me what reminded me most about her and sister is that they had that very similar hip and hind end - she is a very powerful filly," said Eustace.
"I would say she is a little bit more elegant than her sister and slightly more refined, Gaby had that slightly more masculine head.
"Jess who led Gaby through, also led her through and she said they have very similar temperaments. She's a lovely filly and we were obviously delighted to get her."
Maastricht herself won two races and was also placed at Group 2 level and she proved as popular as her progeny when offered in sales ring, with the daughter of Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer) having been purchased by Coolmore and James Bester for $2,250,000 at the 2019 Inglis Chairman's Sale in 2019 and last season she produced a colt by unbeaten American Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy).
Maastricht is a half-sister to 2010 The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Velocitea (Volksraad) as well as Listed scorer Weaponry (Declaration Of War).
Earlier on in the afternoon, Maher and Eustace invested into another family they know well when they purchased a colt by Zoustar (Fastnet Rock) from the Coolmore Stud draft for $600,000.
Catalogued as Lot 462, the son of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) is out of Listed winner Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) - a daughter of Group 2 winner Hips Don't Lie (Stravinsky), who in turn also produced Group 3 winner Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) and the Maher and Eustace-trained Acrobat (Fastnet Rock), who was an impressive winner of this season's Inglis Nursery (RL, 1000m).
Hips Don't Lie herself is a half-sister to the dams of Group 2 winner Splintex (Snitzel) and Group 2 scorer No More Tears (Darci Brahma).
This is a sort after family, who has already proved popular at this year's sale, with Seamus Mills paying $625,000 for an American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) colt out of Ennis Hill on Wednesday.
Eustace said the colt was well-balanced and well-put together, which is in the mould of the rest of his family.
"We know the family well, obviously through Acrobat," said Eustace. "He is a very attractive horse and very well balanced and proportioned. He is just the right size and wasn't clumsy in any way. He had a lovely walk and did everything right.
"That family is obviously a very progressive family that continues to produce good horses. I would say he looks early enough and would be one to kick on with early on in the season."
