China Horse Club topped Vinery Stud’s Day 1 draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with a $500,000 Written Tycoon colt and Hong Kong trainer Dougie Whyte topped its Day 2 consignment with a Zoustar colt that made $725,000.
Whyte was part of a Hong Kong buying bench that invested $8.84 million at Riverside Stables. The South African-born horseman took to training without breaking stride five years ago following a record-breaking career in the saddle and he believes the Zoustar colt will help maintain that momentum.
Lot 427 Colt Zoustar – Aristia
“The Zoustars get up and run everywhere. It’s no different in Hong Kong,” Whyte said after signing for the colt under the Equine Investments banner in conjunction with agent Bevan Smith. “This one has a beautiful conformation and ticks all the boxes. He will be educated and pre-trained by Liam Howley and Prima Park.”
He’s the first foal from Greg Perry’s VRC Victorian Oaks (Gr.1, 2500m) winner Aristia. The Vinery partner had sold Aristia (Lonhro) to First Light Racing at the 2017 Easter Sale and bought her back when she retired to stud. Perry also has her Group 1 winning half-sister Marabi (I Am Invincible) in foal to Zoustar.
Lot 278 Filly Street Boss – Sezanne
Boomer Bloodstock agent Craig Rounsefell targeted this cracking chestnut filly with a successful bid of $575,000 on Monday morning. She’s from a More Than Ready (USA) mare who was runner-up in a Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m). “We struck early to secure this Street Boss from Vinery,” Rounsefell reported. “She’s a special filly and her dam is a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Grace And Harmony.”
Lot 499 Filly Exceedance – Dublin Lass
The Exceedance filly from Kitchwin Hills sky-rocketed in value after her older brother Dublin Down won the VRC Maribyrnong Plate (Gr.3, 1000m) in the spring and ATC Pago Pago Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) last month. Pinhooked as a foal for $100,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Weanling Sale, she was worth $520,000 by time she presented as the penultimate yearling to parade (Lot 499) at the Inglis Easter Sale on Monday.
“It represents a thrilling milestone for our Stud Manager Oscar Engelbrecht,” Kitchwin Hills reported. “He sensed the promise of this filly from the moment she captured his attention as a foal. We can’t wait to follow this exceptional filly’s progress on the track with Ladbrokes Racing Club.
“We would also like to thank Henry Field and Newgate who have been steadfast supporters and played a significant role in our journey, particularly in the recent establishment of the Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills partnership.
Lot 386 Bay Colt Ole Kirk – Wayupinthesky
Vinery Stud gave its Group 1 freshman Ole Kirk an in-house vote of approval when paying another Hunter Valley vendor $350,000 for his colt from Flemington Stakes-winner Wayupinthesky on Monday.
Offered by North owner Mick Malone, he received another black-type update when close relation Riff Rocket (American Pharoah) won Saturday’s ATC Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) at Randwick for owner Debbie Kepitis.
“He’s a sharp colt with a strong hindquarter and has been purchased by a Vinery group,” bloodstock manager Adam White said. “Ole Kirk is an exciting stallion prospect and previous Vinery colts syndicates have included our current stallions Headwater and Exceedance.”
Vinery Stud sold 14 yearlings for turnover of $4.70 million during the two sessions of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and they averaged $335,714 off a 78% clearance rate. Vinery’s next consignment of yearlings numbers 12 lots at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale at Riverside Stables on Sunday, 28 April.
