Magic Millions highlights for Snitzel & Starcraft
One was a brilliant 2YO who won the Oakleigh Plate G1 at 3; the other became a world champion older miler, winning five Group 1 races in four countries.
Pictured: The Starcraft-Top Cuban colt bought for $290,000 today by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. (PHOTO: Katrina Partridge)
Snitzel and Starcraft both joined the Arrowfield stallion roster in 2006 and both are among the best sires of that group, with 14 stakeswinners between them. Their tandem act continued today when they both achieved significant six-figure prices at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds out-bid strong competition for Lot 375, the stylish Top Cuban colt, to secure him for $290,000. That makes him the second top-priced Starcraft yearling ever sold at Magic Millions, behind the $340,000 bid for Arrowfield’s Burningwood colt in 2010, and exceeding the $270,000 paid in 2009 for Arrowfield’s Ain’t Seen Nothin’ filly – who turned out to be the dual stakeswinner Ain’tnofallenstar.
The colt is the first foal of 2YO winner Top Cuban, by Anabaa from US-bred mare Super Seleccion (by Seattle Slew), a three-quarter sister to two-time Grade 1 winner Slew City Slew. Top Cuban is in foal again to Starcraft.
The remainder of the Arrowfield draft includes a colt and a filly by Starcraft.
Leading Sydney trainer John O’Shea went to $350,000 for Luskin Park Stud’s Snitzel colt from 2YO stakeswinner Ultimate Fever, now in foal to Manhattan Rain .
That figure is $40,000 more than the previous highest price paid for a Snitzel yearling at the Magic Millions sale. Gai Waterhouse was the successful buyer at $310,000 of last year’s Royal Pageant colt, offered by Kitchwin Hills. Named Chronicle, he has had only one start, an unplaced appearance in October’s ATC Breeders’ P. LR.
Snitzel’s ten yearlings offered so far this week have all sold, averaging $161,000. Arrowfield will offer the strapping Snitzel-Flidais filly on Saturday evening.
