Draft is all quality, small but select
Little wonder that Americain is Colleen and Kevin Bamford’s favourite horse, the couple amongst the proud owners cheering on the high class stayer to a memorable victory in the 2010 Melbourne Cup-Gr.1, 3200m. The passion for the thoroughbred that led to their involvement in that wonderful stayer is now being channelled into Daisy Hill, a picturesque, purpose built stud set on 200 acres just 26km north-east of Melbourne; now also the home to Americain.
We had a chat to Colleen in the lead up to the Magic Millions. “We are very excited to be offering our second Magic Millions draft. It is five-strong, a mixed bag to suit all briefs and budgets. All being Super VOBIS nominated offers buyers an added bonus.”
“Our yearlings are grown out on large undulating paddocks and are left to be horses. All have handled stable life well and just get on with the job. Purchasing a yearling with the HV brand you can be assured the horses will settle in well to the stable, will clean out their food and give everything asked of them.”
“With the farm producing just over 71% winners-to-runners from small drafts we believe that we are on the right track.”
The draft…
LOT 47 – bay filly by Pierro from And Rock (by Fastnet Rock): a half-sister to the Group Three placed metropolitan winner Barcali (now racing well as Storm Warnings in Hong Kong), she is out of a stakes placed dual city winner from the family of Group Three winners Le Dejeuner and Ossie Pak.
“Being a November 21 foal this filly will be one of the youngest on the complex but don’t be discouraged by this as her sister (also a November foal) is showing a lot of promise with the trainer hinting that she will be a serious autumn two-year-old. She is by a leading sire and every thing the mare has produced
has won.”
LOT 79 – brown colt by Churchill from Bagitol (by Pierro): first foal for an unraced daughter of the speedy stakes winner Caliente from the family of the Group Two winning high class broodmare Staging.
“This fellow could be the smokey in the draft. He has a massive hindquarter, plenty of bone, a deep girth and plenty of room under the jowl. He is a horse who looks like he will run early, be that as a breeze-up horse or running in the big race here next year.”
LOT 809 – bay colt by Merchant Navy from So Pristine (by Zabeel): son of a Queen Of The South Stakes-Gr.2, 1600m winner who has already produced the multiple city winner So Wicked.
“This fellow is pure class, an outstanding type who is hard to fault. Every one who has come to the farm says that he is the image of his dad. Being out of a Zabeel mare he is going to be more of a Classic type horse. There has been plenty of chatter about ‘the Merchant Navy from Daisy Hill’ and the best way to see what all the fuss is about is to come and see for yourself!”
LOT 1035 – bay filly by Epaulette from Paris Tryst (by Fusaichi Pegasus): a half-sister to five winners including the stakes placed multiple city winner Yulong Baby (to whom she is actually a three quarter-sister as Epaulette is by Commands, the sire of Yulong Baby) and recent metropolitan winner Frenzied, she is out of a daughter of the champion Let’s Elope who did a great job at stud producing two Group Two winners (Outback Joe and Ustinov) whilst her granddaughter Let’s Make Adeal is Group Three winner. And her great granddaughter Swats That this spring won the Champagne Stakes-Gr.3, 1200m and the Thoroughbred Club Stakes-Gr.3, 1200m before a gutsy second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes-Gr.1, 1200m.
“She’s a nice forward filly with plenty of substance. She currently has Frenzied running around for Gai and Adrian; a promising stayer who has won three this preparation. Mick Price trained Yulong Baby and has also picked up the mare’s two-year-old by So You Think.”
LOT 1254 – bay filly by Hellbent from Great Panache (by Magnus): first foal for a good race mare, a half-sister to the city winner Denise’s Diamond, grandam of the Hong Kong stakes winner Nothingilikemore from one of Australia’s favourite families; that of Elvstroem, Haradasun, Starspangledbanner, Polar Success, Highland Reel and Circles Of Gold as well as the dual stakes winning three-year-old Ain’tnodeeldun who won three in a row over the recent spring carnival.
“One of the very few VOBIS Hellbents, she ticks a lot of boxes making her easy to syndicate.
She is a nice correct filly who looks like she will go early.”
We asked Colleen which horse looks the best chance to win a Magic Millions 2YO Classic or a Golden Slipper?
“The Churchill colt out of a Pierro mare looks like a fast, two-year-old type.”
In 40 years, what will people be nostalgic for?
“Free speech.”
What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?
“A cat. It would be an amazing Showjumper!”
Who are your favourite stallions?
“Americain for obvious reasons, I also think that Justify and Churchill will be very good sires, Toronado is doing a great job and of the first season horses I like I Am Immortal.”
