Sales Talk

Nicconi x World Exclusive (Zabeel) filly

With the sales season in full swing I thought it interesting to note some thoughts so far.

Magic Millions kicked off the year on a great note for SMB clients with 2 pinhooked fillies realising very healthy results.

Both on account of Rosemont Stud as agent, the first was a filly by Moyboycharlie out of the Peintre Celebre mare Repenting.

A fantastic walking filly with great strength behind the saddle, she thankfully had many admirers in the lead up to the first days selling.

Eventually knocked down to Duncan Ramage for $160,000 the filly is the highest priced yearling sold by her promising young Vinery based stallion so far this year.

Following on from that success was the Testa Rossa filly out of the Encosta De Lago mare Involve who was one of the last lots to be sold in sessions 1 - 4. Despite being concerned all the money might have dried up, there was plenty of competition for the filly who was secured by Star Thoroughbreds for $185,000.

On the purchase front SMB have had a successful year so far purchasing for clients. The Inglis Melbourne Premier in particular was a happy hunting ground with 4 youngsters signed for.

A filly by the first season Widden stallion Nicconi was one who particularly caught my eye and was purchased for $75,000. Reminding me a lot of the SMB purchased 2YO filly Kona Breeze who was Listed placed and ran in the Blue Diamond this year, I suspect this filly might show something early and train on to 1400m or 1600m as a 3YO.

After the success of the SMB purchased stakes winning 3YO filly You're So Good, her connections were keen to look at all yearlings by her sire Savabeel this year and the colt from Floscula was the one we settled on.

A lovely, strong classic type colt with a fluent walk and plenty of quality, the colt has a pedigree compatible to compete in Derby's. I particularly like the mating of Savabeel to a Theatrical mare given his outstanding record overseas in producing top class turf stayers.

Testa Rossa x Petite Oiseau

Another colt we were excited to secure was the Testa Rossa colt from the stakes winning mare Petite Oiseau.

Bought in conjunction with Troy Corstens of Malua racing this cracking big colt will head to Flemington and John Sadler after being purchased from Cathy Haines' Burnewang North for $90,000.

Not surprisingly his breeders were keen to retain an interest in the colt and join SMB clients in the ownership.


Up next is the Inglis Sydney Easter yearling sale after which SMB will also attend all mare and weanling sales in New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

The name says it all...

Connections of You're So Good after
her victory in the Alexandria Stakes-LR.

Well firstly I must say 8 months between posts is far too long. Thankfully though the main reason behind that is how busy SMB has become over that period.

On the racetrack we have had 2 runners in Group 1 events - Kona Breeze (Sebring) in the Blue Diamond and You're So Good in the in the Australian Guineas.

While 2YO filly Kona Breeze had probably had enough by the time she made it into the big one, she was Listed place at just her third start, adding valuable black type to her already strong pedigree.

The daughter of Widden Stud stallion Sebring has plenty in that pedigree to suggest she will continue to improve over 1400m and perhaps even 1600m as a 3YO so I suspect her loyal owners have plenty to look forward to in the years ahead.

Trainer Peter Moody has done a great job with Kona Breeze who had her first start back in early January when second at Echuca. Expecting her to go to the paddock shortly after, the filly continued to thrive under his care and ended up taking her place in the richest 2YO race in Victoria after second place finishes behind Metastasio (Street Cry) at both Flemington and Caulfield.

The other filly making waves for SMB is the 3YO filly You're So Good. A daughter of the Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel, You're So Good was a NZ$80,000 purchase for the combination of SMB and Spicer Thoroughbreds at the 2011 NZB Premier Yearling sale.

You're So Good as a yearling.

A winner at her first start at Moonee Valley back in December, You're So Good was placed at Sandown and then in Group 3 company at Flemington in her next 2 starts. A fast finishing second in the Australian Guineas-G1 at just her fourth start showed what tremendous ability the Nigel Blackiston trained filly has.

Described by Blackiston as the best filly he has ever trained and potentially the best horse, You're So Good has not been beaten more than half a length in all five starts to date with her 2 wins and 3 seconds netting a tick over $217,000 for connections.

This form has earned her a trip to Sydney this week for the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m where she will tackle the best 3YO fillies in Australasia such as Norzita, Dear Demi and the New Zealand champion Habibi.