Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Prominent Hong Kong owner Bon Ho went to $235,000 for a colt by Maurice (Jpn), Lot 1675, and while the deal was sealed after a period of spirited bidding, it was touch and go until the latter stages on Wednesday.
The Asian connection also served Arrowfield well later in the session when it sold a Snitzel filly, Lot 1687, from a well-performed Japanese family for $230,000.
Acting for Ho at the complex was Magic Millions auctioneer and consultant Clint Donovan, who couldn’t get his client on the phone until the latter stages of bidding.
“When it got to $225,000 I finally managed to get him. Mr Ho loves the Japanese blood and the way that Arrowfield Stud raises these horses,” he said.
“Mr Ho loves the Japanese blood and the way that Arrowfield Stud raises these horses.” – Clint Donovan
Donovan was the eyes and ears on-site for Ho, whose colours were carried to victory in last year’s The Everest by Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), and was able to give a glowing report card on the son of Maurice.
“He is just an absolute cracker and with a bit of a difference. He is different from the traditional Japanese blood in that he has more of a colonial style about him and it was great to secure him for Mr Ho,” Donovan said.
The colt is a brother to the Mark Newnham-trained Rocstar Boy, who has placed during a brief 2-year-old campaign.
“He’s showing a lot of promise and the mare could gallop a bit. This one will go to Matt Vella at Glenn Haven Lodge to be broken in and then be taken on from there,” Donovan said.
The colt is out of Arleigh (Smart Missile), who had a colt by Real Steel (Jpn) last year and is in foal to Showtime, and she won two sprint events.
The headline act in the pedigree is the third dam Alinghi (Encosta De Lago), an outstanding performer who claimed four Group 1 titles during her career, and it's also the family of the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) winner, G1 Blue Diamond S. placegetter and sire Beneteau.
Snitzel delivers
Arrowfield Stud enjoyed another strong result with a Snitzel filly, Lot 1687, who was purchased by Sunshine Coast trainer Nat McCall for $230,000.
The youngster had failed to meet her $250,000 reserve at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and the farm’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer said she had progressed well in the last few months.
“At Easter, there is a plethora of top-class yearlings and here she was one of the stand-outs,” he said. “There was more focus and attention on her.
“We were very happy with the price and she’s a nice, racy filly and we’d expect her to get away and run early.”
The filly is out of the 2-year-old winner Bariloche (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who is a three-quarter sister to the dual Group 3 winner Dia De La Novia (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}) and she has produced Group winners Dreadnoughtus (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Dia De La Madre (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).
“She has got a lot going for her and has got a nice pedigree. We think a fair bit of the mare and she has got a Snitzel filly at foot and is in foal to Pariah,” Freyer said.
