Ellis Returns After 20 Years

ANZ Bloodstock News reports on the January 2016 Gold Coast Sale headlines:

ELLIS RETURNS AFTER 20 YEARS ...

David Ellis returned to the sale after a 20-year absence and made his presence felt when he went to A$480,000 to secure Lot 331, a colt by first season sire Pierro (Lonhro) out of the Group One-winning mare Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock).

“He's a beautiful colt and we have bought him to put into a syndicate for future stallions,” David Ellis told ANZ Bloodstock News.

“We will buy one here and three in Karaka. He is a colt that we think should make a two year-old. He is out of one of Fastnet Rock's best mares and we are really excited to have him in our stable and thrilled to be able to buy him on a day when you have the best prices I have probably seen at a public auction. It bodes well for Karaka in two weeks time.”

A regular visitor to the Magic Millions National Sale, Ellis has not purchased at this sale for some two decades.

“I have bought a lot of good horses at Magic Millions at the June Sale and I have bought some good horses here but have not purchased at this sale for probably 20 years,” he said.

“I wanted to buy some speed and precocious horses to go with what I buy at Karaka.”

The colt was consigned by Coolmore Stud, where his sire stands and whose Michael Kirwan said:

“Our expectation coming to the sale was that there would be strong demand for the progeny of Pierro and it's certainly proving to be the case. We've had a high opinion of the Irish Lights colt since he was a foal and he hasn't disappointed here. He's a very powerful horse now but that said, I still feel he has huge improvement in him and I'm very excited by what he might develop into in another 12 months - I'm sure David Ellis is too.”

Pierro has seen a total of 23 of his 24 lots offered sell for a combined $4,230,000 at an average of $183,913 and Kirwan added:

“The feedback on the Pierro yearlings has been hugely positive and while we're only halfway through the sale, he already looks set to have strong representation with all the leading trainers next season. He's got some of his best credentialled yearlings to sell, including Fairway's brother to Vancouver, the Monsoon Wedding filly and some lovely horses from the likes of Sledmere, Strawberry Hill, Kitchwin, Edinburgh Park and company, so he's on track for a very successful sale.

"His credentials are impossible to fault and it's exciting to see his progeny finding favour with so many of the leading judges. It certainly bodes well for his prospects of developing into a top sire of the future.”