With the G1 Blue Diamond around the corner followed by the G1 $3 million Golden Slipper, the G1 $1 million ATC Sires’ Produce then the G1 ATC Champagne Stakes it’s little wonder the big buys are starting to race.
That’s why they were purchased, to win the Gr 1s, and today we see a couple of the big guns from the sale ring, on debut.
The track, as we know, is the big leveller and it is here where the rubber hits the road etc.
So let’s look at them.
At the famous 2018 Karaka Yearling Sale in New Zealand, only two yearlings from a catalogue of 700, reached $1 million.
One, now named LETHAL (Savabeel-Katie Lee) was bought by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing and has stayed in New Zealand. He is yet to race.
The other one was bought by Mark Pilkington to be trained by Team Hayes and Dabernig. His name is CONQUEROR and he’s by Fastnet Rock from the Gr 1 winning mare Diademe.
Diademe is is full-sister to another Gr 1 winner in EMBELLISH and the family boasts such names as Gr 1 SACRED STAR and the former Aussie star SPORTSMAN.
So if Conqueror can be a Group winner, that $1 million price tag for him is chicken feed.
He starts for the first time at Sandown today, in the opening race with Mark Zahra on board.
The horse has trialled, beaten in a 2YO trial at Tatura but did have something up his sleeve. How much, well watch the market moves today.
In Sydney at the Kensington circuit, Gai and Adrian produce one of their highest priced babies as well.
It’s GOGOL (I Am Invincible-Fatoon) and he’s a half-brother to Gr 1 winner FAT AL.
He cost $320,000 at the Inglis Easter sale last year.
But he isn’t the most expensive in this low key $50,000 race in Sydney.
SUPER OASIS (Exceed and Excel- Puzzle) cost $450,000 and her aunty is multiple Gr 1 winner ENGLISH.
And then there is BADIA (Snitzel-Fiesole) who cost nearly the most.
She set the folks at Godolphin back $600,000 and is the cousin of star sprinters, Gr 2 winner and multiple Gr 1 placed GREGORS and Gr 2 winner GIRL GUIDE.
But it’s Ron Quinton who saddles the most expensive in the Sydney baby race.
His colt SUN PATCH (Exceed and Excel-Girl Hussler) showed promise in a barrier trial.
And he cost George Moore Bloodstock a whopping $800,000 at the Inglis Easter sale.
His mum was a Gr 3 winner, and he’s a 3/4-brother to stakes winners TAKING AIM and MANUEL.
What price the expensive buys: Conqueror and Sun Patch winning their respective races today?
Ladbrokes has Sun Patch at $10 and Conqueror at $3.70….so $37.