High profile bidders join to take home $2.4 million colt
A syndicate of high profile buyers joined to outbid Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum for a stunning Medaglia D’oro x Hoss Amor colt at the Inglis Easter Sale.
A joint partnership consisting of Coolmore, Stonestreet, Aquis and Unifaith secured the prized colt for $2.4 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Wednesday.
Stonestreet Farms representative, John Moynihan, arrived in Sydney last Friday and was immediately attracted to the colt.
“I was looking at another horse in the courtyard and quite a distance away I saw this colt and was like ‘who is that? I’ve got to go see that horse’. He just looks like a really special horse,” the American-based Moynihan said.
He said the group of owners decided to come together instead of butt heads in what would have been a bidding war.
“Everybody came together because everybody wanted the horse so we thought it best to go at it as a team rather than go against each other, knowing he was going to attract a lot of money,” Moynihan said.
“We got lucky. It was a lot to give but we think he’s a special horse and I think you’ve got to step up to get those ones that look like they can be that good.”
The colt was sold by Yarraman Park and vendor Arthur Mitchell knew they produced a top prospect, but he was surprised to see the figure reach $2.4 million.
“He was always very nice but I think he’s bloomed in prep and as every day went on, he was just the perfect yearling, he never put a foot wrong,” Mitchell said.
“He’s just a lovely-natured nice colt but obviously we didn’t think he’d make that sort of money.
“We knew we were bringing a nice colt down.”
Aquis Farm representative, Justin Fung, didn’t say who would train the colt, but did assure it would stay in Australia to race.
“I’d say it is a bit early at this point, we want to get excited about a horse before an auction starts but you don’t want to count your chicks before they hatch so we will have that discussion and give him every opportunity to succeed,” Fung said.
Another high profile yearling sold for $1.7 million to Emirates Park. The Snitzel x Response filly was sold by Arrowfield Stud and John Messara wasn’t surprised to see it fetch top billing.
“She’s a queen and she had it all – pedigree, type, sire, she was worth every penny,” Messara said.
The average price on day two of the sale fetched $354,044 (up from $281,211) and Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said the sale highlighted the health of the industry.
“The diverse interest in racing and breeding across the globe is phenomenally strong at present and that is having a significant impact on overall figures,” Webster said.
“There are investors from all points of the globe at Newmarket this week, many working together to secure their chosen yearlings.
“It really does show the international interest and strength of our industry and that’s an exciting position to be in.”