Rommel colt sets new Book 2 Perth benchmark
Parnham steps up to snag Mogumber Park’s $180,000 yearling at Magic Millions Yearling Sale
One of Western Australia’s most respected trainers Neville Parnham has provided a firm vote of confidence in young local stallion Rommel (Commands) after paying a Book 2 record of $180,000 for one of his second crop sons at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale yesterday.
The second session, once again dominated by the Western Australian buyers, was also a glowing endorsement of the local racing and breeding industry in which a clearance rate of 95 per cent was achieved at the close of the day, continuing the bull market conditions evident so far this year.
Mogumber Park stand Rommel and were also responsible for selling the top-priced colt, whose price surpassed the previous Book 2 benchmark of $140,000 set last year for a yearling by Playing God (Blackfriars), to Parnham.
Stud principal Colin Brown yesterday revealed they put the Rommel colt on the market at $50,000.
“To have a horse by a relatively young stallion fronting up in that environment and walking out with the sale-topper for day two was just brilliant,” Brown said.
“What I do know is Neville (Parnham) has a big rap on the Rommels. He said to me the other day – and part of it might be tongue-in-cheek – in terms of he would have every one if he could.
“He really likes them and he did something similar with Playing God who he really liked, so he supported his progeny and he has done the same with Rommel.
“I haven’t found out who the under bidder was, but I know there were a lot of good stables and judges on him.”
From the second crop of Rommel, who is already the sire of the Parnham-trained two-year-old winner Ultimate Command this season, he is a brother to the David Harrison-trained Pixie Chix who is favourite to win race three at Ascot today.
His dam Snow Pixie (Snitzel) was unraced but she is from the family of Singapore stakes winner Hughsy (Henny Hughes) and European stakes winner Shemima (Dalakhani), the champion older female stayer in Great Britain in 2009. He was catalogued as Lot 228.
“Dragon, is what we called him because our kids name them every year from different themes,” Brown said of his standout Rommel colt.
“If any horse deserves it, it’s him because he’s been the absolute nicest horse to do anything with from day one.
“If there was ever a challenging situation we’d test it out with him. He was the first to go on the yearling walk and all those sorts of things, so it is nice for him as well.”
The Book 2 banner horse was one of eight yearlings to make $100,000 or more yesterday, which saw the average climb 28 per cent year-on-year to $40,922 while the median of $35,000 was up from $28,000 in 2020.
The figures, which came after a strong Book 1 sale, which was on par with last year despite the lack of interstate buyers on the complex this year, left Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch with a great sense of satisfaction.
“Not only is it the investment that Magic Millions has made, it’s the work RWWA (Racing Wagering Western Australia) have put into this industry through prize-money, Westspeed and stimulating ownership and as a result the buyers have turned out,” Bowditch said last night.
“The local market has turned out today, which all validates the investment we are making and obviously gives the breeders confidence to continue to strive for better each year. It’s a fantastic day with a clearance rate of some 95 per cent and I think today’s trade is up $1 million on last year, which is hugely significant.”
He added: “There is no other way of putting it other than it exceeded all our expectations. It was an extremely strong market and it’s reflecting what’s happening in the East.
“There’s a great craving for people to be involved in this industry and invest in it and seemingly that happened again here today.”
Scenic and Snippetson come to the fore in Book 2
Meanwhile. Scenic Lodge’s Snippetson (Snippets) was the leading Book 2 sire, with nine progeny selling for a combined $636,000 yesterday at an average of $70,667, while Demerit (Lonhro) had the most go through, with 13 yearlings selling.
The vendor of a $200,000 Snippetson filly on Thursday, a record for Scenic Lodge and the stallion, general manager Jeremy Smith believes the Book 2 session was a big tick for the WA industry after his operation completed a 100 per cent clearance with 13 lots finding new homes at an average of $53,423.
“The locals have been fantastic, which we were hoping for leading into it, because they haven’t been able to get some of the other sales,” Smith said.
“Although we had a lack of eastern states representation, the local buyers were absolutely through the roof and it is probably the Westspeed scheme and those sort of things (have stimulated interest).
“The Swan Valley compex is a great place to sell horses, it’s a lovely set-up and it’s great for us as we’re just down the road, so that’s an added bonus.”
Claire Williamson, who was formerly involved with Mungrup Stud until its dispersal last year, traded under the Willaview Park this week and sold a filly by Playing God for $130,000 yesterday to Bridge Patrol Lodge.
“It was probably a little bit above expectations, but she was a beautiful filly and a lot of people liked her, so I am not surprised by the price she made,” Williamson said.
“I feel like she probably should have been in on the first day, to be honest, that is the kind of calibre of filly she is.
“Overall, I think the average is very good and everybody I have seen is pretty happy and I am definitely walking away happy.”
Another vendor looking to the future after a strong Perth sale is Rangeview Stud’s Robert Gray who sold the brother to Karrakatta Plate (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Hobart Jones (So Secret) for $110,000 to Commercial Bloodstock Services.
Offered by Rangeview Stud as Lot 245, the colt is the 11th foal out of good producer Tribulot (Tribu), herself a five-time winner, who has four winners to her credit led by Hobart Jones.
“I am very proud of the horse and the mare has been a great broodmare for us. She just keeps delivering,” Gray said.
“When we left home I would have said (he) probably wouldn’t make that, but as the sale evolved I got the feeling that he could make a substantial amount. Interestingly, this one is very similar to Hobart Jones, the Karrakatta Plate winner, through the dam sire Tribu. There is more Tribu in this horse than a couple of the others. Hobart Jones was plucked from the similar area of the gene pool, let’s say.”
As for the overall sale, Gray said: “I think every breeder in Western Australia should thank Magic Millions for the job that they do and the venue they have provided.
“If we can present our horses well, the opportunity is there for us. As long as we keep up our end of the bargain, we should do well. Magic Millions have been fantastic for us.”
For the Magic Millions staff and a number of buyers, their attention quickly moves on to Monday’s Tasmanian Yearling Sale. “We are now on the quick back-up and very much looking forward to the Tasmanian Yearling Sale on Monday at Quercus Park on the outskirts of Launceston,” Bowditch said.
“The Tasmanian Yearling Sale has a remarkable record of producing star racehorses and we look forward to the race night on Sunday and sales on Monday.”
Inspections for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale also start next week.