Magic Millions: Top jockey and trainer on Coast to see sale of champion’s yearlings
A SPIRITED filly with an unusual spanner marking on its head could be among the top sellers at this year’s Magic Millions.
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A SPIRITED filly with an unusual spanner marking on its head could be among the top sellers at this year’s Magic Millions Yearlings sales.
The filly, a daughter of US-bred mare The Cat By The Tale, was sired by the legendary Animal Kingdom, a Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner, who was ridden to victory in both by American Hall of Fame jockey, John Velazquez.
Velazquez, who has earned more prizemoney than any other North American jockey, will arrive on the Coast today ride in the carnival’s marquee race, the 2YO Magic Millions Classic on Saturday.
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The champion sire, which lives half the year in the US and the other half at Arrowfield Stud, was the first Australian-owned horse to win the Dubai title, the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby at his first start on dirt and second horse to win the Kentucky Derby-Dubai World Cup double.
Animal Kingdom will have eight yearlings in the Magic Millions sale, seven from the Arrowfield draft.
At the Bundall sales complex yesterday, US trainer Graham Motion, who coached Animal Kingdom to victory in front of a record crowd of 164,858, said it took a special horse to win on different surfaces — dirt, synthetic and turf — in different countries.
“It’s got to have a tonne of ability and it has to have the disposition to handle it,” he said.
“Animal Kingdom was certainly the best horse I’ll probably ever be around.
“(The Cat By The Tale) would be one of the nicest fillies in the sale.”
His advice to first-time buyers is simple: “Get a good trainer”.
“Find someone you’re comfortable with to make sure you’re back next year.”
The Magic Millions would be Velazquez’s first Australian ride in his stellar 25-year career.
“Hopefully he’s going to ride a couple on Saturday,” Mr Motion said.
“I think he’ll go down as one of the all-time great jockeys of the world.”
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