Evergreen Stud Farm sits on 500 well watered acres at Heatherbrae, fronting the Hunter River. Managing Director Tony Bott is one of the best known, most well respected figures in the industry, his wealth of knowledge and experience has overseen the success of Evergreen’s dual breeding and racing arms.
He told Bluebloods, “I’ve seen just about everything in my time in the industry, but nothing quite like 2020 and the COVID pandemic. But if you want to survive in this industry you have to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances, as we had to previously with the EI outbreak. COVID was another, even a bigger global challenge, not just one for the thoroughbred industry. We have been very lucky that racing continued and that despite some restricting circumstances, we were able to keep trading bloodstock throughout the year. I’m particularly pleased we’ve been able to get through to the 2021 Magic Millions with a draft of ten very fine yearlings, some of the best we’ve ever prepared at the farm.”
As this preview was going to press, the circumstances changed again, this time for the better, with the announcement of the finish of quarantine requirements for visitors and returning residents to Queensland after the 1st of December. This should ensure a healthy buying bench at Magic Millions and the Evergreen draft is one well worth inspecting. They will enter the ring in the following order –
Lot 81 brown colt by Deep Field out of Bang On by Pins. By a prolific young leading sire out of a mare by the crack broodmare sire Pins, this colt’s second dam is Gr.1 winner Critic from the family of Gr.1 winners Grunt, Prince Kaapstad and Ocean Park who is now a fine sire in his own right. This colt is a half-brother to a winner and is from one of the best families in Australasia.
Lot 275 bay colt by Flying Artie out of Estonian Princess by Snitzel. This colt is by Gr.1 winner and exciting young first season sire Flying Artie out of a Gr.3 winner of over $450K, bred on similar lines to Gr.1 winning juveniles Invader and Summer Rain.
Lot 665 by colt by Pierro out of Princess Mia by Fastnet Rock. By the rising star in Australian sire ranks, out of a multiple winning daughter of triple Gr.1 winner Princess Coup ($3.6 million), this colt is bred on the sensational Pierro/Danehill cross. His 19th August foaling date completes the picture.
Lot 718 bay colt by Deep Field out of Role Model by Bel Danoro. This colt is the third foal of a Gr.2 and Gr.3 runnerup from the family of Gr.2 winner and sire Sidereus and the hugely talented Velrosso SW of 6 races and $500K plus. The Northern Meteor/Danehill mix has produced Gr.1 and elite winners Zoustar, Speak Fondly, Cosmic Endeavour, Madame Rouge and superstar Sunlight (2nd dam by Danehill.)
Lot 926 brown colt by So You Think out of Vanilla Princess by Lonhro. This colt is a half-brother to two winners, his dam’s first two to race, and is the second colt in the draft from a winning daughter of the mighty triple Gr.1 winning mare Princess Coup 12 wins $3.6 million. IMPORTANT NOTE: There is only one runner so far by So You Think out of a Lonhro mare and it’s the Gr.1 placed $1.5 million earner So Si Bon, one of Australia’s top WFA performers. A “must” inspect.
Lot 1033 chestnut colt by Capitalist out of Panda’s Turn by Encosta de Lago. By Golden Slipper winner and a leading current first season sire Capitalist out of a mare by multiple champion broodmare sire Encosta de Lago, who is leading the list again. Dam is a half-sister to dual Gr.1 winner Riva San, winner of both the Qld Oaks and Derby. Family of flying sprinter Sheriff John Stone.
Lot 1122 chestnut colt by Winning Rupert out of Tiger Cat by Tiger Hill. This colt is a half-brother to SP Meikas from the family of champion sprinter and leading sire Zeditave. The family is the finest in the Stud Book, responsible for superstars such as Zeditave, Alannon, Melito, Norzita, Carif and Greys Inn just to mention a few. Tiger Hill is broodmare sire of seven Gr.1 winners including Aristia and Almandin.
Lot 1077 bay filly by Reward For Effort out of Shao Shao by Shinko Forest. This filly is by the prolific winner getting son of champion Exceed and Excel in Reward For Effort and is a half-sister to Gr.3 winner, multiple Gr.2 placed She Shao Fly ($333K) and to SP Samurai Blade. Family of Dao Dao, Silky Red Boxer and HKGr.1 winner All Thrills Too. A quality filly with a Gr.1 pedigree.
Lot 1234 brown or grey colt by Caravaggio out of Emancipationist by Elusive Quality. With an early foaling date, this colt is by one of the world’s top sprinters of recent times out of the family of champion sire Fastnet Rock. He is a half-brother to two winners and is bred on one of the world’s most constantly successful crosses, the Storm Cat/Mr Prospector broad cross.
Lot 1238 chestnut filly by Invader out of Fantasy Quest by Starcraft. The second of the two Evergreen fillies is the second living foal of a granddaughter of multiple Group winner Sneetch, dam of Gr.1 winner Black Mamba and grandam of Gr.1 winner Roman Emperor. She is from the first crop of multiple champion sire Snitzel’s Gr.1 winning 2YO Invader.
Evergreen has five yearlings each in Books 1 and 2 at Magic Millions with Tony Bott commenting, “I think our yearlings are all well placed and will be worth inspecting in their respective books. With close relations to and descendants of such great gallopers as Fastnet Rock, Zeditave, Roman Emperor, Princess Coup, All Thrills Too, and Riva San, our team is looking forward to parading them for potential buyers. They won’t be disappointed.
To finish our interview, I asked Tony Bott which stallions are on his radar. He replied, “Among the proven brigade we’ve supported Pierro and So You Think, who was particularly good value this season, and also Written Tycoon and Dundeel, both doing a great job. For a premium commercial mare that warrants a high service fee I Am Invincible and Snitzel are great sires. Among the younger brigade, we have some nice Shalaas on the farm, Capitalist and Flying Artie are both off to a good start, while Russian Revolution is another with good prospects.”
