Cannon Hayes Stud is only in its second sales-season and is already making inroads with pinhooks and winners with Vinery sires All Too Hard and Headwater.
David Morrissey owns the Scone nursery and he was still coming to terms with the quick six-month turnaround of an All Too Hard colt (Lot 533) that went from a $55,000 late-season foal in July to a $275,000 yearling on Day 3 of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
A rare 500% increase was signed off by Hong Kong-based Denys Chan (Golden River Investments) who has bought more of the breed than just about anyone else. All Too Hard has sired 14 winners of 50 races in Hong Kong with Champion Sprinter Wellington the unrivalled flag-bearer.
“He was purchased through the Inglis Digital July Sale,” Morrissey recalled. “He has a lovely temperament and has handled the prep perfectly. We were banking on Alligator Blood and Wellington firing at the spring carnivals and they both won at Group 1, God bless them.”
The colt’s 2yo winning dam Wahine (Fastnet Rock) descends from Redoute’s Choice’s full-sister Moonsoon Wedding (Danehill). “I believe in All Too Hard,” Morrissey declared. “He’s doing a great job at stud and we’ve also been supporting him with our own mares.”
Among them is Grounded (So You Think) who is a half-sister to VRC Talindert Stakes (LR, 1200m) winner Prairie Fire (Snitzel). Their dam is a half-sister to Adelaide Guineas Gr.3 winner Nina Haraka (Fraar).
Cannon Hayes had opened its winning account as a stud when Headwater colt Sorgente was successful in the P’nut Street Noodles Hcp (1250m) at Canterbury in November. They bred and sold him for $90,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Star Turn was another Vinery sire to make good money when his homebred colt from Lonhro mare Beechal (Lot 645) was knocked down Goldfinder Equine Fund for $240,000 at the Gold Coast on Thursday. The dam is a winning half-sister to Table Bay (Kenilworth Cape Classic Gr.3).
Vinery’s Day 4 consignment to the Magic Millions commences with the Exceed And Excel filly from Clean Up (Dehere). Listed as Lot 731 on Friday, she is a half-sister to Group 1 mare Nettoyer (ATC Doncaster & Queen of the Turf).
