Germany’s premier yearling auction - the BBAG sale at Baden-Baden - earlier this week attracted its largest number of buyers and would-be purchasers in many a year, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club was among them, securing a Mamool (In The Wings) colt for €200,000.
Lot 72 was much sought after, being a half-brother to one of Germany’s current top three-year-old colts Lucky Lion, winner of the G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis (2000m) in July as well as the German 2,000 Guineas, the G2 Mehl-Muhlens Rennen (1600m).
“This horse is an athlete with good speed on his dam’s side and he’s half-brother to a Group 1 winner. He looks very much like a horse that can go on and hopefully do well in Hong Kong,” said Mark Richards, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Manager, International Sale.
“Two years ago we bought Bullish Smart at this sale and he went on to be Champion Griffin last season, so it made common sense to come back and have another look. German-bred horses are very reliable and this fellow’s pedigree gives plenty of hope that he might have some speed and class too. Mamool isn’t a high-profile sire and we haven’t had one by him in Hong Kong yet, but he’s been able to prove himself with limited mares and now we’re seeing him get better opportunities.”
Purchase details
Lot 72 b c Mamool ex Lips Arrow (Big Shuffle) €200,000 (HK$2.04 million)
Pedigree note
This youngster’s sire, Mamool, is also responsible for the smart Italian G2 victor Orsino and the classic winner Lips Poison, winner of the German 1,000 Guineas (1600m) in 2011. Lips Poison is therefore a three-parts sister to Lot 72 who is out of that mare’s half-sister, the Listed-winning sprinter Lips Arrow (Big Shuffle). The latter, a speedy individual who was also G3-placed twice over 1200m, has already produced a top-class half-brother to the bay yearling in the form of Lucky Lion (High Chaparral), winner of four (1800m-2000m) of five career starts this season. Lucky Lion’s impressive record features wins in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis (2000m) and G2 Mehl-Mulhens Rennen (1600m), with his only defeat being a second place in the G1 Deutsches Derby (2400m). Mamool was a durable and high-class performer for Godolphin, winning the G3 Queen’s Vase (3200m) at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old and landing a quick-fire G1 double in Germany at four - among eight wins (1600m-2400m) spread across five seasons. He has produced smart runners including Lucas Cranach, a G2 winner in Australia (1800m) and Germany (2400m) and third in the 2011 G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
