FIRST FOALS OF $2.5m COLT!
In the heady days of 2008 a slashing bay colt stepped into the sale ring at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and set the tongues wagging and the heads nodding.
The bidding climbed higher and higher. One million, two million …… This was pre GFC. Money flowed like water bursting over a spillway. If you were not stretching yourself to a million or more then it was a waste of time walking the top lots on offer out of their box for inspection.
By the time the bidders had kinks in their necks and could nod no more, the auctioneer was spruiking $2.5m for the third and final time for this wonderful colt by Redoute’s Choice who certainly had the million dollar walk.
This colt had it all. As a half relation to a Group 1 winner whose full brother was also a stakes performer – this colt was special. His half-sister gave a gentle reminder of what a brilliant family this was earlier in the season when she stepped out and won the Gimcrack Stakes.
By the gun sire in Redoute’s Choice he was a must have colt and when the dust settled it was breeding giant Darley who took him home.
The fact that he did not even finish as the top priced lot on offer, that honour going to another son of Redoute’s Choice, defies logical thought in these post GFC days. The highest priced lot was a $2.7m colt that had six starts without winning before finding himself off to Malaysia.
The $2.5m colt, later named Killy, never raced but certainly finished with the better end of the stick than the sale topper.
As befitting his breeding Killy would always have an opportunity at stud. The Gimcrack Stakes winner that season was the wonderful Red Ransom filly Portillo who also went on to claim the Surround Stakes and the Magic Night Stakes.
She in turn was a half sister to the classy galloper Snowland, the first foal of outstanding broodmare Snowdrift, and had already stamped his class on the track with a win in the Group 1 Galaxy. Snowland (by Snippets) had speed to burn and burn he did on the way to victories in the Todman Slipper Trial, the Up and Coming Stakes, the Roman Consul, the Kindergarten, the Gosford Slipper and the Canonbury Stakes.
In all Snowland was a winner of nine races and over $1m in prizemoney but his stud career has been hampered by fertility problems. Despite this he did leave his mark as a sire with the classy mare Absolute Glam, a Group One winner who claimed the Tatts Winter Stakes among 3 stakes wins and just under $1m in prizemoney.
Snowlands full brother Snippetson, two years younger, was a duel stakeswinner claiming the Eskimo Prince and Maurice McCarten Stakes and his stud career is full of promise with Group 2 winner Smart Clip and Listed winner Miss Upstart leading the charge.
Snowdrift also left the unraced Marscay horse Freeze who sired the Maribynong Platye winner Arctic Command leaving her with the enviable record of three sons who have all sired Group winning progeny.
That in turn brings us to the $2.5m Easter yealing Killy who will attempt to stretch that record to four from four for Snowdrift. With a stable full of super stallions it is not surprising Killy was never offered a room in the Darley breeding barn and he will have to earn his keep the hard way.
With a small book of 10 mares Killy has his first foals on the ground this season at Tareena Bloodstock. It is his first step towards emulating his half brothers that have all sired stakeswinners but Killy is keeping good company.
Alongside Killy at Tareena is another former Darley galloper in Manton, a full brother to successful West Australian based sire Blackfriars. Earlier this season Manton had his first stakes winner from limited runners with Disputes successful in the Reginal Allen Handicap.
Who is to say Killy’s progeny won’t also find some black type and perhaps that runner has already been foaled this season at Tareena.
Released by Rod Manning
