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01.
Sheikh to the fore at Easter Yearling Sale
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02/04/2002 |
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The world's biggest racehorse owner, Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, added to his thoroughbred empire by outlaying $3.315 million for five lots at today's opening session of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney.
Godolphin's Darley Australia paid the top price of $1.2 million for a Sunday Silence colt out of Duelling Girl, a half-sister to Faithful Son, and also snared a Danehill-Canny Miss colt for $950,000 at the William Inglis & Son sale.
Darley's bloodstock adviser John Ferguson said all their purchases would stay in Australia to race but as yet no trainer or trainers had been decided.
"The Sunday Silence colt is an outstanding individual by arguably the world's best stallion and is from a family we know well," Ferguson said.
"And the Danehill-Canny Miss is also a top individual and has got the pedigree to match. We are very happy to have him.
"All the horses we have bought will race in Australia with different major trainers."
Sunday Silence stands in Japan and Duelling Girl was served in the northern hemisphere before being brought back to Australia to have her foal at Arrowfield Stud.
The Danehill-Canny Miss colt is a full-brother to Group One winner Camarena who, like her mother, is owned by Darley. Canny Miss had a late foal last season and was sent to Kentucky where she has been served by the great Danzig.
Darley also paid $480,000 for a Danzero-Aphrodite filly, $425,000 for a Zabeel filly out of A Goodlookin Broad and $260,000 for a Loup Savage-Crowning Jewel filly.
Sunday Silence had the third top lot with a filly out of Grilse who was bought for $925,000 by William Inglis as agent on behalf of an undisclosed overseas client.
Irish bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne, who buys on behalf of the worldwide Coolmore group, paid $500,000 for a Danehill colt out of 1998 Magic Millions winner Catnipped while Gooree Stud outlaid $550,000 for a Zabeel colt out of Abbaye.
While the big buyers were out in force, there was still room for the smaller buyer.
Ray Brock, who became famous as a one-horse trainer with Group One winner Adam, purchased Adam's full-brother for $40,000.
Adam is now at stud and Brock is racing a filly called Apple with his new acquisition expanding his stable to two.
By Caryl Williamson
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