Macanese Master (Universal Ruler) landed the latest international victory for Scenic Lodge in Hong Kong on Wednesday and the Muchea nursery can win its fourth RL Magic Millions 2yo Classic with Daryte (Portland Sky) on Saturday.
Daryte (Photo / Western Racepix) made $55,000 from Scenic Lodge (as agent) in the Swan Valley last year and she paid that back with interest winning on debut at Ascot last month. She’s drawn a boondock barrier (18) tomorrow but remains on the third line of markets at $4.80 to emulate previous Scenic Lodge graduates Darlington Abbey (2012), Lucy Mae (2017) and Gemma’s Son (2020).
She’s the first winner from the first crop by Portland Sky (Deep Field). He was bred locally by Anita Vale Stud in Mardella and was a Group 1 winner of the 2021 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield before retiring to Widden Stud.
Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith has an ace up his sleeve with another Portland Sky filly catalogued as Lot 165 on Day 1 of the Magic Millions Sale next week.
“She’s a strong, well put together filly and has been very popular at our inspections,” Smith said. “She’s a half-sister to Black Fantasy and there’s black-type right down the page.”
Black Fantasy was from the final crop of Scenic Lodge legend Blackfriars (Danehill) and was a Listed winner of a Belmont Classic, Aquanita Stakes and Towton Cup after graduating from Scenic Lodge for $36,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions.
Another Day 1 highlight is the Tiger of Malay – Secret Nova filly (Lot 73). “She’s a stunner,” Smith declared. “She is one of the nicest fillies on the farm and will appeal to buyers.”
Like Portland Sky, her sire Tiger of Malay (Extreme Choice) was bred locally by Ruby Racing & Breeding and won a G2 Brisbane Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and G3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) before retiring to Newgate Farm. The filly’s dam won five sprints in town including an Ascot hat-trick for trainer Jim Taylor.
Smith also mentioned a ‘smokey’ in the first hour of trade on Day 2. Parading with a Hip 186 sticker, the filly is by Coolmore Stud sire Acrobat (Fastnet Rock) from Holder Sunset (Shamardal) who was a Randwick winner for Anthony Cummings.
Acrobat is already off the mark with two winners in his first crop and there could be a black-type addition on either side of the Tasman tomorrow with King of the Air (G3 Matamata Slipper) and Kute as Kan Be (Magic Millions 2yo Classic).
“She’s an eye-catcher with a good page and the dam is three-from-three at stud,” Smith said. “She’s an August foal and will mature into a fast, early-going filly.”
Lot 295 is another Book 2 Acrobat from Scenic Lodge and he’s the half-brother to Wednesday night’s Happy Valley winner Macanese Master (Universal Ruler). His front-running victory in the Shung Ling Hcp (1000m) was the second over the minimum trip this season for trainer Me Tsui and the Merry Gang Syndicate.
“The colt is a good-sized, quality individual and his dam True Storm (Hurricane Sky) would have a much better page but for losing two earlier winners while they were still in training,” Smith lamented. “Her Snippetson 3yo Call Me Frosty has accepted for Ascot this Sunday.”
Macanese Master (Photo / HKJC) was purchased by Richard & Chantelle Jolly for $130,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. He was sold off-shore as autumn 3yo after finishing second to Solar Blast (Palentino) at Gawler and his current season’s earnings are AUD195,000.
Scenic Lodge has a draft of 14 yearlings coming down from Muchea and they are located in Barns H & I. Jeremy Smith can be contacted on 0419 943 356.
