When a small farm with only a select band of broodmares produces a horse like G1 winner Rothfire, buyers should sit up and pay attention. Rothfire (not offered at auction) won seven of his first eight starts as a two and three year-old including the G1 JJ Atkins Plate, the G2 Champagne Classic, and the G2 Run to the Rose with earnings of nearly $1million. The Darling Downs property is beginning to see strong results thanks to a programme of pasture improvement over the last few years. Gleeson Thoroughbreds have built a strong record of racetrack performances from very few horses presented.
This is the biggest draft that Gleeson Thoroughbreds will present at the Janaury Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with eleven yearlings on offer. In 2021, they took only one yearling to the sale, and she is already an early two year-old winner: Menari Magic who won Australia’s first two year-old race, the Pat O’Shea Plate, on debut in September 2021. Menari Magic is being aimed at the 2022 Magic Millions 2YO Classic. We spoke to Simon Gleeson about their 2022 draft.
Which horse in your draft looks the best chance to win a Magic Millions 2YO Classic or 3YO Guineas?
For the 2YO Classic, lot 157, the Spirit of Boom filly out of Jefe. She’s very precocious and looks a real early type. Her dam is a half-sister to a filly that ran in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2008. For the 3YO Guineas, either lot 804, the Impending filly from Bimini Road, or lot 781, the colt by Neorealism from Be Alle Belle. He’s an absolute standout on type for us, and his sire was an incredible racehorse in Asia.
Sire of G1 Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi in his first crop, Sidestep is represented in the Gleeson draft by lot 979, a half-brother to G3 placed winner Love For All, out of winning mare Shadows (Dane Shadow), who is a half-sister to Listed winner and G1 placed Danabaa.
With three colts and one filly by quality Queensland based sire Spirit of Boom, vendors will have a great starting point for their inspections of this draft. For those looking for a horse with precocious credentials, lot 1229, is a colt by Spirit of Boom, first foal of No Time Like Now (Nicconi) who was a two year-old winner herself, and is a half-sister to two year-old winner and G1 placed Heart Skipt a Beat, both out of a full sister to listed winner Back on Target.
Another first foal is the colt, lot 1206, by Spirit of Boom, from good racemare Miss Adequate (O’Reilly), a close relative of NZ’s top two year-old and G1 winner O’Marilyn (O’Reilly), dam of recent G2 Skyline Stakes winner O’President. The other colt by Spirit of Boom, lot 460, is the second foal of Run Remie Run (Pierro), a half-sister to stakes placed Enzed Girl, from the family of G1 winner Aloha, dam of group winner and multiple G1 placed Libertini. The Spirit of Boom filly, lot 157, is the second foal of Jefe (Stratum), whose two year-old is already named, from a good early running family.
Flying Artie is kicking goals early in his career with G1 winner Artorius, and Gleeson Thoroughbreds have a colt of his, lot 1128, who is the first foal of Fiery Hussy (Sizzling), a half-sister to their G1 star Rothfire. Another first foal is the filly, lot 804, by Impending out of city winner Bimini Road (Real Saga) who is a half-sister to group placed winner Kiloton, from the family of fan favourite Kementari.
From the family of Jetball and Marwina comes lot 20, a colt by Better Than Ready out of winning mare Exceed Expectation (Exceed and Excel), who has built a strong record as a broodmare with all four of her named foals being multiple winners. International G1 winner Neorealism is a three quarter brother to G1 winner Real Impact and brings strong Japanese bloodlines to Queensland. Gleeson Thoroughbreds will present a Neorealism colt, lot 781, who is a half-brother to two city winners and is from the family of G1 Golden Slipper winner Belle Du Jour.
Superbly bred Encryption will have two yearlings in the Gleeson draft, with lot 953 being a colt who is the first foal of winning mare Poppy Darling (Pluck), a half-sister to listed winner Notonyourlife; while the filly, lot 1078, is from the Lonhro family. Her dam, Belief (Reset), is a half-sister to group placed winner Gergis and to the dam of G3 winner Circular.
What is something that everyone looks stupid doing?
The Macarena. I know I look stupid attempting to dance to it.
What is the dumbest way you’ve been injured?
I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing touch footy against a bunch of twelve year old kids.
If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?
Be genuine and a team player.
