It’s the man with the Golden Slipper touch Gary Portelli, who’s stepping-up again with the $4.00 Sportsbet co-favourite Sejardan for the $2m Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick.
In winning the Golden Slipper with She Will Reign, Gary next had her win the wfa AJ Moir Stakes against seasoned horses, having previously won the Inglis Golden Gift and Sliver Slipper Stakes.
Next up, Gary won the Sliver Slipper again with her half-brother Time to Reign, along with Rene’s Lady in the Australian Oaks, Rebel Dane the Manikato Stakes and Gold Trail the Railway Stakes.
As the season’s chief earner for his deceased Golder Slipper sire Sebring, who’s second as Leading 2YO Sire, Sejarden will jump from Gate 9 for Jason Collett in this 1100m Restricted Listed event.
In coming off a cosy Barrier Trial run at Warwick Farm, Sejardan previously won the $1m Inglis Golden Gift of 1100m prior to a 11 week spell, and five weeks previously won the Breeders’ Plate.
A $160,000 Portelli Racing buy at the Inglis Classic Sale from the Hinchinbrook mare Miss Amajardan, his Trapeze Artis half-brother sells on Day 2 at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Also at $4 is the firmer Paris Doir, who is coming off a 3¼ length win over 1100m at Canterbury for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, having been a first-start head second at Warwick Farm.
With Champion jockey James McDonald in the irons, she’s starting from Barrier 10 carrying 54.5kg, and was originally passed-in for $300,000 by Marquee Stud at Australian Easter Yearlings.
Sired by top-line Pierro, she’s the first foal of the good winning Exceed and Excel mare Entrancing, the family of De Lightninging Ridge, with her full-sister selling on Monday of the Classic Sale.
In attracting a full field of 16 runners, it’s the Hugh Bowman mount Boldinho who’s into $6.50, El Padrino at $7.50, $1.15m Easter graduate Zambezi River at $12, and $13 for Xtravagant Star.
With major stud owners circling for future sires, it’s first Millennium winner Castelvecchio stating it’s a ‘stallion making’ race, having also won the Champagne Stakes and Rosehill Guineas.
So what’s install for 2022. Last year’s winner Profiteer has $1.4m in stakes, and Prime Star a with $1.79m, are the highest earners for each of their sires Capitalist and Starspangledbanner.
Classed by Inglis as ‘the best value yearling sale in Australia,’ the Classic Yearling Sale is at Riverside Stables on 6-8 February, with 660 yearlings for Book 1 and 150 in the Highway Session.
With I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Zoustar and Deep Field heading the sires’ listings at the Magic Millions, it was The Autumn Sun who was leading First Season Sire with 28 lots averaging $383,929.
Classed by Arrowfield as ‘heir apparent to Redoubt’s Choice,’ and off a $77,000 initial stud fee, his 28 lots sold at 97% for a total of $10.75m, with his Duchess Kate colt being the $950,000 top-lot.
Trapeze Artist promised to have an excellent first sale, and he delivered, with his 27 lots selling at 93% for a $7.1m gross, at an average of $263,519, with his Coca Doll colt topping at $850,000.
With Written By having 22 yearlings at this Classic Sale, his 17 yearlings averaged $214,706 at the Magic Millions, and Harry Angel with 24 listed, had 16 average $814,063 at the Gold Coast.
The Classic graduates, they just keep coming – Icebath in the $2m The Invitation, Sejardan in the $1m Golden Gift, Big Parade, Mazu, Super Wealthy, It’sarayday, Cordyceps Six.