A half-brother to recent Group 1 winner King Colorado (Kingman) was a record-breaking $260,000 buy for Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker at the Perth Magic Millions Winter Sale on Sunday.
Offered by Willow Dale Farm as agent for Perth breeder Kim Doak, the yearling colt by Coolmore Stud sire Pride Of Dubai was a supplementary entry following King Colorado’s victory in the G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10.
His price-tag bettered the previous mark of $200,000 for a Russian Revolution – Rosie Rocket yearling colt purchased by Doak’s trainer Luke Fernie at the 2022 Perth Winter Sale.
“I’ve bought him for a Hong Kong client and it’s a bonus knowing he’s a Magic Millions-eligible yearling as well,” Baker said. “He’s a very nice colt and hopefully King Colorado can give him a kick-along at the spring carnivals.”
Their USA-bred dam More Aspen (pictured) was carrying the Pride Of Dubai colt when Doak bought her from Segenhoe Stud for $42,500 at the 2021 Inglis June Online Sale.
“All credit to Luke,” Doak said. “We were looking through the catalogue and the mare caught his eye.”
More Aspen owns a world-class pedigree. A daughter of Vinery Stud’s legendary shuttler More Than Ready, she was a Listed winner of the 2016 Singspiel Stakes (1800m) at Meydan and changed hands for 75,000gns (AUD 150,000) at the Tattersalls December Sale in 2018.
She was later covered to southern-hemisphere time to Juddmonte Farms sire Kingman (GB) and sent to Australia carrying King Colorado.
More Aspen’s second-dam Northern Aspen (Northern Dancer) won a G1 Gamely Hcp at Hollywood Park and third-dam Fall Aspen (Pretense) won a G1 Matron Stakes in New York. She foaled 13 winners from 13 starters headed by Group 1 winning stallions Hamas, Fort Wood, Bianconi and Timber Country plus the dams of Dubai Millennium and Elnadim.
Doak entered More Aspen for the Inglis June Online Sale that closes on Wednesday. She’s in foal to Maschino and bidding had reached $170,000 by Monday morning.
A Playing God – Mazij colt was second on the Winter Sale leader-board when purchased by Grant and Alana Williams for $100,000 from Gervase Park. He was followed by a Rubick – Fiftyshadesofgrey colt that cost Adam Durrant $90,000 out of the draft from WBA partner Westbury Stud.
