Vinery Stud freshman Ole Kirk surpassed all pre-sale predictions when the curtain came down at the Gold Coast Magic Millions on Tuesday.
Ole Kirk passed with flying colours finishing Top 10 for turnover during Book 1 with 25 first-crop yearlings trading for over $5.15million. They averaged $206,300 off an 84% clearance-rate.
It was a significant seal of approval from buyers for a newcomer to finish on a Magic Millions leaderboard dominated by champion stallions I Am Invincible and Snitzel. They have combined to win every Australian sires’ premiership bar one since 2016-17.
The only time they missed out came in 2020-21 when Written Tycoon was crowned champion thanks to a ground-breaking Group 1-winning season by his 3yo colt Ole Kirk.
The Ole Kirks ticked all the boxes for trainers like Robbie Griffiths who paid $1million for his grey filly from Supara (Domesday) on Day 2. “He has the genetics and the race record to make a successful stallion,” Griffiths said. “She was the one we wanted to take home. We were up against some serious players but you’ve got to pay if you want a Group 1 filly like her.”
Gerald Ryan also bought two Ole Kirks on Day 2. “I saw Ole Kirk at the track of a morning and he has the record on the board with a pedigree to match. I think he will make a stallion.”
Leading agent Damon Gabbedy struck first on the Gold Coast with $300,000 for an Ole Kirk – Oxford Angel colt to be trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. “I’m very keen on Ole Kirk. He’s a proper Group 1 sire and was an outstanding racehorse with a proven pedigree.”
Bevan Smith was another agent on the Ole Kirks. “I’ve been very impressed with the quality of his yearlings. I like their attitude and our colt from Pop Girl (Snitzel) is lovely mover with the speed to be an ideal early 2yo next season.”
All Too Hard has been an ever-present for Vinery at the Gold Coast since 2016 when his Woodside Park-consigned filly – later named Warranty – topped that first consignment at $510,000. She was a two-time winner at Randwick and was also black-type placed at Flemington before embarking on a lucrative stud career for breeder John Camilleri.
Warranty’s colt by Snitzel (Lot 350) was purchased by Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier for $1.75million on Day 2.
Baramul Stud sold All Too Hard’s $8million earner Alligator Blood for $55,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast and the full-brother to Far Too Easy topped its latest draft at $250,000. Expect to see him tour the ring again at the NZB 2YO Sale in November.
All Too Hard averaged $158,571 off a 100% clearance-rate during Book 1 and Gai Waterhouse stuck around for his Book 2 filly out of Slainte (Lot 1395). “I spotted her at Eureka Stud during my Magic Millions inspections and was determined to secure her,” Gai said. “She cost $66,000 and is for our ladies syndicate ‘Girls Will Be Girls’.
Gai and Adrian Bott also sent Alligator Blood to the Rosehill trials for a pipe-opener over 900m on Thursday. Always eager to go faster in front, he was held together by Adam Hyeronimus ahead of a proposed return in the MRC Futurity Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m) at Caulfield on February 24.
Star Turn has been flying in the last twelve months and a 75% winning strike-rate paid off with a Top 10 profitability rating in Book 1 at the Gold Coast. He averaged $172,000 which was 10.5 times more than a $16,500 service fee in 2021.
His top-priced colts from Vinery Stud ($280k) and Baramul Stud ($260k) were knocked down on Friday and 24hrs later his Viva Racing sprinter Derry Grove won the $1million Magic Millions The Syndicate (1100m) at the Gold Coast.
Earlier in the week, trainer Matt Dunn and Viva Racing manager Mitch Lowe grabbed a bargain when buying a Star Turn filly from Think I’m Flying (Lot 296) for $75,000. “We love Derry Grove a lot and we’re big fans of Star Turn,” Lowe said. “We bought a strong filly by him this week and sold her inside an hour. I’m sure she won’t be the last Star Turn we buy this year.”
Star Turn topped trade on Day 1 of Book 2 when Melbourne trainer Danny O’Brien paid $230,000 for Lot 1189, a stunning chestnut colt out of Highly Geared (Ad Valorem). He was offered by Toolooganvale Farm on Monday as agent for Roona Lodge breeder Tamara Rickert
“I bred Star Turn and sold him at Magic Millions,” O’Brien said. “This horse is an absolute spitting-image at the same time of his career. Star Turn was an outstanding yearling and so is this colt. Every now and then one slips into Book 2 and this guy was that horse.”
