Scenic Lodge embraced the Inglis Digital platform with 11 yearlings at its April Online Sale.
A pair of Universal Ruler colts led the way averaging $22,000 and Scenic Lodge is back with 16 mares for the May (Early) Sale that runs from Friday until next Wednesday.
Highlighting the latest draft is undoubtedly star sprinter Sniparoochy who is being sold (as agent) for the 10-member partnership that cheered her to 8 wins and over $660,000 in prizemoney.
The lightly-raced speed-machine scored a career-high victory in the LR Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) at Ascot in November and would be a welcome addition at any stud in Australia.
Sniparoochy (4m Snippetson – Mamaroochy by Duporth) was bred and sold by Scenic Lodge for $67,500 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions. “We kept a share but we’re not in a position to buy her back outright,” Scenic Lodge General Manager Jeremy Smith rued on Thursday.
“She was always standout growing up at the farm – the girls nicknamed her ‘Ferrari’ – and she developed into a beautiful looking mare.”
Sniparoochy lived up to that handle bolting in by five lengths on debut at Bunbury before doubling up at Ascot. She was all the rage for the 2021 Magic Millions 2YO Classic but cracked a femur in running and was sidelined for six months.
She made a full recovery winning another six races for trainer Steven Miller who earlier this year was thinking of a trip to Adelaide for this weekend’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide. He prepared Ellicorsam (Fimiston) in Perth and she went on to win the 2006 Robert Sangster for Lee Freedman.
Sniparoochy is being sold as a breeding proposition only after bowing out with a gut-buster in the LR Pinjarra Classic (1200m). She cut the breeze and was brave in the straight only getting beaten out of a place in the last stride.
The remainder of the Scenic Lodge draft to the April Online Sale are being offered unreserved. The Muchea stud is scaling back in the short-term after losing Snippetson out of the blue in January.
Among them are three mares by Scenic Lodge legend Blackfriars who is coming to the end of a 12-year reign as WA’s most successful sire on record. Fittingly, the heir-apparent appears to be his Group 1 winning son Playing God.
Blackfriars (Danehill) is also making an impact as a broodmare sire with Kissonallforcheeks the most successful to date with 10 wins to Group 2 level in the Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington for $1.7 million in prizemoney.
Baffling is due to deliver her first foal by Scenic Lodge resident Universal Ruler in October. She is a Blackfriars three-quarter sister to G2 WATC Derby winner Rohan (Blackfriars) and his second-dam Ever Ready (Consenting) was another who won to Group 2 level in a WA Guineas and Chirnside Stakes at Caulfield.
Blast Of Class is an unraced 4yo by Blackfriars catalogued with a first-cover PPT to Universal Ruler. She’s a full-sister to $400,000 earner Elegant Blast and a half-sister to LR Boulder Cup winner Red Blast (Universal Prince).
Ocean Candy is another young Blackfriars mare and she’s carrying a PPT to Snippetson after foaling a penultimate-crop filly by him in August. She’s one of those mares who can make amends at stud after retiring a maiden with multiple seconds for Paige Kenney and Rod Brown.
Her dam Pearlesque (Statoblest) has been a wonderful producer with Friar Fox (Blackfriars) the flag-bearer for Justine Erkelens. She went one better than Red Blast winning two LR Boulder Cups plus a LR Natasha Stakes at Ascot.
Pearly Nuggett (Snippetson) is the fifth winner from Pearlesque and she powered home from last to nail the Prestige Property Hcp (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday. She cost $200,000 at the 2021 Swan Valley Yearling Sale and winning first-up can be the spur that helps realise her potential.
“I came here quite confident and I’m happy with that win,” jockey Joey Azzopardi said. “She was very good at the (Lark Hill) trials although I rode her differently to the usual pattern today. We were back in the field but it was a good pace and she sprinted really well.”
Pearly Nuggett is placated with ear-muffs and Azzopardi admitted there’s still work to be done to help her quieten down. “She was a handful in the yard before the race but she will get there.”
The Inglis May Online Sale catalogue will be finalised on Friday.