International buyers have snapped up the top lots at the 2018 Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale, with lots by Shamexpress (NZ) and Choisir topping the $300,000 mark.
Thai buyer Krit Chittaseni and Waterford Bloodstock bought Lot 16 for $320,000. The Shamexpress gelding is out of black-type American mare D J Lightning (USA) and will be trained in Singapore by Michael Clements.
From a strong American family, he was offered by O'Gorman Racing Stables having clocked the second fastest breeze-up time of 10.11s at Warwick Farm on September 13.
O'Gorman also offered the Choisir colt which was sold to Hong Kong's Victory Trading for $300,000. That colt is out of the speedy mare Tango Express (Success Express {USA}) from the family of Listed winner Tycoon Tango. He went 10.16s at the same Warwick Farm session.
The fastest horse to breeze-up across all four sessions, a Hinchinbrook gelding also from O'Gorman who stopped the clock at 9.81, is headed to Singaporean owner Kiu Den Pau for $200,000.
The Hinchinbrook x La Valeta (NZ) gelding was the fastest horse to breeze across all four sessions
Chittaseni and Waterford also paid $230,000 for a colt by first-season stallion Shooting To Win, offered by Nolen Racing. The dam, Iberian Miss (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) is a half-sister to stakes-placed Plumm out of the stakes-placed mare Madame Plume.
A colt by Toronado (Ire) out of Pasadera (Redoute's Choice), who is part of the family that produced Trapeze Artist, is also destined for Singapore having been bought for $200,000 by Dato Dr Nicholas Ho.
Hong Kong trainer Manfred Mann parted with $240,000 for a Zoustar colt from the family of Lady Dehere (NZ), Oratorio and Sea Siren from Raheen Stud
Colts by Exceed and Excel out of Perfect Hostess (NZ), Deep Field out of Geniema, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) out of La Rumba (NZ) and Exceed and Excel out of Intendment are also headed to Hong Kong after fetching $200,000 or more.
The equal top-priced lot bought by local interests was the filly by Fastnet Rock out of Valadon (Woodman {USA}), making her a half-sister to recent G2 Shannon S. winner Noire.
Offered by Chevaux Bloodstock, her handy pedigree update saw her reach $260,000 to a partnership between Aquis Farm and Rothwell Park.
Mick Price and Aquis Farm combined to buy a colt by the ill-fated Hinchinbrook out of Bateleur (USA), who is from an American family rich with black-type.
Offered by Kenmore Lodge, he went for $260,000 having impressed with the fourth-fastest time at the first Gold Coast breeze-up session of 10.18s.
The Fastnet Rock x Valadon filly sold for $260,000 to a partnership between Aquis Farm and Rothwell Park.
Godolphin sells 21 to raise over $1.3m
The 2018 Gold Coast Spring Racehorse Sale was also held on Tuesday with former Godolphin gelding Siam (Exceed and Excel) topping the sale after going to Singaporean interests for $125,000.
Siam is out of Listed winner Yesterday (Red Ransom {USA}), who is a half-sister to Donna Dior and out of black-type winner Donna Cara, a family that also includes Catbird and Danbird.
He has had 11 starts for two wins and was last seen running a close-up sixth for trainer James Cummings at Warwick Farm last Wednesday.
Barbeque (Helmet), a Flemington winner back in May, who is a half-brother to G3 winner Furnaces, went for $120,000 to David Ellis of Te Akau, while G2 Pago Pago S. winner Souchez (Lonhro) was sold for $95,000.
Catesby (Sharmadal {USA}), a half-brother to Benicio and Romneya, who won last Wednesday at Warwick Farm, was sold to trainer Greg McFarlane for $100,000.
Also going for $100,000 to McFarlane was Dissolute (New Approach {Ire}), the half-brother to Quidnunc.
Godolphin's offering dominated the sale with Inquiry (Exceed and Excel) and Ghostly (Lonhro) both fetching $80,000 while G2 Tulloch S. winner Old North (Lonhro) was snatched up by Riyue Trading of China for $62,500.
All in all Godolphin sold 21 horses for a total of just over $1.33 million, an average of $63,500.
