Yarradale Stud topped Book 2 of the Magic Millions with a $190,000 Gingerbread Man colt on a day that also farewelled its Group 1 racehorse and sire War Chant (USA).
War Chant’s final yearling to go through a Magic Millions February Sale was the colt from Missing Pro (Lot 231) that made $35,000 to the bid of trainer Josh Brown on Friday. Bred and sold by Balmoral Park owner Neil Irvine, he hails from a family of four black-type winners under G2 C B Cox Stakes-winning third-dam Never Blue (Military Plume).
War Chant (Danzig) had his first Yarradale-conceived yearlings sell to $200,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions and among the bargain buys was the $45,000 filly from Fiorentina (Dubai Destination) who raced as Silent Sedition to win a G1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
War Chant is now a renowned broodmare sire of 25 black-type winners headed by Woodside Stud’s Group 1 resident Shalaa (Invincible Spirit). His Yarradale millionaire mare Dainty Tess made the Top 5 on the Magic Millions leader-board when her Playing God filly sold for $340,000 to Byerley Bloodstock (as agent) for Peters Investments on Thursday.
War Chant is also the damsire of classic-winning filly Labwah who completed a hat-trick with a crushing victory in the G3 UAE Oaks (1900m) at Meydan on Friday evening.
Labwah (3f Charlatan – War Tigress by War Chant) is raced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum who now has to decide whether to set her for the G1 Kentucky Oaks (2000m) on Friday, May 1 or roll the dice against the colts in the G2 UAE Derby (1900m) on March 28 which is a virtual ‘Win and you’re in’ for the G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m) on Saturday, May 2.
“I will go back to His Highness and ask him what he wants to do,” trainer Salem bin Ghadayer said. “We came here confident and she is ready for both options. The distance is not a concern. She’s by a 10-furlong (2000m) stallion out of a middle-distance mare.
War Tigress (War Chant) has also foaled G3 San Clemente Stakes winner War Heroine (Lonhro) and Alasdair (Street Sense) in the USA plus Dhalam (Lonhro) in England and Washington Tesoro (Curlin) in Japan.
Winning jockey Bernardo Pinheiro admitted the seven-length runaway was a romp. “I got a soft lead, to be honest,” he said. “She has a wonderful mind. She sits, relaxes and does everything I ask. She has a bright future and it will be interesting to see how far she goes.”
Meanwhile, Yarradale Stud returned home from the Magic Millions with a 100% clearance rate for its 15 yearlings. The Gidgegannup nursery finished fifth on the vendor leaderboards for turnover ($1.57 million) and average ($105,000).
The draft included a half-dozen six-figure lots topped by the Playing God – Dainty Tess colt at $340,000. The colt by Yarradale sire Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) from Lady Velorem that topped Book 2 at $190,000 was a sky-high result for Yarradale general manager Davy Hanratty and his wife Susan.
“We had a $60,000 reserve on him, so it’s emotional because Susan and I bred and reared him ourselves,” Davy said. “We only have a mare each but it’s great for the kids Liam and Shannon, too. Shannon was there when he was born and when he went through the ring on Friday. She also groomed him during the yearling prep and even did a preview for Racing WA.” Watch that on-camera promo here.
“He had probably 100 parades on the sale grounds. He was very busy on x-ray hits and scopes and everything was perfect with him, so it was an easy sale. We knew he was clean. He’s a good type, walked well, everyone that saw him just wanted him.”
Trainer Luke Fernie said he was very happy to get the Gingerbread Man colt against some strong bidding around the ring. “We probably paid a little bit more than what we initially thought but it was a pretty competitive market,” he admitted. “He’s very athletic and the way he got around was beautiful.”
Fernie also purchased a Gingerbread Man colt from Fail Safe (Von Costa de Hero) for $30,000 from Great Southern vendor Peter Skinner on Thursday. He’s a half-brother to Playing God black-type performer Megami.
“Luke loves our colt and Susan kept a 5% share in a stable syndicate,” Davy said. “To make that money was great but it’s important to support your family well and watch the next generation love it as much as Mum and Dad.”