Juddmonte Farms supersire Frankel is one of the world’s best sires and yearling buyers do not often get the chance to bid on one of his colts from an outstanding Australian female family, but they did at Magic Millions on Tuesday and the result was fiscal fireworks.
Bred by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds and foaled and raised at renowned nursery Segenhoe Stud, Lot 59, the colt from Antibes always looked a standout on paper.
He is the second foal of Antibes, an unraced half-sister by Lonhro to stakes-winner As Time Goes By from Group winning Redoute’s Choice mare A Time for Julia, a daughter of blue hen Procrastinate.
“He was one of the standouts and we’ve had a lot of luck with Segenhoe,” said Tom Magnier, who has struck paydirt previously with this female family with the Coolmore navy blue carried by G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal.
“We’ve had a lot (more) of Frankel’s in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere so we know them well.
“All the team really liked him. He has a lovely fluid action and he ticks all the boxes.
“We’ve bought him in a syndicate with Chris (Waller) so he’ll go straight in with him.
“Fair play to Peter O’Brien and John Camilleri. They breed good horses and we’re just delighted to be a part of it. We’ve got a great syndicate.”
The first foal of Antibes is a Frankel filly that was retained to race by Fairway Thoroughbreds and Chateau Eze was stakes placed last spring from just three starts and is now back in work again with Mark Walker and autumn stakes races will no doubt be on the radar.
Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien was not surprised the colt sold the way he did although the final figure exceeded expectation.
“We knew he’d sell well, a lot of the right people were on him, but you never expect that number,” he said.
“He’s a beautiful colt, precocious, fast, the sister (Chateau Eze) we think is going to be a Group winner in the autumn. (She) jumped out really well yesterday.
“The mother (Antibes) had a ton of ability, but it doesn’t read that way in the book, so John (Camilleri) backed his knowledge of her ability and had a big swing with her (two covers to Frankel) and he’s got the just rewards.”
Antibes had no foal last year after missing to Home Affairs and was covered last spring by Harry Angel (IRE).
Footnote: Magic Millions 3YO Guineas race favourite Ninja was also bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds and sold by Segenhoe and he also comes from this same female family with blue hen Procastinate his grandam.
