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Cressfield
Words / Renée Geelen
C
ressfield’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates have been in the winner’s circle lately with Gr2 winner Jamaea (Headwater) winning the 2021 Gr2 Furious Stakes and Gr2 Percy Sykes Stakes, while fouryear-old mare Hellfest (Fastnet Rock) won the 2022 Gr.3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes. Group placed winner Aquagirl is still racing, and won the 2021 Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO & 4YO Classic, as well as placing in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes earlier in her career. Bluebloods spoke to Cressfield’s General Manager Wayne Bedggood.
What is the best horse you have sold through Magic Millions? I think that Egyptian Symbol wins out here although technically she was not sold – so perhaps it is actually Missrock! Anyway, both were pretty handy race mares and are now making a name as broodmares.
When assessing breeding which influences/key horses do you mainly look for? The broodmare sire is very important to me, as are line breeding and in breeding crosses; but I am more swayed by the dam’s overall pedigree and the strength in her maternal lines.
Do you still get butterflies as your yearling enters the ring? Absolutely, especially when the expectations are extremely high! I’ll probably give the game away when I don’t get nervous anymore.
What makes Magic Millions at the Gold Coast such a success? It’s a combination of factors that include but are not limited to; - The Summer Holidays which encourages people to bring their families for a vacation whilst incorporating the ‘work’ of sales, - The generally beautiful weather where a swim in the ocean or walk on the beach can be had before and after sales days, - Most forms of entertainment, feasting and recreation can be found within minutes of the complex, - And of course, an incredible and very lucrative racing carnival and sale that cement it all together. The 2023 draft from Cressfield is an opportunity for breeders to buy into some incredible families, with only four colts among the draft of twelve yearlings. The headline act, on paper, is the second foal of Gr1 Robert Sangster Stakes winning sprinter Spright (Hinchinbrook), and this colt, Lot 417, is by Australia’s hottest stallion I Am Invincible, making him a three-quarter brother to group placed two year-old winner Mine Two (I Am Invincible). Spright’s first foal is a two year-old colt by Zoustar. An All Too Hard filly, Lot 288, from Gr1 winner Regimental Gal has huge residual value, especially given that this yearling is a half-sister to Gr.3 winner Lilliburlero and stakes placed winner Vimy, who is the dam of Gr2 Pago Pago Stakes winner Souchez. Lilliburlero has a colt by first season sire Pierata in this draft, and he is Lot 66 and a half-brother to stakes placed winner Regimental Band. Selected by Aquis Farm’s Jon Davis as the best of the Pieratas in this sale, Lot 274 is a filly who is the second foal out of Gr2 winner Quilista. Quilista won nine races, four at black type level, and is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Red Can Man, with both being out of early maturing stakes placed winner Brocky’s Ace. Gr2 winner Wild Rain won eight races, four at stakes level, as well as placing in the Gr1 AJ Moir Stakes. Her Snitzel filly, Lot 55, is her fourth foal, and she is from the family of Northerly and current group winning sprinter Overpass.
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