Victorian based breeder David Kobritz has turned a tidy profit pin-hooking yearlings by Darley sires at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.
Kobritz has a substantial bloodstock portfolio. His yearlings are catalogued under the Musk Creek Farm banner from Mornington and his horses race under the DHK Investments umbrella.
The latest star to graduate from Musk Creek Farm is Pierro who scored an outstanding first up victory in the G2 Silver Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse trained colt was having his first run since taking out the LR Breeders’ Stakes on debut last spring. “He is a very, very good horse,” Waterhouse said. “He will improve out of sight with that run although he won’t want to be missing the start again.”
The win gave Waterhouse more than enough ammunition to aim at critics who accused her of going over the top after the Breeders’ Stakes when she declared Pierro would win the Golden Slipper.
Bookmakers were also ducking for cover when Pierro firmed into a clear $6.50 second favourite for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on April 7. Group 1 Blue Diamond winner Samaready is the market leader at $4.40.
Waterhouse trained Sebring to complete the Breeders Stakes – Golden Slipper double four years ago.
Pierro (2c Lonhro – Miss Right Note by Daylami) was a $115,000 buy for Kobritz as a foal before going under the hammer again for $230,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions. He is from a half sister to Octagonal stayer Laverock who was a G1 winner at Milan and Longchamp.
“Pierro was a standout when we visited Musk Creek Farm before the sales,” Waterhouse recalled. “David’s draft was terrific and I ended up purchasing three of them at the Magic Millions.
“I picked Pierro out for Greg and Donna Kolivos. He was on our short list from day dot being such a strong, masculine and tough looking colt.”
Kobritz was back at the Magic Millions this year with seven yearlings headed by a Bernardini – Belle Amici colt that made $230,000 to the bid of Rick Hore-Lacy. His dam is a winning daughter of G2 AJC Expressway Stakes winner Let’s Hurry.
“He’s a very athletic colt and handled all the work leading up to the sale in his stride,” Kobritz said at the Gold Coast. “I bought him for $90,000 as a foal at last year’s Magic Millions National Sale.”
Kobritz also sold a Starcraft – Seducation colt to John McArdle for $80,000 at the Magic Millions. The youngster received a significant pedigree update just prior to the sale when Ulundi (Helenus) won the LR Lord Stakes at Mornington.
“He’s a machine,” Kobritz declared. “I bought the mare for $40,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale in foal to Starcraft.”
Waterhouse also trains his two year-old sister for Star Thoroughbreds. She hasn’t been named yet but has been mentioned a couple of times in Gai’s daily blog as a filly that has been pleasing everyone at Tulloch Lodge.