The Choice Sire Again

by Kelsey Riley 
Redoute’s Choice (Aus) was responsible for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 1 topper when a colt out of Hades (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) fetched A$1 million Friday, and that cross was again to the fore yesterday when lot 818 topped the sheets at A$280,000 (US$251,976) for the sale’s single-session Book 2. The topper fueled a solid day of trade, which posted across-the-board gains. The gross was up A$2,098,500 to A$9,537,000 with 31 more yearlings offered, while the average climbed 3% to A$47,924. The buyback rate decreased to 16.7% from 23%. 
From the draft of Arrowfield, the Redoute’s Choice filly is out of the stakes-winning Flame of Sydney (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who has already produced the Group 1-placed Not Listenin’to me (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) on a similar cross. The October-foaled filly was hammered down to Joe O’Neill of Power Thoroughbreds, who cited the pedigree and residual value as a broodmare as attractive, but noted his main target with his new acquisition would come 12 months from now. 
“We thought looking at her that she could be a 2-year-old, and we bought her specifically to target next year’s [A$2-million Magic Millions 2YO Classic],” said O’Neill, who noted the filly would go into training with Kris Lees. “She’s a lovely filly, she’s very athletic, she has a lovely head and she walks very well,” he said. 
The Redoute’s Choice/Encosta de Lago cross has produced Group 1 winner Musir (Aus). 
The Redoute’s Choice over Encosta de Lago cross featured again late in the session, when a colt by Redoute’s Choice’s leading sire son Snitzel (Aus) sold for A$150,000 to local bloodstock agent John Foote. 
The session-topping filly has at least one competitor already eyeing next year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic after trainer Gillian Heinrich, the buyer of lot 704, revealed that event as the target for the I Am Invincible (Aus) colt she purchased from Mane Lodge for A$160,000. 
“He’s a nice well-balanced colt and looks like an early runner, and he’s out of a nice family,” Heinrich noted. “We’ll get him ready for the Magic Millions next year, hopefully.” 
Heinrich, a local Gold Coast trainer, has the credentials to get to the Classic winner’s circle, having stood there in 2010 alongside her charge Military Rose (Aus) (General Nediym {Aus}). She purchased her newest acquisition under Magic Millions as agent. 
I Am Invincible, Australia’s current leading freshman sire, enjoyed a strong Book 1 last week, winding up fifth amongst all sires by average, with seven sold from seven cataloged for an average of A$240,000. 

Moroney Looks to the Future… 
The Redoute’s Choice filly and I Am Invincible colt are unlikely to be joined in next year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic by lot 801, as that filly was purchased by Glen Harvey and Paul Moroney for A$145,000 with staying targets in mind. The October-foaled bay is by High Chaparral (Ire) out of Elegant Jewel (Aus) (Mister C), a full-sister to three stakes winners, including multiple Group 1-winner Super Elegant (Aus). Moroney, fresh off a stint at the sales in Europe, had high praise for his purchase. 
“I was staggered to find a staying type of filly of her class in the sale; you don’t expect to find them,” he said. “I haven’t seen a better High Chaparral filly anywhere this [sales season]. I just came back from Europe, from the yearling sales over there, and I didn’t see any High Chaparral fillies of her class. I thought she was an absolute smasher.” 
Moroney noted that the filly would go into training with his brother, Mike Moroney, in Melbourne, with longer distance races further down the road the target. 
“She’s not a 2-year-old; she’s a stayer,” Moroney reiterated. “She’s an Oaks prospect and maybe a Cups mare for later on, and I really believe she could prove to be a real bargain, because she’s of a quality you don’t see internationally. I really loved her. I thought she was a standout.” 

One More For Team Hawkes… 
The Hawkes training team of John, Wayne and Michael have handled some of Australia’s best horses recently and in years past, including Octagonal (NZ), his best son Lonhro (Aus), and most recently All Too Hard (Aus). Lot 796 will therefore have big hoofprints to fill when he joins the father and sons’ stable after a short rest, but Wayne Hawkes, who signed the ticket on the son of Onemorenomore (Aus), expressed confidence in his newest charge. 
“He’s a quality individual,” Hawkes said. “He’s by a new young stallion in Onemorenomore, and he was just a real classy horse. The first time we saw him, we liked him.” 
From the draft of Coolmore Stud, the bay is out of Donatella (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), a half-sister to the dam of group winners Bankable (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and Cheshire (GB) (Warning {GB}). 
Another trainer active late in the session was South Australian Tony Mitchell, who added lot 900, a Choisir colt, to his stable. From the draft of Tyreel Stud, the bay is out of Mountain (Aus) (Sequalo {Aus}), a half-sister to the dam of a pair of stakes winners. 
After a dark day today, Book 3 of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale will take place Tuesday. For full results, catalogues, and to watch the sale live, visit www.magicmillions.com.