Magic Success for First Season Sires - Merchant Navy, Churchill, Caravaggio
Coolmore’s big gun first season sire Merchant Navy performed well at the 2021 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast this well with 19 yearlings in Book 1 averaging $205,263 and his best result a $500,000 colt from Brugal Reward bought by Belmont Bloodstock.
Consigned by B2B Thoroughbreds, the handsome bay colt is the first foal of Group III winning Reward for Effort mare Brugal Reward, who comes from the family of Champion Sprinter and eight time Group I winner Apache Cat.
B2B Thoroughbreds will be thrilled with the result as Brugal Reward produced a full brother to this colt last spring.
Merchant Navy also did well with a colt from Shrill (GB) fetching $425,000 for Cressfield when knocked down to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and another colt from Dee Nine Elle making $400,000 for Bhima Thoroughbreds when secured by Black Soil Bloodstock/John Foote Bloodstock/Gollan Racing.
His top priced filly from Alice’s Smart (USA) made $340,000 for Edinburgh Park when secured by Moody Racing.
The filly is a half-sister to stakes-placed Miss Wonderland and Spencer and is closely related to Group II winner Glenfiddich and $2million earner Eleven Eleven, who are both by Merchant Navy’s sire Fastnet Rock.
Champion Galileo son Churchillmade his mark with eight yearlings averaging $141,875 with his top seller a colt from Heaven’s Touch selling for $250,000.
Consigned by Willow Park, the colt was bought by Anthony Freedman Racing/Blue Sky Bloodstock P/L and is from a half-sister by Choisir to Group I winner Captain Sonador.
Heaven’s Touch produced a colt by Deep Impact’s exciting young son Saxon Warrior last spring and is now in foal to dual Group I winner Magna Grecia.
Caravaggio came out to Australia for just one season, but the dashing grey Group I winning son of Scat Daddy has left some terrific types and had 13 yearlings average $105,769 with top honours shared at $170,000 for two colts from Girluphigh and Kimblewick.
Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed the docket for the colt from Girluphigh (IRE) that was offered by Sledmere Stud and features an imported pedigree packed with Black Type performers.
Lime Country Thoroughbreds offered the colt from well bred Lonhro mare Kimblewick and he was snapped up by Duncan Ramage of DGR Thoroughbreds.