Safeguard made an auspicious start with buyers at the Perth Magic Millions averaging over $53,400 off an initial service fee of $8,000 at Mogumber Park.
An Exceed And Excel homebred for Sheikh Mohammed, he was a Group 3 winner of the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick and Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield before retiring to Western Australia in 2015.
“Safeguard could stand at any stud around the country,” Mogumber Park’s Colin Brown said shorty after installing him at Bullsbrook. “He’s a stallion that can shape the WA breeding industry into the future.”
Local trainers Trevor Andrews, Justin Warwick, Paul Jordan and Neville Parnham were on his first yearlings and so were Adelaide Group 1 winning conditioners Richard Jolly and Lloyd Kennewell.
Andrews bought the top-priced Safeguard on behalf of owners Robin and Gail Humberston when paying $145,000 for the filly out of Coast To The Post (Lot 47). She’s a three-quarter sister to Entrancing who is ready to improve her winning record in Victoria and Adelaide after coasting home in a Morphettville trial this week.
Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) agent Damon Gabbedy divided $100,000 between Mogumber fillies by Safeguard and Sessions. A first-season sire based at Oakland Park, Sessions (Lonhro) won a G2 The Shorts in Sydney and his Perth filly is closely related to Lonhro star Exosphere (G1 Golden Rose).
Neville Parnham also weighed in with $200,000 for the only Zoustar in Perth – Mogumber’s colt out of Magnus Missile (Lot 98) – for his close client Santo Guagliardo.
“He’s a beautiful colt and a lot of people liked him so I was lucky enough to be the last man standing,” Parnham said. “Zoustar has done a really good job and I wasn’t surprised that he made that money. I would expect that this one will get up and run.”
Parnham and Guagliardo have another connection with Mogumber through Rommel. They raced the son of Commands to victories in the G2 WA Guineas and G3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield before he retired to stand at Mogumber Park last year.
SAFEGUARD SALE
Owners Robin & Gail Humberston with Trevor Andrews at the Perth Magic Millions