Perth Magic Millions – Leaping into the Future

Cromartry Park introduces the first yearlings by Zabeel sire Lords A Leaping (NZ) at the Perth Magic Millions next week.

Cromartry owner Olga McKenzie also sells two colts by her second season sire Redoutable and a filly by Investor’s Dream that were raised at her Gingin nursery.

All up, there are 8 lots going under the hammer including fillies by Eastern States stallions Written Tycoon and Barely A Moment.

“Lords A Leaping really stamps them,” McKenzie said.  “He’s by Zabeel out of a Bluebird mare and you can recognise both influences  in his stock.”

The Lords A Leaping filly (Lot 539) is a half-sister to the city winners Talbot Bay (Lomond Bay) and Regal Johnson (Dr Johnson).

His second filly for sale (Lot 561) is from the Polo Jane family that has generated numerous stakes winners in Perth.

Lords A Leaping was prepared by Robert Smerdon and he was narrowly beaten into third place on debut before taking the next step to win his maiden at Ballarat over 1100m.

Smerdon had no hesitation in heading north to Brisbane for G1 races at the winter carnival.

He finished a close fourth in the  Sires’ Produce (1400m) and backed up a week later to get within a length of Outback Prince in the T J Smith Stakes (1600m).  He was severely checked in the Sires’ and raced untractably in the T J.

He returned to Melbourne for the spring carnival and was a close up fourth again in the G2 Sandown Guineas won by Binding.

“There’s no doubt that ability wise he was right up there,” Smerdon recalled recently.

Jockey Steven King was also impressed with Lords A Leaping when he partnered the colt  in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

They finished second to Lachlan River and King believed the colt was unlucky not to win the race.

“It was a super run, they went a bit quick for me early and I had to ride him patiently,” said King.  “I was able to tack onto the winner at the 700m and he hit the line strong.  It’s a shame that we had to get back so far.”

Redoute’s Choice second-season sire Redoutable has two colts heading to the Belmont sales complex from Cromartry.

Lot 152 out of Miss Donna is a sister to the colt that sold to K L Chong for $26,000 last year.

The Singapore trainer took a shine to Redoutable buying three of his yearlings for $85,000.

Lot 518 is from the winning Pricelessly mare Outdoor Girl and is a younger brother to the Lindsey Smith trained filly Miss Adoorable.

She may be the first of the Redoutables to race after placing in a Lark Hill trial.

Redoutable was trained by David Hayes and was a model of consistency while racing in Melbourne and Adelaide.

He broke his maiden with a 1500m victory at Moonee Valley before scoring in open company at Flemington in his next start.

“Redoutable was a lovely horse with a great nature,” assistant trainer Gary Fennessy recalled.  “He would have won a lot more races but for bad luck.”