He may have only won at grade II level, but Darley’s homebred freshman stallion hope Untouchable (Danehill-Canny Miss) is completely outshining the host of more impressive shuttlers as the first two days of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale ended on Sunday evening in Australia.
Victorian agent Peter Ford (acting for Cranbourne trainer Robbie Griffiths) outbid Newcastle trainer Paul Perry and paid the second session top price (and a new sale record) of Aus$240,000 (US$187,000) for a colt by the imposing looking son of Danehill, (this the third foal out of winning Ministerial mare Vote For Venus).
The previous record was $220,000 paid for subsequent group I winner and now Eliza Park Stud sire God’s Own at the 2004 Classic Sale. The Untouchable colt was consigned by Boomerang Berrima Stud (on behalf of Darryl Austin’s South Coast Thoroughbreds).
Robbie Griffiths summed up: “One way or another, this colt was coming home. I think he’s the ideal type for next year’s Inglis Classic race; in fact, he’s the best colt in the sale: no question about it. I bought him on spec too: I’m that confident.” Untouchable, whose debut fee was a paltry $7,000, has sold through the roof at both Magic Millions and now Classic.
Choisir’s former trainer Perry, unperturbed by loosing the Untouchable colt, paid $210,000 for a filly by fellow Darley sire Street Cry(the second foal out of winning Canny Lad mare Bit Tiddly) also consigned by Ken Rose’s Boomerang Berrima Stud. The filly’s dam Bit Tiddly is a half-sister to last season’s multiple stakes-winning juvenile I Got Chills and Perry commented: “She was certainly a lovely filly: really well put together & great balance, with a good family too.”
Prominent Sydney trainer Tim Martin paid Aus$175,000 for another colt by Untouchable (the second foal out of dual winning Zabeel mare Bental Sharen) consigned by Barador Stud. Martin summed up: “They speak for themselves. The Untouchables are just outstanding types, as the sale topper ($240,000 colt reported earlier) indicates.”
Victoria’s Peter Ford Thoroughbreds paid the Day-1 top price of Aus$160,000 (U.S.$125,000) for a colt by Coolmore shuttler Tale Of The Cat (the sixth foal out of winning Spectacular Spy mare Princess Zakynthos) during the opening session of the three-day Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Newmarket in Sydney. The colt (consigned by Scone-based Holbrook Thoroughbreds) is a half-brother to multiple stakes-placed Zakynthos Star and Ford commented: “The colt is a tremendous type and I’m very pleased to be taking this yearling back to Victoria. He’s really well put together and appears to be an early type and, therefore, don’t be surprised to see us back here for the 2008 Inglis Classic race.”
The colt’s dam Princess Zakynthos is a half-sister to six-time winner multiples stakes-placed Emigrant. Visiting New Zealand agent Tony Pike paid Aus$125,000 for another colt by Darley sire Exceed And Excel (the 3rd foal foal out of dual U.S.-winning Cure The Blues mare Queen Of The Blues) consigned by Denman-based Amarina Farm while former jockey turned trainer Craig Carmody paid Aus$170,000 for a colt by exciting Arrowfield Stud sire Hussonet (the second foal out of triple-winning Lure mare Absolute Lure) consigned by Kitchwin Hills.
Cumulatively over the initial two days at the Inglis Classic Sale, 239 yearlings have sold for Aus$10,149,000 (U.S.$7,893,000) at an average $42,464 and a median $30,000. Managing director Jamie Inglis noted: “Most importantly, vendors have been rewarded for presenting quality yearlings at this sale, while an international buying bench continues to find this the ideal venue.”