The positive reception afforded the progeny of many first season sires at the 2020 Magic Millions Yearling Sale this year was one of the highlights of the sale and particularly interesting is the top three sires by average, who are all shuttle sires led by Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA).
American Pharoah was the most expensive stallion to retire to stud in 2017 and for breeders that gambled on him at the big fee of $66,000, their faith has been vindicated.
Being a champion racehorse is one thing, but being a champion sire is another and for American Pharoah’s supporters the results coming out of the Northern Hemisphere last year would have been music to their ears.
American Pharoah has had 28 first crop winners, 12 of them Black Type performers spread across six different countries which basically means everyone from everywhere has a healthy respect for his stock.
That respect reflected in great sale ring results with 20 yearlings averaging $350,000 which was good enough to make him the fourth most successful sire by average behind only I Am Invincible, Redoute’s Choice and Exceed and Excel and ahead of Not a Single Doubt and Snitzel.
His best result the colt from Derelique offered by Lime Country Thoroughbreds and snapped up by Tom Magnier for $850,000, the single best result for first season sire at this sale.
Darley’s dashing grey Tapit son Frosted (USA) only had three yearlings catalogued, but all were sold for good money which bodes very well for the upcoming Inglis Premier Yearling Sale which will feature 15 of his offspring.
Top seller for Frosted was the half-sister to Santa Ana Lane from Fast Fleet that made $650,000 for Widden Stud when bought by Spendthrift Australia.
Arrowfield Stud would be over the moon with the performance of Invincible Spirit’s Shalaa (IRE), a Champion 2YO, whose profile does look well suited to Australia given the success of this sireline through I Am Invincible.
His best result was $600,000 for an Arrowfield Stud consigned colt from Jemison that was bought by John Sadler Racing and is a half-brother to Hong Kong G1 winner Contentment.
Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winner Capitalist had big numbers at the sale with 33 averaging $237,879 and was the most successful of the first season sires by aggregate, his stock generating $7,850,000.
Respected bloodstock agent James Harron bought the two highest priced yearlings by Capitalist, which only seemed fitting given he bought the son of Written Tycoon as a yearling at this sale for $165,000 back in 2015.
If James can’t find the best of his offspring, you would wonder who could!
He signed for a Newgate consigned colt from Booklet for $750,000 and a Segenhoe consigned colt from Rough Ride for $600,000. The Capitalist offspring were particularly popular with trainers and syndicators.
The other two sires with more than three sold to average over $200,000 were a couple of very interesting horses in Divine Prophet (Aquis) and Star Turn (Vinery), both of whom stood for $22,000 in 2017.
Given their fee, they have both punched well above their weight.
A Caulfield Guineas winning son of Choisir, Divine Prophet had eight offered and all sold with his best result a colt from Tellora that made $375,000 for Lyndhurst Farm when bought by Ardross Bloodstock.
A brilliant sprinting son of Star Witness, that narrowly missed being a G1 winner, Star Turn did best with a $550,000 colt from Dukemore that was offered by Glenlogan Park and bought by Hawkes Racing, who also trained his sire.
