Yarradale Stud brand thriving for Perth Magic Millions

Media Release - Tuesday February 13

Yarradale Stud Manager Davy Hanratty is confident this year’s consignment of 24 yearlings to the Perth Magic Millions is the best since he arrived at Gidgegannup in 2011.

Davy Hanratty leading Yarradale's 2023 sale-topper by Blue Point

The Irish-born horseman has helped prep drafts that have topped turnover four times in the last decade and he’s on safe ground this time around with 7 yearlings by Playing God heading down Darling Scarp to the Swan Valley.

Yarradale resident War Chant (USA) has three colts and filly amid numerous Eastern States yearlings by Brazen Beau, Toronado (Ire), So You Think (NZ), Flying Artie and Darley Victoria first-season sire Earthlight (Ire).

The Brazen Beau - Burgoyne colt (Lot 26) is a standout and can set the tone in the first hour of trade next Thursday, February 22.  His dam is a War Chant mare who was a Belmont 2yo winner for Dan Morton.  

Lot 26 is a standout!

“He wouldn’t be out of place in any sale around Australia,” Hanratty claimed.  “He’s a stunning physical and just oozes quality.”

Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) also stands at Darley Victoria and Bold Bastille heads his 2yo division this season winning the RL Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley.  His WA youngster Brazen Bid won at Pinjarra on debut last month for trainer Stephen Miller and part-owner Rod Russell. 

The Playing God connection came about when Yarradale owner Ron Sayers bought a quarter-share in the champion sire not long into his stud career back in 2020.  “It was an astute investment,” Hanratty said.  “Now he’s the horse everyone is talking about over here.”

Sayers passed away in May 2022 and Hanratty was later promoted to Stud Manager as part of a business development initiative guided by Ron’s wife Lyn Sayers.

Lyn Sayers and her team with photo of Ron at Yarradale.

“Ron loved Yarradale and didn’t like selling fillies from his favourite families,” Hanratty recalled fondly on Monday.  “His first Karrakatta Plate winner was Born Priceless over 20 years ago and I think we had over 20 of her descendants and close relations here at one stage.

“Lyn loves it here, too and is committed to keeping the Yarradale brand thriving.  We’re pumping out lots of winners and it’s exciting having these Playing God yearlings in the pipeline.”

The Playing God - Lado Ciego filly (Lot 274) can receive late update with close relation Stormchaser (Impending) in the RL Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1200m) at Pinjarra this Saturday. 

Advertisement

Lot 274 is a lovely filly by Playing God .

“She’s a big, strong, sound girl with lots of bone.  We kept a share in Stormchaser after selling him to Luke Fernie for $50,000 at the Magic Millions two years ago.”

The Earthlight - Chantski filly (Lot 35) is a half-sister to Stormchaser and last month’s Belmont winner Final Authority (Zoustar).  “She’s out of a War Chant mare and is a very sharp filly from an active family.”

War Chant (Danzig) is the damsire of over 500 individual winners and among them are Arrowfield Stud’s Group 1 stallion Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) and 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House (Lookin At Lucky).

“War Chant shuttled here for four years before Ron bought him outright and I went back and forth with him to Sydney for the flights to and from Kentucky,” Hanratty remembered.  “He’s 27 years young and is leaving a wonderful legacy.”

The Pierro colt from Dainty Tess (Lot 44) is the first foal from a War Chant mare who earned over $1 million following Group 3 sprints wins in Perth and Adelaide. 

Lot 44 is the only entry in the sale by Pierro.

“He’s a cracking first foal out of a fast mare with a lovely swinging walk.  He’s been popular during our farm inspections and will go early.”

The Toronado (Ire) filly from Not a Single Doubt mare Single Spice (Lot 160) has a pedigree to match as a half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200) winner Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man) who is nowadays plying a profitable trade in Hong Kong.

Yarradale topped the 2023 Perth Magic Millions when the Blue Point (Ire) filly from Single Spice (Ire) made $350,000 to the bid of agent Suman Hedge and Williams Racing. 

“That filly has a lovely action and she was our star last year.  She’s been named Blue Pepper and Grant & Alana say she’s well-above average.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.