Yarradale Stud stallion War Chant (USA) has 16 colts and fillies catalogued for the two-day Perth Magic Millions and his ongoing influence is also evident as the damsire of another 7 yearlings.
War Chant is one of the great success stories of the WA breeding industry. A Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner at Churchill Downs, he became a multiple Group 1-winning sire at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky before Yarradale owner Ron Sayers had the funds and the foresight to bring him out here in 2011.
He’s the only son of breed-shaper Danzig (USA) still active in Australia and he returned a 72% fertility rating off a limited book earlier this season.
Yarradale’s yearling consignment this year is the first without Sayers at the helm, however, his wife Lyn along with bloodstock advisor Grant Burns and stud manager Bernie Hamill will endeavour to continue its regular Top 3 ranking for turnover at the Magic Millions.
War Chant came to the party this week with interstate winners Hokahey (Doomben) and Hooah Havana (Warrnambool). They improved his career-stats to 576 individual winners of 2,016 races at a precise strike-rate of 70%.
Hokahey (5m War Chant - Southern Princess by Southern Image) was a $60,000 graduate from the 2019 Perth Magic Millions and is on a hat-trick in Brisbane since joining trainer Jack Bruce.
“She came to me wearing blinkers plus a tongue-tie and cross-over nose-band,” the former Kiwi conditioner recalled. “She's a placid mare but was unsettled first-up at the Sunshine Coast so I decided to take all the gear off and she starting winning!
Hooah Havana (3c War Chant - Mojito City by Excellent Art) bolted in when a front-running first-up winner out of Lindsey Smith’s Warrnambool stable on Monday after being runner-up three times at Northam earlier this season.
“Two of those winners doubled up in town so the form out of Perth wasn’t that bad,” Smith explained. “I could have given him another hit-out but decided to trial for money today.”
Hooah Havana was a $27,500 graduate out of the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and Smith believes there’s improvement to come. “He has plenty of ability with a good turn of foot and he behaves even though he’s still a colt. We will take it one race at a time but he can make city grade in Melbourne.”
Bernie Hamill picked the War Chant - Edition colt (Lot 82) as one of the eye-catching lots of the Yarradale draft on Thursday.
“He’s big and strong and stands there as if to say; ‘Look at me’! He knows he’s an athlete and he’s been popular at the parades.”
Fellow Yarradale resident Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) has a well-bred filly from War Chant mare Habenera catalogued as Lot 102. The pedigree received an update in the New Year when her 3yo full-brother Berbere won a Pinjarra maiden on debut for Grant & Alana Williams.
“We sold her 2yo full-brother for $140,000 to Gangemi Racing here last year,” Hamill said. “She’s not as heavy as the colts but is a very nice type all the same.”
Yarradale offers another filly from the Shamardal sireline by Darley’s Group 1 Royal Ascot sprinter Blue Point (Ire). To be offered as Lot 12, she’s a half-sister to Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man) who won a G2 Karrakatta Plate for Gangemi Racing before transferring to Hong Kong where he won for the fourth time at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day.
“She’s very strong and correct,” Hamill said. “She’s a lovely-walking filly with the right attitude and will sell well.”
Yarradale’s diverse consignment also includes interstate-sired yearlings by Territories (Ire), Nicconi, Street Boss (USA), Toronado (Ire), Magnus (2), Lonhro and Written Tycoon.
The colt by Territories (I Am Invincible) kicks off the Swan Valley Sale as Lot 1. His dam Saturia (War Chant) won on debut at Belmont for trainer Paul Jordan and her first foal – a colt by Harry Angel (Ire) – was a $100,000 buy for Mitch Pateman last year.
Day 1 of the Perth Magic Millions commences at 3pm (AEST) on Thursday. Lot 178 starts Day 2 at 1pm (AEST) on Friday.
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