Nothing says success quite like a Gr1 winner, and Attunga sold Gr1 South Australian Derby winning filly Qafila (Not a Single Doubt) in the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Draft of just thirteen yearlings, and that draft also included stakes placed Princess Pierro (Pierro).
Other Attunga Magic Millions graduates include Gr3 winner Sun City (Zoustar), Listed winners Champ Elect (Choisir), Rubira (Lope De Vega), and Ready to Rock (Ready’s Image). Bluebloods spoke
to proprietor Brian Nutt about his 2020 draft of fourteen yearlings.
What appeals to you most about the MM sales and race series?
The Magic Millions Sale is not just a sale. It’s an event where all participants are involved in a wide range of activities, from the sale to the raceday and all the social events as well.
How would you sum up your farm and the service you offer?
Attunga Farm moved to Lincoln Farm last year, and these days, I consign horses for the major sales, whether it be yearlings, broodmares, or weanlings.
How many mares did you breed with in 2019, who is the best known?
Among our client’s mares, two that come to mind are city winner Xandretta (the dam of last season’s Gr3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Vinicunca) and Listed winner Roulettes (the dam of group winner Sun City who we sold as a yearling).
ATTUNGA DRAFT
On many inspection lists will be Lot 58, the half-sister to Gr1 winner Qafila by So You Think out of Zighy Bay, an imported American half-sister to two graded winners. Another well related filly
is Lot 239, the fourth foal of imported German stakes winner Dessau, and is by Champion Sire Fastnet Rock.
Attunga will present two yearlings by boom young sire American Pharoah who already has a Breeders’ Cup winner in his first northern hemisphere crops. Lot 65 is a filly from Gr2 winner Adaline, who is closely related to Hong Kong Sprint winner All Thrills Too. The other is a colt, Lot 882, who is the first foal of Gr2 Queensland Guineas winner Tsaritsa, herself a half-sister to Gr2 winner Ninth Legion.
Cosmic Force put Deep Field’s first crop on the map, and Attunga has two yearlings by him in their draft. A half-brother to both Gr3 winner Sun City and stakes placed Spin, Lot 704 is out of Listed two year-old winner Roulettes, while Lot 992 is a half-brother to Listed winner Hooness out of four time winner Spectrum’s Image.
First season sire Awesome Rock has two yearlings in this draft including Lot 609, a half-brother to Gr3 winner Lady Cosmology, while Lot 985 is a half-brother to two stakes horses, out of Sigaro who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Carry on Cutie. A colt by first season sire Tivaci, Lot 247, is a half-brother to two year old stakes winner Zigwig. By Winning Rupert, Lot 407 is the first foal of American stakes winner Invading Humor.
Exosphere has begun his stud career well, and Lot 186 is a filly out of Circus Olay (Flying Spur) who is closely related to Fastnet Rock. Dissident enjoyed his first stakes winner recently with his first crop of three year-olds, and his colt, Lot 1061, is a three-quarter brother to stakes placed winner Plutocracy.
Headwater’s first crop have just turned two, and his colt, Lot 923, is out of winning mare Lonyx, who is a half-sister to Sexy Eyes and Tina Melina. A filly, Lot 269, by Golden Slipper winner Vancouver is bound to attract attention, especially after the first Vancouver horses are already proving to be precocious with two of his first three runners being stakes placed juveniles. This filly is out of winning mare Elucidate from the family of dual Gr1 winning miler Kiwi Hero.
What product would you stockpile if you found out they weren’t going to make anymore?
Twisties!
If you could add a single option to your car, what would you add?
Auto Pilot.
What makes you roll your eyes every time you hear it?
When a yearling “ticks all the boxes” or when a foal is described as a “cracker.”
Are there enough opportunities for young people to enter the thoroughbred industry?
Given the shortage of staff that most farms experience, I’d say absolutely yes there are enough opportunities for young people. I would like to see more Thoroughbred Industry careers advice given in schools, and I take my hat off to programmes such as Fast Track run by TBA Aushorse.
