3 minute read

Buyers’ appetites show no signs of relenting during another session of dynamic trade at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A colt born in the UK to southern hemisphere time by super European sire Kingman (Invincible Spirit) provided the benchmark on another extraordinary day of trade when selling for $1.8 million at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale yesterday.

Even the most bullish industry pundits and stakeholders did not predict, at least publicly, the insatiable appetite shown by buyers during the first two sessions of the seven-day auction, which resulted in four million-dollar lots being sold on Wednesday as the key metrics kept pace with the corresponding figures from the past two years.

While a colt by Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) broke the seven-figure barrier before midday, it was the son of Kingman who stole the show, his sale coming less than 24 hours after it was announced that the stallion's owner-breeder, Juddmonte Farms founder Prince Khalid Abdullah, had died aged 83. 

Segenhoe Stud's Peter O'Brien, who offered the colt on behalf of his breeder Fairway Thoroughbreds' John Camilleri, knew the son of Kingman would be a sales-ring star in Australia. 

"We knew he was going to sell well. We knew every one of the big buyers liked him, but you never expect them to sell that well," O'Brien said. 

"He was a beautiful colt by one of the best sires in the world from a very good racemare. I'm delighted he is going to Coolmore, because he'll get every chance.

"The best colt I thought I'd ever taken to the sales was King's Legacy. James Harron was underbidder on the Kingman and Coolmore was underbidder on King's Legacy as a yearling. The same two people duked it out and I firmly believe this is a Group 1 horse."

The colt is out of Australian Group 3-winning mare Florentina (Redoute's Choice), making him a half-brother to the stakes-placed duo Villa Carlotta (Street Cry) and Fasano (Lonhro). He was offered as Lot 322.

"All credit to John Camilleri – it's a big swing to send a mare up there (to the northern hemisphere). She went to Dubawi first and that filly sold for 475,000gns at Tatts, then she went to Kingman, and came back pregnant to Kingman, and he was at foot," O'Brien said. 

"He was born in England and came here to Australia about 12 months ago. John is a global thinker and he's got paid for it. Coolmore looked at him plenty of times and they complimented him this morning about his temperament. He is absolutely bombproof. He has a great mind and I can't wait to see him at the racetrack."

Coolmore's Tom Magnier, who also took home the $1.9 million Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) colt on day one, has faith in Kingman working in Australia.

"Segenhoe always has incredible horses at this sale, and we know what John Camilleri can breed," Magnier said. 

"You know when you see that Fairway Thoroughbreds brand on the horse, you have to take it pretty seriously. 

"We know everything about how well Kingman is going at the moment. We have got Calyx at the farm by Kingman, who is going well. All the boxes were ticked for us."

O'Brien is equally confident that Kingman can make his mark on Australian racing and breeding.

"The last time I looked he'd had three runners for three winners here in Australia. What I really liked about him was that he had two very good two-year-old winners in Japan two weeks ago and the Kingman's love fast ground.

"As I said, the bloodlines work and they should adore Australian conditions and there's no reason why he can't hit the heights he has worldwide in Australia."

Trainer Chris Waller will be the lucky recipient of the colt.

Meanwhile, Magnier also paid tribute to Abdullah.

"Obviously, it's a big loss to racing. Prince Khalid Abdullah was not only a gentleman, he helped shape our industry," he said. 

"If you look back on some of the greatest breeders of all time, he's definitely one of them. The silks are famous worldwide and he has been one of the best. 

"We have had Danehill and Frankel and Arrogate win in them. It's a huge loss for racing, but he's left a remarkable stamp on the industry."