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James Harron pays $1.1 million for Blue Gum-consigned colt

A colt by Arrowfield Stud-based sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) created early fireworks at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday as James Harron fought off stiff competition from Coolmore to secure the Blue Gum-consigned youngster for $1.1 million, with the price making the colt the second most expensive horse ever sold at public auction in Victoria. 

Catalogued as Lot 70 and bred Robert Crabtree, the colt is the third living foal out of 2009 Gimcrack Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Gybe (Fastnet Rock), who is herself a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Anabandana (Anabaa) and was trained by David Hayes for Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm Syndicate. 

The colt’s third dam is Lakab (Manila) who produced Grade 3 winner Hessonite (Freud) and stakes-winning pair Roanoke (Danehill) and European Rose (Nureyev), while she also produced Nureyev’s Girl (Nureyev). 

Nureyev’s Girl is the dam of Group 2 winner Hardham (Redoute’s Choice) and 2010 New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice) - the dam of Japanese Grade 3 scorer Satono Arthur (Deep Impact). 

Harron confirmed the colt would head into training with Anthony and Sam Freedman. 

“He’s a top-quality colt. His mother Gybe was very talented and obviously Written Tycoon is doing an amazing job,’’ Harron said.

“I thought he was a million dollar horse every day of the week from what we’ve seen this year. He was always going to demand a lot of attention.

“It’s very difficult to breed that type of horse, out of a Gimcrack winner by Fastnet Rock, off a really good breeder and farm, by Written Tycoon who’s doing an amazing job.

“He’s a horse we really loved and were really keen to take home.’’

Blue Gum’s Phil Campbell couldn’t hold back the tears when auctioneer and close friend Simon Vivian bought the gavel down on the striking colt.

“It’s a dream result. It hasn’t sunk in at all yet. We just sold a horse for $1m at Inglis Premier. It’s quite amazing really,’’ an emotional Campbell said.

“Simon Vivian and I worked really hard to get this horse to Inglis Premier because we honestly believed he may have been able to achieve a result not dissimilar to what he has.

“I’m rapt for Rob and Sylvie (Crabtree). And to the guys at our farm who all prepped the horse, it’s just amazing. I can’t wait to get back down there and to celebrate with them.’’

Crabtree was equally delighted with the result: “I was looking at Phil Campbell in the vendor box thinking ‘you deserve this, you and your team have done a great job’…it all came together like a fairytale.

“Inglis are really presenting themselves at the top level…it’s great, we know we can bring our top horses here to a top sale and expect a top result, and get it.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and this is just fabulous, a truly great result for so many people.’’

Blue Gum finished the day as leading vendor by aggregate selling 13 horses for a gross of $3,040,000 at an average of $233,846. 

The Arrowfield Stud-based Written Tycoon enjoyed a lucrative day in the sales ring and finished the day as the leading sire by average (with three or more lots sold) and aggregate, with six of his progeny selling for total receipts of $2,430,000 at an average of $405,000. He stood for a career high fee of $110,000 (inc GST) in 2018 at Woodside Park. So far in 2021 Written Tycoon has seen 45 yearlings sell for $14,946,299 at an average of $332,539 and two lots have now sold for seven figures with Sunday’s sale topper joining the colt sold by Emirates Park to Spendthrift Australia for $1,200,000 at the Gold Coast. 

The yearling was one of two lots purchased by Harron on day one at the sale, with the other being by Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon), who he paid Northmore Thoroughbreds $340,000 for. 

Catalogued as Lot 63, the colt is out of unplaced Starspangledbanner (Choisir) mare Grand Gesture, who is herself a half-sister to three-time winner Cool ‘N’ Sassy (Testa Rossa) - the dam of Group 1 winner Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel), who will stand his first season at Newhaven Park this spring. 

The colt’s third dam is Group 2 scorer Tennessee Morn (Bletchingly) - the dam of dual Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Magnus) and Listed winner Tennessee Midnight (Danehill). 

Tennessee Midnight is the dam of Group 1 scorer Aloha (Encosta De Lago), who in turn produced Group 2 scorer Libertini (I Am Invincible). 

Further back this is the same pedigree as Group 1 winner Seabrook (Hinchinbrook). 

The second crop of Newgate Farm’s Capitalist has been particularly sought after in 2021 and on Sunday he had five lots sell for $975,000 at an average of $195,000.