Victorian owner-breeder Matt Stevens has forged closer links with trainer Lloyd Kennewell after they bought a bargain filly by Snitzel from Vinery Stud at the Gold Coast Magic Millions on Friday.
Stevens is based at Edgar Park in Longwarry and he was still walking on air at the West Gippsland boutique farm on Saturday morning. He landed Lot 887 late on Day 4 for $300,000 with Kennewell and Group 1 Bloodstock agent Matt Becker.
The Snitzel filly was also the last yearling to parade in Vinery’s Book 1 consignment. The $300,000 addition sent the Stud’s final figures to 22 sold at a $212,727 average for an overall aggregate of $4.68million.
“She’s a gorgeous filly and we’re thrilled to take her home,” Stevens said. “There’s no better trainer going around in Victoria than Lloyd and we trust Matt’s judgement. I bought yearlings by Dundeel and Encryption with them last year.
“Snitzel speaks for himself and her dam Love You Lucy just built and built as a racehorse. We will race her with a few of our partners and hopefully we’re looking forward to a big career both on and off the track.”
Love You Lucy (Love Conquers All) broke her maiden as an autumn 2yo filly at Kilcoy and developed into a class-act as a 4yo mare at the 2020 Brisbane winter carnival winning the Silk Stocking (LR, 1200m) on the Gold Coast and Dane Ripper Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Second-dam Whitechapel (Giant’s Causeway) was a multiple-winning daughter of Group 2 MVRC Sunline Stakes winner Spurn (Flying Spur) and the next dam down Espiare (Licorice Stick) was a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed in New Zealand.
Vinery freshman Ole Kirk commenced Friday’s session with a combined $400,000 for a Vinery consigned filly from Fursa (Lot 695) and a Milburn Creek colt out of Glamorize (Lot 712).
The pace picked up later on Day 4 when trainer Ciaron Maher and David Redvers Bloodstock paid $270,000 for the Gilgai Farm-consigned Ole Kirk filly catalogued as Lot 835. Her dam La Passe (Street Sense) was a Group 2 winner at Flemington and Caulfield and her first two foals by All Too Hard are both winners.
Gilgai Farm owner Rick Jamieson bred Ole Kirk and he sold the stallion’s Vellor filly to Bjorn Baker for $325,000 on Day 2. He had also judiciously put La Passe (Street Sense) at the front of the queue for Ole Kirk’s first book. “I’m confident Ole Kirk will play a major role at Vinery,” Jamieson said back then. “I predict he will be a great speed stallion of the future.”
Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) has three yearlings on offer during Day 5 trade on Saturday evening including Lot 994 – the Gilgai Farm colt from Music Bay (Choisir). He’s the first foal of a mare who won the 2019 Queen Of The South Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Morphettville.