Lindsay Park Bloodstock purchased four of the nine yearlings consigned to the Gold Coast by Riversdale and two of them – Claudia Jean and Miss Idyllic – are now right in contention for the rich Gold Coast feature run on January 10.
"They really liked our draft and we are so thrilled to see them get such a good
result," said Nick Hodges.A $125,000 purchase, by Not a Single Doubt from Milzeel, Claudia Jean produced an impressive display on debut to win at Flemington on Saturday for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, while the stable missed narrowly in Sydney with Miss Idyllic
A $180,000 purchase by Exceed and Excel from Academy Idol; Miss Idyllic was beaten a head by Golden Slipper favourite Ottoman at Rosehill and with three seconds and a fourth from four starts will be one of the more experienced runners in the race.
"Claudia Jean surprised us a bit as she is out of a stoutly bred Zabeel mare, but she obviously has plenty of speed and Miss Idyllic has form around some very good horses, so is obviously well above average… and she won't be bumping into Ottoman at the Gold Coast!" Hodges said.
Riversdale will present 13 yearlings this time around including six as agent for Stratheden Stud (click here to see the full draft) and an obvious draft highlight is Lot 43, the half-brother to Miss Idyllic, by Sepoy from Academy Idol.
"He's really nice and being a colt is probably a bit bigger and has a bit more scope about him than Miss Idyllic did," Hodges said.
From the first crop of the Golden Slipper winner, this colt is from a good producing daughter of Made of Gold (USA) that has left two stakes performers in Chosen Idol and Miss Idyllic as well as another winner from her only three foals to race.
Lot 82 Colt Commands x Assertive Sound, by Zeditave
Half-brother to two winners from a full sister to multiple Group I winner and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Assertive Lad and dual Group I winner Assertive Lass, the dam of leading sire Reset.
From the second last crop of foals by champion sire Commands, who died earlier this year.
Lot 167 Colt More Than Ready (USA) x Cobbley, by Falbrav (IRE)
Stunning colt by a champion sire and reminiscent in appearance to his Golden Slipper winning son Sebring. Third foal of a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Loftily from the family of Zeditave.
Lot 171 Filly Sebring x Cool and Composed, by Stravinsky (USA)
From a metro winning half-sister to Group II winner The Big Chill from stakes-winner Icy Calm and is by a young sire that has soared to new heights in the past 12 months and could not be going any better.
Lot 730 Colt Zoffany (IRE) x Centaure (NZ), by Centaine
From the first crop of brilliant Group I winning 2YO Zoffany, a son of Danehill's best European based son Dansili, this colt is a half-brother to four winners from the family of Group I HK Champions Mile winner Sight Winner.
"Best walker I've ever had on the farm," said Nick Hodges.
"Everything about him moves with a rhythm. He'll be a trainer's horse for sure, you just have to see him for yourself."
Lot 873 Filly Beneteau x Shelbey, by Gilded Time (USA)
Half-sister to two winners from a winning half-sister to Group I winner Barkada and grand-daughter of Group I winner Strawberry Fair. Her ill-fated sire Beneteau died prematurely leaving just two crops of foals and is now the leading Australian First Season by winners (four) and earnings, his progeny including stakes-winner Prompt Return and metro winners Voilier and Aegean Sea.
"If Magic Millions had known Beneteau would hit the ground running as he has, she would undoubtedly have been in the first four sessions, but hindsight is a great judge and she's a lovely filly that will have plenty of appeal," Hodges said.
The Riversdale draft will be available for inspection at the Gold Coast from January 3.
For more information contact Nick Hodges on 0410 310 296
