BY DANNY POWER
Yearlings nominated for the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale will feature some of the best of Victoria’s coveted Super VOBIS scheme.
Australian current champion stallion, Written Tycoon (by Iglesia) will headline Victoria’s influence on the now internationally renowned “holiday” sale which kicks off with a bumper Book 1 of 933 lots at the Southport Magic Millions complex on Tuesday, January 11, and concludes on Saturday night, January 15.
There will be a record 37 yearlings by Written Tycoon, conceived in his final year at Rosemont Stud, Tylden, at a fee of $110,000 (inc. GST). The 19-year-old stallion has just finished covering his first book at Yulong, near Nagambie, at a fee of $165,000 (inc. GST) after spending a year at Arrowfield Stud, Scone, in the Hunter Valley, NSW.
The champion stallion is joined by an impressive group of Victorian stallions in 2020, and who will have VOBIS-nominated yearlings on the coast—Brazen Beau, Foxwedge, Frosted (USA), Impending, National Defense (GB), Overshare, Rich Enuff, Shamus Award, Squamosa, Starspangledbanner, Toronado (IRE) and Tosen Stardom (JPN).
The progeny of these stallions also will be eligible for the rich VOBIS Sires bonuses on offer when their racing career starts in season 2022-2023.
Spendthrift Farm’s Overshare (by I Am Invincible) has only two yearlings in the sale—both colts from imported Canadian mares—but they will be in great demand from buyers after his impressive start to his stud career following the brilliant spring wins of his daughter Lady Laguna in Brisbane and Sydney in November. Lady Laguna has been set for the 2022 Group 1 Golden Slipper by trainer Annabel Neasham.
Four first-season sires that stood in Victoria in 2019—Bolt D’Oro (USA), Grunt (NZ), Lean Mean Machine and Sioux Nation (USA)—will have yearlings on sale at the Magic Millions.
Yulong’s Grunt (by O’Reilly [NZ]) was a dual Group 1-winner for trainer Mick Price, and his stock caught the eye at last year’s weanling sale for their scope, bone and size.
The Victorian farms with strong representation at the Magic Millions are Rosemont Stud, Musk Creek Farm, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Sullivan Bloodstock, Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm and Yulong.