Leading Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm has a proven track record for success and under the new ownership of Jason and Melanie Stenning (Trilogy Racing) and Sean and Cathy Dingwall they were looking to make their presence felt at Magic Millions and did so in spectacular fashion selling an outstanding Snitzel colt on Wednesday for $1.3million.
The colt from Vaujany was purchased by Te Akau boss David Ellis, who has been buying up a storm at this sale with their new training centre at Cranbourne in Victoria paving the way for a far greater presence in Australia for the tangerine colours.
“We thought that he was just one of the most beautiful colts you’d (have seen) in 10 years,” said Ellis.
“He’s a ripper and it was interesting that John O’Shea was the underbidder and came up to me and said ‘this is the best Snitzel I have ever seen, can you go back to New Zealand quickly please’.
“He’s a pretty good judge, too.
“We’re just thrilled to have horses like this to train in our stable at Cranbourne. He’ll go home, he’ll get broken in to race this time next year.”
Ellis has purchased three colts so far for $1million or more and is not done yet.
“He’ll race under my colts syndicate,” he said.
“He’s similar the I Am Invincible (lot 19) - just absolute class. Just loved his pedigree and thought he was a classy individual and if you want to beat the best trainers in Australia, you’ve got to start with the best horses.”
The $1.3million colt is the second foal of Lonhro mare Vaujany, an unraced sister to Group II winner Ghisoni (dam of SW Renosu) and half-sister to the dam of Group III winner Larkspur Run. Bred by Godolphin, Vaujany was purchased by the old Blue Gum Farm at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $550,000 and is from Group II winner Portillo from the family of Group I winner Snowland.
Vaujany was not covered in 2022, but is now back in foal to Zoustar.
