Vinery Stud’s Group 1 winning stallion Ole Kirk has finished second on the first-season sire averages at this week’s Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
Ole Kirk had four foals average $82,500 which was only bettered by Vinery’s Group 1 Golden Slipper-winning graduate Farnan on the freshman leader-board at Riverside Stables. Top price was the $160,000 colt out of So You Beauty (Lot 260) that was purchased by Alter Bridge Equine on Monday. He was part of a record-breaking sale for Senga Bissett who was presenting her final consignment from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds in Scone.
“We loved the colt at first sight,” said a spokesman for the buyer who is a successful syndicator. “He’s the dam’s first but he’s an August foal and looks an athlete with length, depth and a strong shoulder. It’s a punt in some respects buying a foal by a first-season sire but Ole Kirk was an exceptional racehorse and the colt has a lovely action on top of a black-type pedigree.”
Sledmere Stud’s Royston and Treen Murphy are renowned as astute players in the foal market and the Ole Kirk – She Goes To Rio filly (Lot 237) caught their attention for $75,000 on Day 1. She was catalogued by Twin Hills Stud and is from a NZ-bred Canberra Guineas (LR, 1400m) winner who is four-from-four at stud.
“We came down with no expectations but the Ole Kirks are really impressive,” Royston declared. “We’ve got one at home and I bid on two by him here. They’re beautifully-balanced with plenty of substance. It’s good to see his stock are popular and hopefully this filly makes a nice pinhook at the yearling sales.”
Tyreel Stud’s Linda Monds is another Ole Kirk fan and she was puzzled when her colt from Tender (Lot 304) failed to make a $150,000 reserve on Tuesday morning. “He’s strong, a lovely mover and his x-rays were spot-on. We will sit on him and come back here next year.”
Next stop for Ole Kirk’s foals is the Gold Coast where the Magic Millions Weanling Sale comprises 450 lots on Thursday & Friday, May 18 & 19. Vinery has 12 lots catalogued over the two sessions including six by Ole Kirk.
Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) heads the Vinery Stud roster at a $55,000 service alongside All Too Hard ($38,500), Exceedance ($33,000), Star Turn ($27,500), Headwater ($13,200) and Casino Prince ($5,500). All fees (inc. GST) for payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
