The big field of 16 Blue Diamond contenders features 11 that were sold at auction so let’s take a look at their sale origins with Lindsay Park Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock both purchasing two runners.
The Lindsay Park team certainly got some great value in Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel (IRE) and Little Brose (Per Incanto (USA).
Arkansaw Kid cost $190,000 at Inglis Classic and has already banked over $300,000 with a debut win in the $500,000 Inglis Banner last spring.
Little Brose was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase and won the Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes last spring beating Cylinder, who won the Group II ATC Silver Slipper last Saturday. He’s already won nearly $200,000 and was beaten a neck by Barber in the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.
Both colts were offered for sale by Sledmere Stud, so it’s a safe bet the Lindsay Park Racing team will be beating a path to future drafts from this highly successful Hunter Valley nursery.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have two runners and they are also the most expensive Veecee (Capitalist) bought for $750,000 and Steel City for $700,000.
Consigned by Tyreel Stud, Veecee was the most expensive yearling by Capitalist sold in 2022 and Steel City the most expensive yearling ever for Merchant Navy and was plucked from the Coolmore draft.
The China Horse Club/ Newgate Partnership spend a fortune on colts at the sales and they have one runner in Don Corleone (Extreme Choice), who was a $650,000 Magic Millions weanling purchase from Gilgai Farm.
