Ellis Swoops on $625,000 Written Tycoon Colt

Media Release - Sunday January 24

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has purchased the last five Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winners and he believes he may have bought his sixth at Karaka on Sunday.

Ellis went to $625,000 to secure lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Group One performer Pussy O’Reilly, from Woburn Farm’s draft.

Te Akau Principal David Ellis purchased Lot 52 for $625,000 out of Woburn Farm’s draft. Photo: Trish Dunell

Ellis said he was immediately taken by the colt when he first inspected him at Woburn Farm prior to Christmas, and he just had to have the yearling bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.

“He was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and we fell in love with him when we first saw him in early December. I thought he was a colt we needed to have,” Ellis said.

The Karaka Million 2YO will be an obvious target for the colt, but Ellis is eyeing some other juvenile targets across the Tasman with his new acquisition.

“We are looking for horses that can win a Karaka Million and go on and be a Golden Slipper colt, and then come back and stand at stud,” Ellis said.

“This colt met all of that criteria. He is very athletic and had Karaka Million written all over him.

“I think he has got a lot of class and I thought we could keep him as a colt.

“He is a beautiful colt from a really good family, and we are thrilled to have him.”

While the $625,000 purchase price was a bit more than Ellis expected to go to, he said he was delighted to secure the colt he has judged in the top three in the sale.

Advertisement

“I went a bit more than I thought I would have to, but for these really top colts you have got to pay a little bit more,” he said.

“He is one of the top three in the sale.”

Buoyed by the great results on Karaka Million night for the tangerine and blue army, which included three wins on the six-race card, Ellis said he has been overwhelmed by the interest ahead of the Karaka sales this year.

“We have got huge interest in people wanting to buy shares in horses with us,” he said. “We are buying horses for all budgets and everybody will be welcome in the team.”

Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley was pleased with the result.

“He is a quality individual. He definitely has the wow factor but he is also easy to work with, a quick thinker and you can do anything with him,” he said.

“I thought the money was about right. We try to be realistic with our reserves. You have to get them going so he was on the market at $180,000.

“He has gone to a great stable. I couldn't be happier that Jamie (Richards) has him. He will be given all the right opportunities.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
2026 Inglis Yearling Sale Series Entries Open
Entries for the 2026 Inglis Select Yearling Sales Series – which will be headlined by the presence of the highly anticipated Snitzel x Winx colt at the Easter Sale – are now open.
Incredible Quality in Magic Millions Virtual Sale
A breeding right to the world's most prolific sire - by elite level strike rate - will stand alongside a swag of stakes performed fillies and mares in next month's Magic Millions August Virtual Sale, with the initial catalogue unveiled today.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
JRHA Foal Sale – Equinox Fever and Aussie Star Mares
The JRHA Select Sale continued on Tuesday with the prized foal session and while the sale-topper always looked an obvious one with the Equinox colt from Champion US Mare Midnight Bisou widely tipped to star, our Aussie bred mares still made their presence felt.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 27
Here is the full list of 54 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Colt from Aussie Glamour Girl Mosheen Tops JRHA Select Sale - Yearlings
The first day of the 2025 JRHA Select Sale featuring yearlings was held at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido on Monday and the horse that topped the session is a colt from four time Australian Group I winning mare Mosheen.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.