Consistency is the name of the game at Manx Park. Among their recent Magic Millions graduates is three year-old Construct who ran second on debut as a two year-old in the G3 Breeders Plate and came back this season at three to win over 1200m, as well as place in the G3 Up & Coming Handicap. Another Manx Park Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate is Axe who took his record to six wins during the 2021 Brisbane winter carnival and placed in both the Listed Eye Liner Stakes and G3 BRC Sprint Handicap.
Bluebloods spoke to Manx Park manager Peta Tilden about the 2022 sale.
What do you love about the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and race series?
Can I be honest and say that the timing is convenient? The sale is early in the sales season which suits the way our farm works. Of course, Magic Millions always produce a great event that buyers love too.
A Dundeel half-sister to a Derby winner, “Yes please” I hear you say. Lot 484 is a half-sister to Angel of Truth, winner of the G1 Australian Derby and she is the fifth foal of city winning mare Scarletini (Bernardini). This is a cracking family with quality damsires through the pedigree. Dundeel is one of Australia’s most exciting stallions with five G1 winners in his first two crops, and this filly has the pedigree to be another star for him.
“She looks like Angel of Truth and is a very athletic filly.”
The depth Manx Park’s draft of yearlings for the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale continues with lot 24, a filly by Australia’s hottest sire I Am Invincible, and this filly is a half-sister
to Manx Park G3 placed graduate Axe and one other winner. Throw in the residual value of having sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur in the family, and this filly is well worth an inspection.
“I think she could be anything. She’s the standout of our draft. A beautiful filly who is big, forward, good moving, and has a great temperament.”
G1 Blue Diamond winner Written By’s first crop of yearlings will make their debut at this sale and his filly, lot 18, is a half-sister to winning two year-old and stakes placed Stop Making Sense. There is plenty of early maturing form around this yearling filly, with her dam, Etoile Fille (No Excuse Needed), being a city winning two year-old who is a daughter of group winner Starcent making Etoile Fille a half-sister to G1 placed Ambitious, dam of group winner Strike the Stars. This is the family of recent G1 winner Savy Yong Blonk.
“She should go early. She’s not big but has good bone and is a real racy type of filly.”
Another filly with plenty of precocity in her pedigree is lot 247, a Nicconi half-sister to this season’s group placed three year-old Construct. Their dam, Martindale Hall, won four races and is a daughter of Blue Diamond Prelude and Blue Diamond Preview placed Romantic Flyer.
“A well muscled, big strong filly with great bone, very calm and easy going, and a good walking filly.”
It’s hard to go past a young stakes winning mare who already has left a Listed winner, and in lot 1099, buyers get a chance to have a crack at an Overshare half-brother to Listed winner Por Que No, who is out of triple Listed winner Cryptic Message (Cryptograph). Besides having an outstanding stakes winning pedigree, this colt will be so much fun to name! Overshare-Cryptic Message lends itself to all manner of sly social media jests. This colt is from a tough North American family with plenty of black type form.
“He has excellent hindquarters, and will develop into a nice horse. He’s a loose walking type of colt.”
The Champion Second Season Sire for 2020/21 Headwater has made a promising start to his stud career with group winners like Jamaea and Wisdom of Water. His colt, lot 1147, is the first foal of winning mare Hakwa (Harbour Watch) who is a half-sister to several horses with strong Hong Kong form, including nine race winner Bear Chum and current season winner Drops of God. Hakwa is out of a winning daughter of G3 winner Dottoressa with plenty of sprinting speed in the family.
“A nice type of colt that should suit the Hong Kong market. He has a lovely shape about him, and is a good walking horse.”
What’s something practical that you wish you were better at?
Saying no. I’m good at making other people money, but not so great at making any for myself.
What’s the most important object you own?
My father’s watch. He was a clearance diver, and his watch is a Rolex submariner. I wear it every day.
If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?
I could teach good work ethic. I do everything, foaling down, walk-in, mares, clean the boxes. If I’m asking someone else to do something, I’ll do it too. If you are looking for well-prepared yearlings from a property that continually produces consistent racehorses, Manx Park is a great bet.
