Rosemont Stud hit the ground running early on day two of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with their Starspangledbanner colt selling for $425,000 to renowned Hong Kong bloodstock agent George Moore.
The bay colt, out of the Toorak Toff dam Our Secret Sister, fetched almost twice the reserve price set by Rosemont Principal Anthony Mithen.
Carrying both the Super VOBIS and VOBIS Sires Progeny logos on his page, Lot 209 sparked some feverish bidding in the ring before being knocked down to Moore, whose previous purchases include the likes of recently-retired Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation.
After selling two fillies (by Shamus Award and Hellbent) on day one for a combined $300,000, Mithen was naturally thrilled to exceed the famous farm’s expectations with their opening lot on the second day.
“We set the reserve at $250,000, so for the colt to fetch $425,000 was obviously an outstanding outcome for us,” said Mithen.
“We probably only had a fair day yesterday, but we weren’t alone there and to get a result like this early on day two has got the whole team up and about.
“I expected five or six serious bidders to go in for him, judging by their interest during the inspections, and that’s exactly how it played out. We knew the Hayes boys (Ben and JD) were very keen and we also expected George Moore to go hard for him, so it wasn’t a surprise to see them both put their hands up. George is one of the best judges of yearlings in the world, so if he liked him then you know you’re doing something right.”
Rosemont has a rich history with Starspangledbanner, the globetrotting sprinter who was bred in Victoria by Tony Santic’s MAKYBE operation before going on to win multiple Group 1 races in both Australia (for trainer Leon Corstens) and the United Kingdom (for Aidan O’Brien).
Despite his fertility issues, Starspangledbanner has produced some very notable performers in Australia including Brooklyn Hustle and Thrillster, who both won Stakes races in the famous Rosemont colours.
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