Redoute’s Choice colt brings seven figures at Magic
Millions
The morale booster the Australian industry needs in its post-EI recovery phase
was delivered with the first seven-figure horse of the 2008 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Yearling Sale during
Tuesday’s second session at the
Gold Coast Sales Complex. Dean Watt of Dynamic Syndications outstayed three
other participants to secure a Redoute’s Choice colt who is a half-brother to Cox
Plate (Aus-G1) winner and freshman sire Savabeel (Zabeel) for A$1 million,
heading another solid day of trading. The seven-figure colt hailed from the
draft of Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud.
Tuesday’s topper was produced by the top race mare Savannah Success. The
colt’s successful half-brother, Savabeel, was himself a A$400,000 purchase at the 2003
renewal of this sale by trainer Graeme Rogerson and syndicated by Watt before
the pair’s well-publicized and acrimonious parting. Rogerson had trained the
dual Group 1-winning dam Savannah Success and gave A$1.55 million for Arlington
(Red Ransom), younger brother of Savabeel, in 2006. That colt has recorded
two stakes-placings.
“This was the horse we wanted from the very
beginning; I was involved in Savabeel and we liked Arlington, but did not value
him as highly,” Watt said. “He is nothing at all like Savabeel; he has thrown
directly to the mare — he is a lot like (broodmare sire) Success Express.”
Watt
added the colt’s page ultimately determined the purchase price.
“The Danehill–Success Express cross has produced Excites and Gold Edition, and they are both Group 1 winners,” Watt said. “Even if this horse never
wins a race he represents outstanding value in a limitless blue sky market for
stallions; this horse is recession-proof and he is from arguably one of the best
working female families in the stud book.”
While Watt admitted to being
sentimental about the colt due to his connection Savabeel, he added that
veterinarian Tim Roberts “took the emotion out,” explaining, “It doesn’t matter how much we love the horse, if Tim doesn’t give him the stamp of approval we
don’t bid. Tim has looked at 78 sets of X-rays for us. I am also very confident
buying a horse from Gerry (Harvey, of Baramul Stud). Gerry is a realist, his
investment is great for the racing industry, and the horses are raised
naturally, they are quality horses with good bone.”
Watt said
Melbourne-based executive recruitment company owner Bill Vlahos, who was among
purchasers of Pillar of Hercules (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) for A$1.8
million last spring, would take 25 percent of the colt and a 30 percent share
would be syndicated to owners including Bill Benson’s Emerald Thoroughbreds.
Within an hour, Watt further confirmed that Harvey had bought back a 25 percent
interest in the colt. Asked if he thought the colt would be an early
two-year-old, Watt said he envisaged pointing toward the 1,200-meter Golden
Slipper (Aus-G1) or Sires Produce S. (Aus-G1) over 1,400 meters.
Principal Nathan Tinkler was absent, but that has not stopped fledgling Patinack
Farm purchasing with near monotonous regularity. Representative Roger
Langley, flanked by trainer Anthony Cummings, displayed relentless stamina
to acquire 27 horses for A$7.5 million. Among their more expensive acquisitions
was an A$800,000 colt by Redoute’s Choice out of the Timber Country mare
Redwood, herself a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Lotteria (Redoute’s
Choice). The colt, offered by Baramul Stud, is the second foal from
Redwood, a daughter of Group-1 placed Rose Reward (Sir Tristram).
“He
is a quality horse with size and scope, from a proven family,” Langley said.
“This is one of the best colts in the sale and he will be trained by Gai
Waterhouse, who knows the family well. She says it is an exciting opportunity to
build this colt into an exciting racehorse, and, with a bit of luck, into a
stallion prospect.”
Langley also signed for a A$725,000 Redoute’s Choice filly out of Strawberry
Girl offered by Strawberry Hill Stud. The filly is a half-sister to four
winners.
Rob Ferguson, Magic Millions co-owner and breeder: “We have got a lot more
horses to sell, and at the moment the average is down and the quantity is up,
but we are in the business of selling people horses and given the increased
numbers, the sale is moving along well, on par with our expectations.”