Ellis Swoops on $625,000 Written Tycoon Colt

Media Release - Sunday January 24

Te Akau Principal David Ellis has purchased the last five Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) winners and he believes he may have bought his sixth at Karaka on Sunday.

Ellis went to $625,000 to secure lot 52, the Written Tycoon colt out of Group One performer Pussy O’Reilly, from Woburn Farm’s draft.

Te Akau Principal David Ellis purchased Lot 52 for $625,000 out of Woburn Farm’s draft. Photo: Trish Dunell

Ellis said he was immediately taken by the colt when he first inspected him at Woburn Farm prior to Christmas, and he just had to have the yearling bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan.

“He was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan and we fell in love with him when we first saw him in early December. I thought he was a colt we needed to have,” Ellis said.

Advertisement

The Karaka Million 2YO will be an obvious target for the colt, but Ellis is eyeing some other juvenile targets across the Tasman with his new acquisition.

“We are looking for horses that can win a Karaka Million and go on and be a Golden Slipper colt, and then come back and stand at stud,” Ellis said.

“This colt met all of that criteria. He is very athletic and had Karaka Million written all over him.

“I think he has got a lot of class and I thought we could keep him as a colt.

“He is a beautiful colt from a really good family, and we are thrilled to have him.”

While the $625,000 purchase price was a bit more than Ellis expected to go to, he said he was delighted to secure the colt he has judged in the top three in the sale.

“I went a bit more than I thought I would have to, but for these really top colts you have got to pay a little bit more,” he said.

“He is one of the top three in the sale.”

Buoyed by the great results on Karaka Million night for the tangerine and blue army, which included three wins on the six-race card, Ellis said he has been overwhelmed by the interest ahead of the Karaka sales this year.

“We have got huge interest in people wanting to buy shares in horses with us,” he said. “We are buying horses for all budgets and everybody will be welcome in the team.”

Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley was pleased with the result.

“He is a quality individual. He definitely has the wow factor but he is also easy to work with, a quick thinker and you can do anything with him,” he said.

“I thought the money was about right. We try to be realistic with our reserves. You have to get them going so he was on the market at $180,000.

“He has gone to a great stable. I couldn't be happier that Jamie (Richards) has him. He will be given all the right opportunities.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Breednet Marketplace Launched - Data for Decision Making
We’ve launched Breednet Marketplace to offer data which might be useful for research and decision making in the lead up to all the major yearling sales of 2025.
Eulogy Stakes Kickstarts Busy Period for NZB Filly of the Year Series
The festive season is set to deliver plenty of NZB Filly of the Year Series action, with three prestigious Group races within the space of 11 days.
Te Akau Hoping for Hometown Cup Win
Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.
One to Watch – Seymour
There was a $100,000 Inglis Xtra maiden bonus up for grabs at Seymour on Thursday and the winner was a lightly raced three year-old that has a pedigree that would put him in the mix in any corner of the world.
Debut Win for $1.3million I Am Invincible Colt
A $1.3million Inglis Easter purchase for Yulong, I Am Invincible colt Lough Eske was easy in the market, but made a winning debut at Newcastle on Thursday.
The Land of Plenty For All – Why Australian Racing is the Best in the World!
We all know the champion racehorses of 2024 that are household names, but what about the horses that are legends in the homes of their owners?
Launch of Aushorse 2025 Investor’s Guide - Australia Leads the World
Australia will host more million-dollar races than America and Europe combined in 2025; while locals are also embracing the sport with more than 140,000 people owning a share in a racehorse.
Brother to G3 Grand Prix Winner Beau Dazzler for Karaka Book 1
Saturday’s A$300,000 Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm marked a new peak performance for Karaka graduate Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan), who has a full-brother in the catalogue for Book 1 of Karaka 2025.
100th Winner for Zoustar
Widden Stud’s Zoustar is the leading sire of winners in the world this year and racked up his 100th in Australia for the season on Thursday when the Joe Pride trained filly Moonlight Dream got the cash at Newcastle as a short priced favourite.
MM Perth Now Online
The catalogue for the 2025 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, featuring 350 outstanding youngsters from the state’s premier thoroughbred nurseries, as well as a select group of lots from the eastern states, is now online.