Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
The spring carnival majors have been completed for 2023 as the industry turns its focus to the forthcoming yearling sales season and autumn carnivals. There were some significant updates over the spring carnival for yearlings set to be sold in 2024.
The Thoroughbred Report looked at some of those to receive pedigree updates at the first major sale of the Australasian sales calendar - the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 2024 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is the biggest ever, with a blockbuster 1468 lots on offer.
Kiwi superstar's half-brother for sale
Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was already a superstar in New Zealand and gave Sydney a taste of her talent with a narrow second in the G1 Canterbury S. behind the brilliant Artorius, a sire son of Flying Artie, and then travelling to Melbourne to score the G1 William Reid S.
However, it would be hard not to crown the Te Akau Racing-owned daughter of I Am Invincible queen of the spring carnival after dominating the sprinter division in Melbourne. Imperatriz started her spring preparation in the G2 McEwen S. and added the G1 Moir S., the G1 Manikato S. and the G1 Champions Sprint to her impressive haul.
Imperatriz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The victories added further lustre to the pedigree page of Lot 477, a colt by the Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and a half-brother to the champion mare. Lot 477, like Imperatriz, will be offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds on the Gold Coast.
Timely updates
Another lot to receive a valuable and timely update is Lot 74, a colt by Coolmore’s Churchill (Ire), to be offered by South Australia’s Mill Park Stud, is a full brother to Attrition.
The 4-year-old entire, trained by Mitch Freedman, had always shown talent since his debut and placed in the G1 Australian Guineas in the autumn. Returning as a 4-year-old, Attrition was placed in the G2 Feehan S. before putting it all together to win the G1 Toorak H.
Lot 74, full brother to Attrition (pictured) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Out of the the French Deputy (USA) mare Queen’s Kiss, Attrition's full brother too will be offered by Mill Park Stud, the former at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Griff’s (Trapeze Artist) victory in the sire-making G1 Caulfield Guineas significantly boosted his half-brother's page. The colt is to be offered as Lot 521 through Amarina Farm and is by North Pacific.
The good-looking and talented son of Brazen Beau stands at Newgate Farm, who launched the promising career of Tassort, also a son of Brazen Beau.
Although Griff’s spring campaign highlight was the G1 Caulfield Guineas, it wasn’t his only success; he also won the G2 Bill Stutt S. and the Listed Exford Plate, underlining his quality.
Lot 521 is the third foal from Chateau Griffo, a daughter of Sebring. She won over 1000 metres and was placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies). Chateau Griffo’s two foals to race have been winners. Her first foal, a gelding by Capitalist named Social Conscience, has won three races.
Another Magic Millions yearling to receive a valuable update is Lot 1005, an October-born filly by Lyndhurst Stud Farm’s Better Than Ready. The filly consigned by Yarramalong Farm is a full sister to the handsome Chrysaor.
The 3-year-old colt raced by Star Thoroughbreds won the $1 million G2 Callander-Presnell S. in the spring. Yarramalong Farm arguably knows the progeny of New Wings (Choisir), having consigned Chrysaor at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, where he sold to Lionrock Bloodstock and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $60,000.
International taste
Adding an international element to Magic Millions’ Bundall complex is Lot 147, to be offered by Coolmore Stud. The colt is by the operation’s outstanding galloper and sire Camelot (GB) and is the seventh foal from Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock).
Sea Siren won seven races, in which the G1 Manikato S., the G1 Doomben 10,000, and the G1 BTC Cup were among them. She also won the Listed Belgrave S. in Ireland and placed in two Group 3 events at the Curragh, enough to be awarded the Champion Older Female Sprinter in Ireland in 2013.
Sea Siren when racing | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Sea Siren has proved a brilliant producer; her 2020 foal, Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), lit up the tracks in 2023. The daughter of Galileo (Ire) has won five races, including the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and the G1 Prix Vermeille in 2023.
Warm Heart had also secured victories in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot and the Listed Fillies Trial S. at Newbury; she has also placed in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Turf.
