An athletic More Than Ready colt topped the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s 11 purchases at last week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale (Book 1) in Australia. The hammer fell at AUS$480,000 for the youngster, while the Club’s aggregate spend across the four-day (11 - 14 January) auction was AUS$2,645,000 (approximately HK$15.4 million).
The brown colt, Lot 367, is from the family of G1 Hong Kong Sprint hero All Thrills Too and the G1-winning mare Lucia Valentina. His dam, the four-time sprint scorer Red Queen, has already produced a classy performer in G2 winner Luke’s Luck. More Than Ready’s progeny includes star Australian gallopers More Joyous and Sebring.
That purchase came on the sale’s second day - an active session for the Jockey Club, which secured six yearlings during Thursday’s trade. Also among that sextet was an eye-catching colt, Lot 261, by the young sire Pierro, a champion racer at age two and three in Australia. The youngster, a AUS$400,000 buy, is from the same family as the champions Starspangledbanner, Haradasun and Elvstroem.
A quiet opening preceded Thursday’s action. The Club spent AUS$170,000 on one first day buy, Lot 185, a Declaration Of War half-brother to G3 winner Lovemelikearock and three-time Hong Kong scorer Ichiban. The family has also produced the likes of Arazi, Noverre and Ajdal.
Two acquisitions followed on Friday and again on Saturday. Friday’s buys featured Lot 489, a AUS$200,000 High Chaparral colt whose second dam is the two-time New Zealand G1 winner Love Dance, while Saturday’s final session saw the Jockey Club secure Lot 737, a Choisir colt from a family replete with winners, including G1 C F Orr Stakes victor Racer’s Edge.
Purchase details
Lot 185 ch c Declaration of War ex Love All (Mt. Livermore) AUS$170,000 (Approx. HKD$ HK$954,000)
Lot 261 b c Pierro ex Nataya Rose (Canny Lad) AUS$400,000 (Approx. HKD$2,340,000)
Lot 341 ch c Starcraft ex Purring Flyer (Catbird) AUS$200,000 (Approx. HKD$1,170,000)
Lot 367 br c More Than Ready ex Red Queen (Redoute’s Choice) AUS$480,000 (Approx. HKD$2,808,000)
Lot 368 ch c Eurozone ex Red Rhonda (General Nediym) AUS$210,000 (Approx. HKD$1,229,000)
Lot 472 ch c Testa Rossa ex Song Shan (Al Maher) AUS$180,000 (Approx. HKD$1,053,000)
Lot 480 b or br c Smart Missile ex Spirit Song (Invincible Spirit) AUS$150,000 (Approx. HKD$878,000)
Lot 489 b c High Chaparral ex Stratance (Stratum) - AUS$200,000 (Approx. HKD$1,178,000)
Lot 662 b or br c Sizzling ex Belle Feline (Tale Of The Cat) - AUS$130,000 (Approx. HKD$765,700)
Lot 737 b c Choisir ex Couredge (Show A Heart) AUS$325,000 (Approx. HKD$1,915,000)
Lot 784 b c Hinchinbrook ex Double Malt (Whiskey Wisdom) AUS$200,000 (Approx. HKD$1,178,000)
