Rheinwood, based in the Southern Highlands of NSW, has spent the last few years assessing and refreshing its broodmare band and as a result four of its draft for the Gold Coast sale are first foals, with the remaining three, second foals.
"We haven’t had a draft at Magic Millions for the last two years, so we are very excited to get back up to the Gold Coast," Operations Manager Kirsty Willis told TDN AusNZ.
"We're big believers on selecting the right horse for the right sale and we've worked hard on upgrading our broodmare band over the last couple of years. We've purchased some nice young mares that have all had very good foals."
"We are very excited to get back up to the Gold Coast." - Operations Manager, Kirsty Willis
As the year's first sale, the Magic Millions is always a competitive environment for both buyers and sellers. It can be difficult for the smaller operators to get noticed in the marketplace, but Willis has considerable faith in the quality Rheinwood is presenting.
Kirsty Willis is confident in the quality that is being produced at Rheinwood
Pick of the bunch
At the top of her list is Lot 453, the colt by All Too Hard out of Cheyenne Sue (Zizou), who has already produced the stakes winning filly Let Me Sleep On It (Manhattan Rain).
The dam is a half-sister to G1 Coolmore Stud S, winner Headway out of stakes-placed mare Chatelaine (Flying Spur).
But it his physical presence, as much as his pedigree page, which excites Willis.
Lot 453 All Too Hard x Cheyenne Sue
"He is a beautiful animal and he is my pick of the draft. He's settled into prep so well. He licks his feed bowl clean, when he gets out and around the yard, he's so athletic, he moves so well and it helps that the first foal out of the mare has got black type to her name. I'd expect him to be really popular," she said.
"He is a beautiful animal and he is my pick of the draft." - Kirsty Willis
"All Too Hard has stamped him, but he's a bit more refined than some of the All Too Hards I've seen. He's thrown to Mum a bit more in that regard. He's got her athleticism."
Filly set to shine
The lone filly in Rheinwood's draft, Lot 543, by I Am Invincible out of Electric Charge (Charge Forward), is another one who will benefit from the deeds of an older sibling.
Godolphin bought the older half sister by Shooting To Win for $170,000 at the 2018 Classic Sale, and now named Static, she looks an autumn 2-year-old prospect for James Cummings.
Lot 543 I Am Invincible x Electric Charge
"We've heard good things out of the Godolphin stable about her. We were hopeful that she might trial before the sale, but we'll have to see. The Shooting To Wins are already making an impression and we were so pleased she ended up with Godolphin, it’s great for our mare," she said.
"This I Am Invincible filly is one of the nicest horses that we’ve taken to the sale." - Kirsty Willis
"This I Am Invincible filly is one of the nicest horses that we’ve taken to the sale. By the right stallion, and she's also out of a Charge Forward mare, just like Sunlight and the past two Golden Slipper winners, She Will Reign and Estijaab."
Trio of colts by first season sires
Continuing the fresh theme, Rheinwood is offering three colts by first-season sires in Headwater, Kermedec (NZ) and Super One.
The colt by Headwater, Lot 123, is out of She Has Arrived (Domesday), an unraced half sister to stakes-winner Best Yet To Come.
"He's been inspected a few times on the farm and well received by everyone that has seen him," Willis said. "He's a lovely colt. We're very hopeful given the Headwaters sold very well as weanlings, that will continue into the yearling sales."
Lot 123 Headwater x She Has Arrived
Willis said Lot 779, by Kermedec out of Majestic Faith (Denman), who is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Black Minx out of Group 2 winning mare Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}), is another big strong colt.
"He looks to my eye as a horse that will follow in his Dad’s footsteps and get over some ground. With a first-season sire, it’s all a little bit unknown, but he's a beautiful animal and from such a good running family," she said.
"I think buyers at Magic Millions will be pleasantly surprised by the Kermedec’s." - Kirsty Willis
"He has really bloomed over the yearling preparation and I couldn’t be happier with him as we head to the Coast. I think buyers at Magic Millions will be pleasantly surprised by the Kermedec’s."
View Lot 779
Super incentive
Newgate has put up a $250,000 bonus for any buyers of the first crop of Super One at the major sales this season, should any of those horses go on to win either the Magic Millions 2YO Classic or the Inglis 2YO Millennium race in 2020.
Willis said the incentive is another example of the terrific support Newgate is giving the smaller breeders.
"Newgate are really helping small breeders with their incentives." - Kirsty Willis
"Newgate are really helping small breeders with their incentives. They do so much work in promoting their stallions to the market. They do a lot of the hard work creating a real buzz around their stallion’s progeny come sales time," she said.
Super One
"You know when you are sending a mare to one of their stallions that they will back them 100%, supporting and promoting them. That gives you great confidence to send a mare to Newgate."
Willis said Rheinwood's Super One colt, Lot 1057, who is the first foal of Poised Lady (Ferocity) from the family of Given, Green Roller and Ugo Fascolo, should attract plenty of attention.
"He is a really good first foal. He's a beautiful strong individual he just keeps getting better and better the more work he does. He is blossoming," she said.
Lot 1057 Super One x Poised Lady
"I think the Super Ones will have great appeal, given he was such a speed horse. And being by I Am Invincible, if you can't get an I Am Invincible, a Super One might be the next best thing."
A pair of well-grown colts round out the draft with a Lot 917 by Smart Missile from a New Approach mare and Lot 1078 by Deep Field from a Sebring mare.
