Cover image courtey of Inglis
Kulani Park know what it's like to consign a good yearling, having sold the likes of Group 1 winners Zoustar, Black Piranha (Clang) and Once Were Wild (Johannesburg {USA}) over the years.
Buoyed by some strong results at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including a price of $510,000 for a Zoustar colt they bred out of Red Velvet Swing (Star Witness), who cost them only $32,500 as a broodmare a few years back, the Smiths felt ready to take on the responsibility of Arrowfield's selection of youngsters for the Victorian market.
Arrowfield hasn't sold yearlings under its own banner in Melbourne since 2016 but has a great record of putting quality horses through the Sale, including Group 1 winners Hot Snitzel (Snitzel), Snitzerland (Snitzel), Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt) and Australian Racehorse of the Year, Weekend Hussler (Hussonet {USA}).
The nine Arrowfield has chosen to send through the Kulani Park draft - it also has three in the Milburn Creek draft - are by its rising star stallions such as Shalaa (Ire), Maurice (Jpn), Pariah and Dundeel (NZ).
"We have typically just sold our own horses, but I have had a good relationship with the Messaras and they asked if we were willing to do it, which we thought was a good idea as well," Rhys Smith said.
"We have typically just sold our own horses, but I have had a good relationship with the Messaras and they asked if we were willing to do it, which we thought was a good idea as well." - Rhys Smith
"They were sent down to us about 10 weeks ago and so we have been able to prep them, and we consign them on behalf of them."
Smith said the yearlings have done very well on the farm at Goulburn Weir, near Nagambie.
"These horses have come a long way in the prep and we are really happy where they have got to with us," he said.
As well as three by Maurice, two colts and a filly, a trio by Shalaa, two fillies and a colt, a filly by Dundeel and a colt by Pariah in Kulani Park's draft, there is also the lone colt in the Sale by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and a filly by Merchant Navy.
"There is a really good mixture of horses, and it’s a quality mixture too, so that will hopefully help us through the Sale," Smith said.
"They have all got really good pedigrees, and they have created plenty on interest with the buyers here, so we have been very busy."
The Kanaloa factor
The Lord Kanaloa colt, Lot 504, has been especially busy. The sire has achieved greater prominence in Australia through the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa, who is one of the favourites for Saturday's G1 Australian Guineas.
Lot 504 - Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) x Believe Yourself (colt)
This colt has the added bonus of being out of a mare well known to Australian buyers in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Believe Yourself (Sebring), who also finished fourth in the 2014 G1 Golden Slipper S., won by Mossfun (Mossman). She also campaigned with success in Singapore.
Believe Yourself spent two breeding seasons in Japan and returned in 2019 to foal this colt at Arrowfield.
"He's a smashing colt. He looks a really early horse and has got such a good pedigree. The stallion is obviously top-quality and he's been really well received by everybody. He has been flat out, and he's such a good colt and is well put together," Smith said.
Shalaas in demand
The R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and G3 Breeders' Plate winning feats of Shaquero has put young shuttle stallion Shalaa firmly on the radar of buyers, and the three Kulani Park offer by the son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) have also been busy.
"All the Shalaas are very popular with us at the moment. I guess with the stallion doing a good job, but they also seem to be running types of horses," Smith said.
Lot 163, a grey colt, brings an international pedigree on both sides of his page, being out of the stakes-placed French mare Mandistana (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}). That family still has resonance in Australia through multiple Group 1 winner Manighar (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Breeders' Plate winner Khan (Exceed And Excel).
Lot 305 is a Shalaa filly out of Santa Rocks (Fastnet Rock), who is from the family of multiple American Grade 1 hero and successful sire Harlan's Holiday (USA).
The other Shalaa filly, Lot 477, is out of the Group 3 placegetter, Anapine (Anabaa {USA}), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Manapine (Manhattan Rain).
Maurice trio by elite mares
The three yearlings by Maurice are also from very strong families. Lot 527 is a colt out of G1 VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}), while Lot 84 is a filly out of another VRC Oaks winner in Hollow Bullet (Tayasu Tsuyoshi {Jpn}).
Lot 472 is a Maurice colt out of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel), who is another successful Arrowfield graduate from this Sale.
"The Maurices have got a lot of fans here," Smith said. "Everyone you speak to says they’ve got one at home that they like, so that's a really positive sign too."
Smith admits there is a degree of pressure offering such a quality array of horses for a farm like Arrowfield, but is confident his team can given the best chance to find a buyer.
"There is always a bit of pressure, when you take on that responsibility. We're confident we should get the job done for them though," he said.
"Going on what we have seen at the other sales this year, there is a lot to be confident about. There is a lot of demand for horses out there and I can't see why they won’t sell well."
