While the future of star colt Switzerland remains undecided, Coolmore and trainer Chris Waller have made a bold move to secure his potential successor, making headlines on Day 1 of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Tom Magnier splashed out a massive $2.7 million to purchase Switzerland’s full brother—a Snitzel colt out of American mare Ms Bad Behavior. The colt was presented by Arrowfield Stud and quickly became the talk of the sale.
That figure is $1.2 million more than what Coolmore paid for Switzerland at the same sale two years ago, reflecting not only the impact he’s had on the track but also the increasing interest in his potential as a future stallion.
“A lot of people are enquiring about Switzerland going to stud at the moment, but this is a lovely type and obviously Snitzel is a fantastic sire,” Magnier said.
“Chris and all the team really like the horse. The colt’s fund, thankfully, is going very well and we have some great people in the fund, great supporters of Coolmore, and we just hope to have a bit of luck.”
This $2.7 million colt became the highest-priced colt sold at the sale since 2022, when the brother to Sunlight fetched $3 million. Magnier was quick to point out the similarities between Switzerland and his younger brother.
“He’s a strong horse like his brother, loads of quality like his brother, just one of the standouts of the sale,” Magnier said.
The purchase also topped an earlier sale of another Snitzel colt—from La Mexicana—which went to James Harron and TFI for $1.7 million. Just before the headline act, I Am Invincible progeny also fetched big figures, with a filly from Missile Mantra bringing $1.2 million and another from Pippie making $1.4 million.
Additional top sellers on Day 1 included yearlings by Zoustar, Extreme Choice, and So You Think—all going for $1.15 million.
Meanwhile, Chris Waller and Coolmore are still weighing up whether Switzerland will race again following his seventh-place effort in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes on Saturday.
“We’re deciding that at the moment,” Magnier said. “We just need to get this week out of the way and have a think about it.
“The races were yesterday, the sales are today, so nothing is planned out yet.”
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