3 minute read

Powerhouse breeding operation go to $1,500,000 for Sledmere Stud-consigned yearling.

The progeny of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) have made a splash at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year and Coolmore's Tom Magnier dipped his toe into the lucrative pool when he paid $1,500,000 for a colt by the now pensioned Arrowfield Stud stallion on Friday. 

Catalogued as Lot 811 and consigned by Treen and Royston Murphy's Sledmere Stud, the colt is the first foal out of the unraced I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) mare Soleil Brulant, who was bought by RIFA Mustang for $180,000 at the 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is herself a half-sister Listed winner Harlem River (Fastnet Rock).

Further back this is the family of Group 3 scorer Hot As Hell (County) and Listed-winning duo Flaming Hot (County) and Craig's Dragon (Catbird). 

Also featured on the page is dual Group 1 winner In Her Time (Time Thief) and the three-time winning mare Sin Sin Sin (Fantastic Light), dam of 2019 Everest (1200m) winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick), who now stands at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley. 

Magnier said the Yes Yes Yes connection was a major upside to the yearling and was happy to be able to secure the colt off Sledmere, who Coolmore rate as a top-class nursery. 

"This is a great family and he was a great individual," said Magnier. "He comes from one of the top farms in Sledmere and their yearlings have looked incredible this week. Royston and Treen are great breeders and we have bought horses there before and had success and we are back to the well again with Sledmere. Hopefully we will get a bit of luck. 

"He was a lovely colt and all the team liked him. He will go to Chris and hopefully he will have a runner in the race next year. 

"With Yes Yes Yes on the page it is a family we know very well and the support he got at stud this year and what is going to happen in that family is only going to get bigger. We are very fortunate to get this colt and there are some great friends in this colt."

Magnier was also vehement in his praise for Magic Millions and was quick to congratulate the auction house for how they have weathered the difficult times. 

"Fair play to Magic Millions, they really have got everyone here this week and you see what is going on around the world, but it is amazing what is happening in Australia and we are delighted to be a part of it," said Magnier.  

"We are in the game trying to make stallions and these are popular horses and we know we have to try and find the best types around."

The sale of the colt was the highlight of a successful week so far for Sledmere who have sold all 24 of the yearlings for an aggregate $6,315,000 at an average of $263,125 and Royston Murphy told Racing & Sports he thought he was the best colt the farm has ever offered at Magic Millions. 

"It goes without saying he was obviously a lovely type," said Murphy who sold the colt on behalf of RIFA Mustang. "He is the nicest colt I have taken to Magic Millions, he was just a standout for us. 

"It was a nervous wait but we are delighted to get him through the ring and we are delighted he has gone to Coolmore and they will give him every opportunity, which is obviously the main thing."

Murphy said it gave his team a lot of confidence when Coolmore put their faith in the product they offer. 

"Those horses obviously have a few bidders on them, but Coolmore are a strong team and when they find a horse they like they tend to go for it," said Murphy. "It is good for us to see people trust what you are doing and when people are bidding on and buying your horses it gives you confidence that you are doing the right thing."