The Hong Kong Jockey Club bought six colts for a total outlay of A$4.6 million (approximately HK$27.64 million) at the recent 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, held at Riverside Stables Sydney.
After keeping its powder dry through the premier sale’s opening day, the Jockey Club team stuck to its guns on day two (10 April) to land a good-looking and athletic son of the G1 sire I Am Invincible. The hammer fell at A$1 million for Lot 223.
The colt is the first foal of Marianne, G2-placed and hailing from a good black type family.
When a handsome Snitzel half-brother to a Listed winner entered the ring 18 lots later, the Club secured his purchase for A$900,000. The bay’s dam, the four-time winner Miss Sharapova, is a half-sister to the high-class sprinter Villa Verde from a family that has produced G1 Golden Slipper winner Rory’s Jester and G1 Caulfield Cup heroine Southern Speed.
The auction’s final session saw the Club seal four buys, including another seven-figure I Am Invincible youngster. Lot 416 is a half-brother to the G1 South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix, out of the G3-placed mile winner Utopia.
The very next lot through the ring was another athletic Snitzel colt. As with the same sire’s offering on day two, the Jockey Club signed the purchase docket for A$900,000. The bay’s dam, the mile winner Vaayala, is a half-sister to a champion in the form of six-time G1 scorer Dundeel; his third dam is the G1-winning New Zealand champion filly Staring.
That was the third Snitzel secured, the Club having paid A$260,000 for the well-related Lot 357. The chestnut is a half-brother to a pair of Pattern race winners in the shapes of G1-placed Quiet Oasis and G3 scorer Young Pretender. His dam is a granddaughter of the champion filly Park Express, from a family that has yielded the champion New Approach amongst a slew of black type earners.
The Club also acquired an athletic Fastnet Rock colt for A$540,000. Lot 340 is a half-brother to Listed scorer Saturn Rock and Hong Kong winner Winnie’s Honey, being out of the G3-placed Satin Robes.
Purchase details
Lot 223 b c I Am Invincible ex Marianne (Darci Brahma) A$1,000,000 (approx. HK$6,009,000)
Lot 241 b c Snitzel ex Miss Sharapova (Ustinov) A$900,000 (Approx. HK$5,408,000)
Lot 340 b c Fastnet Rock ex Satin Robes (Ne Coupez Pas) A$540,000 (approx. HK$3,245,000)
Lot 357 ch c Snitzel ex Silent Heir (Sunday Silence) A$260,000 (approx. HK$1,562,000)
Lot 416 b c I Am Invincible ex Utopia (High Chaparral) A$1,000,000 (approx. HK$6,009,000)
Lot 417 b c Snitzel ex Vaayala (Volksraad) A$900,000 (Approx. HK$5,408,000)
