Widden with more reasons to smile while Sun shines on Gold Coast
Coolmore’s much talked about first season sire Justify (Scat Daddy) lit yesterday’s Magic Millions opening session up in lights on the Gold Coast with his $450,000 Lot 1 setting the tone for a dynamic day’s trade.
And, indeed, the US Triple Crown winner topped the averages for this year’s cohort of budding first season sires, seeing four yearlings find homes at a mean of $400,000. However, bidding to shine in the Magic Millions sale ring were fellow freshmen sires The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) and Widden duo Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) and Written By (Written Tycoon).
Arrowfield’s five-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun leads the first season sire way by aggregate, with his nine yearlings selling for a gross figure of $2.785 million at an average of $309,444, led by the Mill Park-consigned colt out of I Am Zelady (I Am Invincible) that sold to Tasman Bloodstock for $550,000.
Trapeze Artist, meanwhile, the only other sire to top $1 million for opening day sales among first season sires, sold five at an average of $218,000.
Proven Thoroughbreds’ Jamie Walter, among four first session purchases, signed for yearlings by both Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun and Trapeze Artist in conjunction with trainers Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted, with the experienced syndicator hoping they can follow in the path of what has been a successful 12 months for the operation, led by Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Private Eye (Al Maher).
“They were two stallions that Steve (O’Dea) and I identified. They’re no secret to the market, but The Autumn Sun I thought was of terrific calibre winning eight from nine starts and by a sire of sires in Redoute’s Choice,” Walter said.
“He was a really neat and nice physical specimen and we’ve been really impressed with the quality of stock he has been producing, with the one common trend between them is that they all move well.”
In snapping up Lot 131, a The Autumn Sun colt out of French Listed-winning mare Iffranesia (Iffraaj) for $150,000, Walter added: “We were delighted to get him because she’s a sharp mare and he was a most impressive second foal. He’s a big strong horse with plenty of bone and out of a stakes-winning mare, it’s hard to resist at the price.”
Widden’s delight did not end with top lot honours for Zoustar (Northern Meteor) as yearlings by their Written By were well received throughout the day, with a colt and a filly selling for $380,000 and $350,000 to the China Horse Club colts syndicate and Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds.
His four to sell at an average of $240,000 represented an average return of 9.7 times his service fee.
“The Written By horses were both very well received and the feedback was really positive,” Widden’s Antony Thompson said.
“It’s good to see him and Trapeze Artist get off to good starts, even if the sample size is small at the minute.
“We’ve had exceptional returns for Written By, especially given his small fee, and the breeders were in support of him today and that was wonderful to see. Hopefully the momentum can continue throughout the week.”
Eureka’s Encryption (Lonhro) also caught the eye, with his yearling’s average sale price of $163,333 from three lots sold seeing a return 12.37 times his $13,200 covering price.