Beneteau colt sells for $340,000
Beneteau’s 135 live foals are not wasting a minute of the short time their sire has to make an impact on Australian racing and sales.
On the opening day of the Magic Millions Perth Sale, the Beneteau colt from Zaldivar (by Honour And Glory) was knocked down to leading trainer Neville Parnham for $340,000 – the highest price paid at the Sale since 2007.
It sets a fresh record for a yearling by Beneteau, whose previous top price was $220,000, for the Sassy Peg colt bought last month from Arrowfield’s Magic Millions Gold Coast draft by Blue Sky Bloodstock.
The colt, offered by Yarradale Stud, is a three-quarter brother to South African Group 2 winner Honorine from the distinguished Aga Khan family of European Group 1 winners Darsi, Darjina and Daryaba.
Yarradale Stud also presented the only other Beneteau yearling in Perth, the filly from Hasty Bird. A $4,000 weanling purchase, she made $50,000 this time round and was bought by Boomer Bloodstock, Queensland.
The year’s top price of $170,000 paid for a Beneteau filly is shared by the daughter bought by Liam Birchley from the Riversdale consignment at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, and the North Sea filly sold by Arrowfield to Paul Perry at the Inglius Classic Sale.
Four of Beneteau’s five winners to date have succeeded in city company and include the stakeswinners Prompt Return (VRC Maribyrnong Plate G3) and Arrowfield graduate Lady Jivago (ATC Inglis 2YO Classic (R) LR).
Beneteau holds a clear lead on the Australian First Season Sires’ list with earnings of $557,230, and has just one lot, a colt out of Free Friday, catalogued for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. He will be consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds.
Beneteau, who stood at a $10,000 fee for two seasons before his January 2013 death, Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel are the only three sons of champion sire Redoute’s Choice that Arrowfield Stud has so far chosen to stand. It’s a slot on the Stud’s roster that seems likely to attract plenty of breeder support next time it’s filled.
