Ned Toffey of US-owned operation Spendthrift says the stud remains committed to its Australian breeding and racing investment and is determined to increase the quality of stallions at its Victorian base.
Spendthrift Australia, who race last-start T L Baillieu Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) winning juvenile and ATC Champagne Stakes bound colt Irukandji (Dundeel), yesterday bought a colt by Woodside Park’s sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) for $800,000.
Catalogued as Lot 218, the Sledmere Stud-consigned colt is the third foal out of the twice-winning Ad Valorem (Danzig) mare Maidel. She is a half-sister to Listed winner Meidung (Bernardini), who is the dam of Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Banish (Lonhro).
Spendthrift Farm’s US-based general manager Ned Toffey said: “We are basically trying to build a stallion roster through the yearling market, which is not an easy thing to do, but we have had some success and we are going to continue on that path.”
Toffey admitted it had been tough going in the early days of Spendthrift Australia but believes there was growing support for their organisation and stallions from local breeders.
“I would say it has been a bit harder but with any new establishment it takes time for people to get to know us and as that has happened, we have been able to build our base of breeders,” he said.
“Often when you stand a stallion you will see the mare numbers decline in subsequent years, but so far it has been the opposite and that is just a function of people getting a bit more used to us.”
Treen Murphy of Sledmere Stud expressed her delight at the result, which was a record price for the farm.
“We’re really excited about it, it’s the most expensive horse the farm has ever sold. We knew from the moment he was born that he would be a standout and coming down here he’s been extremely well received and all the right people had him on their list,” said Murphy.
“He walked like a panther, he had a mission. Has a really powerful hind quarter and he came out every time like a true professional.
“We knew we had a nice horse and coming down we thought we might have a $300,000 horse, so to get $800,000 is obviously amazing. He was certainly the most popular horse we’ve ever taken to a sale.
“It certainly helped that it has been a great year for the sire, for sure.”