Vinery Stud sire Ole Kirk became the first freshman to sire a seven-figure yearling at the 2024 Gold Coast Magic Millions when his yearling filly from Supara (Lot 260) made $1million on Wednesday.
The grey filly was the subject of spirited competition around the complex before trainers Robbie Griffiths and Matt De Kock had final say in conjunction with agent Peter Ford and Brookdale Racing.
Day 2 also saw the Big V brand make a million when the Extreme Choice chestnut colt from Wanted Lady (Lot 349) was an upmarket addition to James Harron’s Bloodstock Colt Partnership. Bred by Luke Wilkinson and offered by Milburn Creek (as agent), he’s a brother to Flemington 2yo winner Abseiler.
$1million Lot 260 Ole Kirk – Supara (Domesday) Newhaven Park
“She was a standout physically and comes off a successful farm with a Group 1 pedigree,” Matt De Kock declared. “We knew she would be popular – they had her out every time we went down to the Newhaven barn.
Griffiths chimed in with the same kudos for Ole Kirk that resonated around the complex on Day 1. “He has the genetics and the race record to make a successful stallion. He’s a son of Written Tycoon out of the family of a champion in Black Caviar and All Too Hard who is doing a great job at Vinery.
“She was the one we wanted to take home. She has the shape of a 2yo but we will just wait and see how she grows out. Ole Kirk was an autumn 2yo so whether she gets up for a Blue Diamond campaign depends on how she handles the workload.
“The bidding went up so quickly I didn’t get a chance to get nervous. You’ve got to pay if you want the Group 1 winners and we would have been up against some pretty serious players wanting a Group 1 filly like her.”
The millionaire filly was bred and consigned by Newhaven Park who also raced her dam Supara to a Canterbury 3yo maiden win before running Group 2 placings in the Surround Stakes, Phar Lap Stakes and Emancipation Stakes while under the care of Gai Waterhouse.
Her Snitzel gelding Brosnan (Snitzel) was Group 1 placed in the 2022 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm and her current 3yo filly Superbly Written (Written Tycoon) won at Taupo for Te Akau Racing in September.
The last freshman to sire a seven-figure yearling at the Gold Coast Magic Millions was Too Darn Hot (GB) who had a filly from Enbihaar (Magnus) make $1million last year. She was also offered by Vinery and has been named Too Darn Lizzie by her owner Lord Lloyd Webber.
Too Darn Lizzie won a Warwick Farm trial for Waterhouse and Adrian Bott last month and has opened a pronounced $2.60 favourite for the $500,000 Magic Millions The Debut 2yo Fillies Plate (1000m) at the Gold Coast this Saturday.
$425,000 Lot 357 The Autumn Sun – White Moss (Mossman) Filly Vinery Stud
Vinery had seven sales at a perfect clearance-rate on Day 2 with Queensland owner Ron Wanless combining with agent Joe Curran and bloodstock advisor Kevin Walls to buy the bay or grey filly from a four-time Group 2 winner in Sydney. “She’s from a good farm and is a very attractive filly,” Walls said. “Give her another six months and she will have developed her athleticism, too.”
$240,000 Lot 244 Ole Kirk – Steamboat Sally (Snitzel) North B/s
$160,000 Lot 250 Ole Kirk – Stratuzy (Stratum) Newhaven Park
Ryan & Alexiou Racing struck twice within minutes investing $400,000 for two Ole Kirk fillies on Day 2. “I saw Ole Kirk at the track every morning and he has the record on the board with a pedigree to match,” Gerald Ryan said. “I think he will make a stallion.
“The Steamboat Sally filly is a nice mover and there’s a lot of Snitzel in her. The Stratuzy filly is similar in many ways and will be a runner. She is a loose-walking early August foal and should get up and go.”
$325,000 Lot 333 Ole Kirk – Vellor (Sepoy) Filly Gilgai Farm
$200,000 Lot 220 Ole Kirk – Sonja (Medaglia d’Oro) Filly Sullivan B/s
Bjorn Baker and birthday-boy Tony Gollan were on board with Ole Kirk on Wednesday. Baker bought the Gilgai Farm filly who is from a half-sister to ATC Magic Night Stakes (Gr,2, 1200m) winner Altar (Commands).
Gollan bought a bargain with his filly a close relation of black-type winning juveniles Tenley (ATC Reisling Stakes Gr.2) and Biscayne Bay (SAJC Sires Produce Stakes Gr.3). “She looks a precocious type from a 2yo family,” he said. “She will keep maturing and I was more than happy to take punt on her and Ole Kirk.”
Vinery has another 8 yearlings for sale on Thursday starting with the Too Darn Hot – Axella filly (Lot 458). She’s the first foal from a Matt Dunn-trained mare who earned black-type when runner-up in the 2018 Oxlade Stakes (LR, 1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
