French Colt Sold
18 August, 2013
The first yearling purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis in Europe has proved a real hit, being snapped up within an hour. Looking at his picture, you can see why shares in him sold in record time.
The leading individual buyer of yearlings for the past eight years at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales Series, David bought Lot 1, a Fastnet Rock (Danehill) colt out of Magnolia Lane (Sadler's Wells), for 70,000 Euro (NZ$115,000) at the Deauville Yearling Sales in France.
His dam, Magnolia Lane, is a sister to British superstar Yeats (Sadler's Wells) who won the Ascot Gold Cup (Gr. 1, 4023m) on four consecutive occasions. Recording seven Group One victories, including the Prix Royal Oak (3100m), Coronation Cup (2423m), and Irish St Leger (2816m), Yeats was arguably the best staying horse of all time.
The Champion 3YO colt and Champion sprinter of 2004-05 in Australia, Fastnet Rock was crowned Champion sire 2011-12 in Australia, and boasts Group One winning progeny including: Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Planet Rock, Foxwedge, Rock ‘n' Pop, Sea Siren, Irish Lights, and Wanted.
David says that he could not believe that he secured him at such a great price - "being early in the sale certainly paid off for us" he said.
The colt reminded David of Rock ‘n' Pop (Fastnet Rock), another son of the Champion sire that he syndicated to win the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Karaka Mile (L.) and who now stands as a freshman sire at Waikato Stud.
“I have never seen a more likely stallion prospect - he will be trained in Ireland by David Wachman, son in law of Coolmore's John Magnier, with races such as the Group 1 English Derby as his target. I visited the Wachman stable two years ago when I was in Ireland. It is a very impressive establishment, sporting its own gallop track - very much on a style with Ballydoyle. I know that this colt couldn't be in better hands in Ireland.
"The shares in our colt have been purchased by Peter Vela ONZM, Sir Patrick Hogan, Mohammed Moussa and Laurie Laxon and his career will be managed by me."
"This purchase heralds a whole new world of excitement and opportunity for our loyal Te Akau owners who from today can be involved on a truly international scale, not only in New Zealand and Singapore but also now in Europe, where we will be certainly active from this point on.
In the link below, the video icon shows the colt walking -
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