Final Blackfriars Crop for Magic Millions

Media Release - Wednesday January 15

WA-based Scenic Lodge owners David and Jeremy Smith bid farewell to Champion sire Blackfriars when Magic Millions knocks down his final yearlings at the Swan Valley sale complex on February 17 & 18.

David & Jeremy Smith with trainer Lou Luciani and Blackfriars stakes winner Like A Butterfly There are 11 lots by Blackfriars in the Scenic Lodge consignment and another four from outside clients.  The Muchea nursery will complement them with 12 yearlings by Snippetson and a classically-bred Foxwedge half-sister to Delicacy.

“Blackfriars was a true gentleman and was loved by all,” Jeremy Smith said of the 1990 Victoria Derby winner who didn’t survive a fall post colic surgery.  “He’s on track for 10 WA titles this season and his current earnings ($3.71 million) are more than double next best on the premiership table.”

One of 84 Group 1 winners by breed-shaper Danehill, he will surpass Scenic (Ire) who held the WA record of 9 consecutive titles between 2002-10.

In fact, the Smith family has dominated the local industry with 18 premierships in a row and the father-son team are well prepared to maintain that ascendancy into the future.

“Dad comes from a strong farming background in England,” Jeremy Smith said.  “He emigrated out here and operated one of the biggest farm merchandise businesses throughout Australia before it was purchased by Landmark.”

Smith snr purchased Scenic Lodge back in 1996 from the estate of Group 1 winning owner Ted Hickling when it was known as Yaminga Stud.  It initially traded as Durham Lodge before changing to Scenic Lodge in August 2012.

“Our first stallion was Scenic and, at one stage, he climbed to No.2 in Australia.  And nothing ever surprises me with Blackfriars even when he sired a Group 1 double at the last Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals with Black Heart Bart and Come Play With Me.

The last crop of yearlings by champion sire Blackfriars will be  a highlight at Perth Magic Millions “His numbers won’t begin declining for some time yet and he could conceivably go past a dozen premierships in WA.

“I’ve heard there are some lovely Blackfriars yearlings from outside vendors at the Magic Millions and we have an outstanding group of young ones under our banner.”

The Scenic Lodge draft includes a full-brother to Tellem Were Comin (Lot 163) who doubled up in the LR Hannans Hcp and LR Northam Cup earlier this season.  The full-sisters to LR Natasha Stakes winner Friar Fox (Lot 83) and Ascot stakes performer Black Sabbath (Lot 178) will also appeal to prospective buyers.

Snippetson is doing a sterling job at Scenic Lodge siring Champion WA 2YO Tinsnip in his first locally-bred crop last season.  He produced another very promising youngster from his second-crop when Gemma's Son won an Ascot juvenile on debut last week.

Advertisement

“Gemma's Son is a typical Snippetson.  They go fast and go early…that’s why we bought him to WA,” Smith continued.  “Dave Harrison is very bullish about Gemma's Son and he will be hard to beat in the Magic Millions WA Classic next month.

Lot 4 comes from the family of this $1.5 million filly sold at MM 2020“The Snippetson – Diamond Card colt (Lot 4) will get him off to a good start at the Magic Millions Sale.  He’s bred to mature early and looks an out-and-out 2yo.”

The dam is a half-sister to Karuta Queen who won a Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast and trained on to claim a G3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley.  Scenic Lodge bought their stakes winning dam Card Queen just six months before Karuta Queen arrived on the scene as a trail-blazing sprinter.

Karuta Queen’s first foal to race Eawase (Sebring) was a stakes winner in Brisbane and her Written Tycoon yearling filly sold for $1.50 million at last week’s Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Smith also selected the Snippetson – Zany Lady colt (Lot 143) as one of the more precocious youngsters in the catalogue.  “He’s a striking chestnut and is all quality.  He comes from a running family and is a ripper!”

Snippetson’s sister to Gemma’s Son (Lot 252) is standout on Day 2.  Their dam Princess Gemma (Dr Fong) won 7 races in Sydney and her earlier foals include Gary Portelli’s Canterbury winner Bringagem.

The Foxwedge – Simply Wicked filly (Lot 102) is a half-sister to Champion Australian 3YO Filly Delicacy.  “She’s a lovely type - not overly big – but neither was Delicacy,” Smith said.  “And it’s the same cross with the Danehill sireline that works so well.”

Scenic Lodge will hold its Yearling Parade on Sunday, January 26 at 3362 Great Northern Hwy, Muchea.  The parades start at 12.30 and all are welcome.

TBWA Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
Via Sistina Crowned Australian Horse of the Year
Via Sistina (IRE) has been honoured at a great many awards events in the past couple of months and the Yulong owned daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock took the big one in Brisbane on Sunday.
One to Watch – Ballarat
An Ole Kirk filly from a famous female family started a short priced favourite at Ballarat on Monday and duly got the cash.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Melbourne Racing Club Announces Official Trial Schedule for 2025–26
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) is thrilled to announce a comprehensive schedule of 15 Official Trials across the 2025–26 season, providing an essential service to trainers, owners and jockeys while addressing the industry’s increasing need for metropolitan grass access.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
2025 NZB Ready to Run Catalogue Online - World’s Most Successful 2YO Sale
The catalogue for the 2025 edition of the leading sale of two-year-olds is now online and in mailboxes, with NZB excited to unveil another stellar offering at the Ready to Run Sale.