Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Written by Oz Wedmore and Lydia Symonds
Each day of the sale, TDN AusNZ will find a 'value buy', where an opportunity has been spotted - even in this hot sale market.
By a former Champion Sire in Yulong Stud’s Written Tycoon, Lot 18 is the first Value Buy of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, the brown filly is the second foal from the Dane Shadow mare Just A Blur. She was secured by Proven Thoroughbreds and O'Dea Hoysted Racing for $200,000.
Just A Blur was a six-time winner who was Listed placed, also placing in a pair of Group 3s. Her first foal was a Spieth (NZ) colt who sold at last year’s edition of this sale for $75,000 and her own dam, Lenswood (Woodman {USA}), is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Northern Drake (Varick {USA}).
Lot 18 - Written Tycoon x Just a Blur (filly) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Proven Thoroughbreds’ Tom Walter was delighted with the purchase, rating her amongst the best of the middle market on Day 1, especially considering the achievements of the dam.
“I think when I discussed it with Dad (Jamie) yesterday (Wednesday), we were a big fan of Just A Blur,” he told TDN AusNZ. “I think her race record probably wasn’t reflective of what a great mare she was. She raced very well over a number of seasons, and a lot of the time the best broodmares are not necessarily Group 1 class but are Listed or Group 3.
“She fit that bill pretty nicely, and it was quite a nice mating of Dane Shadow and Written Tycoon. She’s not your typical leggy, chestnut Written Tycoon, she’s got a bit more substance. We actually had her valued at $220,000 and bidding stalled at about $150,000.
Tom Walter of Proven Thoroughbreds | Image courtesy of Proven Thoroughbreds
“We thought, ‘Hang on,’ the hammer was literally up at $160,000 and then it went to $180,000 and Dad thought we should deliver the knockout blow and we went straight to $200,000.”
Despite being purchased in conjunction with trainers Stephen O’Dea and Matthew Hoystead, Walter indicated that part of her appeal is in her BOBS eligibility.
“...although she’s going to Stephen O’Dea and Matthew Hoystead in Queensland, they’ve got a great strike rate in ducking over the border and picking up some BOBS money.
“...they’ve (Stephen O’Dea and Matthew Hoystead) got a great strike rate in ducking over the border and picking up some BOBS money.” - Tom Walter
“Our first two purchases today were both from Three Bridges, so we’ve obviously got some trust in them. They’re one of the few vendors who are embracing this full transparency outlook with Kick (Sales Platform), which I think can only be a good thing.
“It’s really good that the likes of Three Bridges, Bhima and Cambridge are embracing this full transparency approach. They’ve got the QR code you can scan for scoping, x-rays, full veterinary history.
“Although it probably means that a couple might sell for less than they’d hoped, in the long-run you’re building a great rapport with your buyers and giving them confidence because you know what you're getting. If all the vendors get on that same page then the industry as a whole will benefit no doubt. That’s not to say that’s the only reason we bought this one, but it certainly helps as a syndicator when you’re trying to sell shares.”
