Vinery Stud made the Top 10 leader-board for colts with its son of Written Tycoon at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Tuesday.
The Day 1 Written Tycoon colt from Bel Esprit mare Afleet Esprit sold for $525,000 to Aquis Farm owner Tony Fung in partnership with Phoenix Thoroughbreds. A strong, good-moving individual, he’s bred on the same cross as Caulfield Guineas Gr.1 winner Ole Kirk who has been signed to join the stallion roster at Vinery.
On his toes when led into the ring as Lot 20, he sparked bids from around the sales complex before Aquis managing director Shane McGrath fought off some spirited competition. Vinery sold Champion Australian 2YO Farnan to the same connections for $550,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions.
“He’s an absolute beauty,” McGrath said. “We bought Farnan from Vinery and they’re a great farm and great breeders. Written Tycoon is doing a phenomenal job and, with the Bel Esprit speed, let’s hope lightning strikes twice.
“I had a bit to do with Bel Esprit when he retired to Eliza Park and this colt reminds me of him. Quality with a Capital Q.”
Vinery Bloodstock Manager Adam White was confident he would sell well. “He’s a lovely Written Tycoon from a mare who won a Group 2. He was popular all week and it was a terrific result to start with such a bang.”
Mitchell Bloodstock paid $300,000 for the filly by Vinery legend More Than Ready out of All Enfield (Lot 31). She was offered by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud and is from a full-sister to Group 1 winning Flemington miler All American.
Vinery sire Star Turn is off to a promising start with his juveniles this season and that encouraged Danny O’Brien and Team Hawkes to target his second-crop on Tuesday. Day 1 trade began just a few hours after his brilliant filly Miss Hipstar drew wide for Saturday’s Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
Star Turn’s filly from Bonded (Lot 114) is closely related to the big-ticket Written Tycoon colt and was snapped up for $140,000 by O’Brien who is building a strong team down in Melbourne.
Wayne Hawkes went back to the source when also paying $140,000 for the colt from Cocoexcel (Lot 174). Team Hawkes trained Star Turn and have some of his first crop in the pipeline like early-season Rosehill trial winner Montana Flash.
A Headwater colt was described as “looking as strong as strong as an ox” by Richard & Chantelle Jolly after they outlaid $90,000 for his colt from Alma’s Angel (Lot 35). The Adelaide-based father-and-daughter training team have built a great strike-rate with Vinery graduates and their latest to emerge is promising, last-start Morphettville winner Impossible Action (All Too Hard).
Vinery’s draft on Wednesday is highlighted by the Snitzel – Fit And Ready colt (Lot 314). “He’s a lovely type and his dam has thrown two stakes winners from three runners,” Vinery’s Harry Roach said. “I don’t think there would be many mares in the catalogue with that sort of record.”
