Bloodstock Agent Paul Moroney knew he had found an elite specimen when he identified Lot 954, a daughter of exciting young stallion Turn Me Loose, in the Book 2 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
It seems others shared that opinion, with the astute judge having to stretch to $220,000 to secure the good-moving filly.
Consigned by her breeders Windsor Park Stud, the filly is out of the Don Eduardo mare Nightofpassion and comes from an illustrious family including multiple Group One winner Danzdanzdance and three-time Australian Group One winner Lucia Valentina.
Not making her appearance in the auction ring until near the tail of the day’s bidding action, New Zealand Bloodstock’s Kane Jones lodged the successful bid on behalf of Moroney and prominent racehorse owner Mark Wyborn, for whom Moroney had strongly recommended the filly.
“From the time I saw her here at the complex it was pretty clear to me that she was the outstanding filly in the sale, in both Book 1 or Book 2,” Moroney said.
“She was just an absolutely great bodied filly, just everything I look for in a horse including big ears which is something I look for in all fillies.
“She was very correct and more importantly, she really moved.
“To me she had a lot of Eight Carat about her through Diamond Lover, the dam of Don Eduardo.
“Turn Me Loose is on his way as a sire and he has already proved he can get stakes winners, so he is not kicking off but an emerging sire, so that gave me a lot of positives.
“I just fell in love with her.”
Moroney advised he had been searching for a filly of this type for quite some time for Wyborn, who had asked him to find one that was a change of strategy for him as he normally buys staying types.
“Mark had spoken with me and was looking to change his strategy slightly,” Moroney said.
“In recent times he has wanted to buy horses that he feels are slightly sharper and could compete at the highest level at a mile, while having sufficient pedigree to perhaps get over further.
“She certainly struck me as that type of filly, and she is from a family with two of the best fillies that have raced here and in Australia in the last few years.
“When I told him about her, I obviously convinced him, and he has had a real crack at her.
“I’ve been also helping out some other people over the course of the sale and I know they were also aware that she was a very nice filly, so it was no surprise to see how popular she was.”
Windsor Park Stud owner Rodney Schick was over the moon with the sale, especially to Wyborn who has been a long-term family friend.
“She is a beautiful filly and Paul is one of the best judges in the game,” he said.
“Mark Wyborn is a great friend of our family and I hope she goes on to do the job for him.
“She was very popular, but we weren’t sure what level she would reach.
“It’s also great for Turn Me Loose as he is doing the job and he deserves a sale like that which is the highest price he has fetched for a yearling.”
A triple Group One winning miler, Turn Me Loose is represented by two runners in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie including last-start Group Three winner Alabama Gold and impressive debut winner Lickety Split.
A son of Iffraaj, the offspring of Turn Me Loose have been in rich form of late, with Smiling Collector a strong debut winner in Hong Kong last Sunday, while his Group Three performed daughter Ancient Girl will contest Monday’s Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m). – NZ Racing Desk
