Willow Dale Farm vendor Eva Highley has raised the bar every year at the Perth Magic Millions since a final yearling-sale season in the Hunter Valley back in 2018.
Another PB is highly-likely next week with a draft that numbers 18 lots (as agent) for a client list led by Rob Crabtree, China Horse Club, Oakland Park and Korilya Stud.
But before the gavel comes down to signal the start of the Swan Valley Sale on Thursday morning, Highley can claim a career-high win with Willow Dale graduate Golden Vale in the RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Golden Vale (2f Churchill - Magnesic by Magnus) has opened a $2.20 favourite for the $250,000 sales-related feature race and the Simon Miller trained filly is on a hat-trick following an Ascot double for a Coolmore Stud syndicate that includes Tom and MV Magnier, Paddy Oman and Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien.
She was a $130,000 purchase from Willow Dale (as agent) at last year’s Perth Magic Millions. “She presented as a great type, strong, muscular with a lovely personality and temperament,” Highley recalled. “It was exciting to sell one to Coolmore and hopefully she can carry their colours to victory in the Classic.”
Golden Vale has been working impressively following a first-up victory a fortnight ago. “She’s going superior to last prep and we’re in for a fantastic campaign,” Miller predicted. “She has her quirks and has been revved up at home but she’s very good.”
Victorian-based Dorrington Farm owner Rob Crabtree bred and sold Golden Vale through Willow Dale and among his yearlings being prepped this year are a Magnus filly (Lot 17) and a Russian Revolution colt (Lot 63).
“Magnus has a great record in Perth and we were taken with his filly when she arrived here for the prep,” Highley said. “She’s an eye-catcher with a sweet temperament and her dam was a Group 2 winner in New Zealand.”
The Russian Revolution – Fuhrnatic colt is a half-brother to Lindsay Park’s Group 3-winning mare Fuhryk (Star Witness). “She also ran second in a Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot and is one of five winners from the dam. The colt is big and muscular and overall an imposing individual.”
China Horse Club has sent colts by Zoustar (Lot 37) and Russian Revolution (Lot 131) across to Perth after initiating links with the local industry booking mares to Marine One (Capitalist) at Mogumber Park in the spring.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better start with their agent Michael Smith sending us yearlings by those two stallions. The Zoustar isn’t overly big but he’s a beautifully-balanced colt with the right attitude.”
His dam Clear Ripples (Fastnet Rock) is three-from-three at stud and it’s the same Danehill-line cross as China Horse Club's Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis.
The Russian Revolution - Penang colt is from a NZ-bred I Am Invincible mare and he’s thrived during the yearling prep with Highley. “He’s a strong colt and can be a bit of a lad but he has a wonderful work ethic and is already there mentally.”
Oakland Park owners Neville and Susan Duncan have built an outstanding record with the XX5 brand and their Dundeel - Aliberani filly (Lot 4) is first into the sale-ring for Willow Dale.
She comes highly-recommended by Oakland Park manager Adrian Brown as a classy filly with a big fluent walk and an evolving pedigree. She’s a full-sister to last-start Canterbury winner Mare Of Mt Buller who could develop into a classic filly during the autumn and winter carnivals for Chris Waller.
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The filly by Orbis Bloodstock’s Snitzel stallion Ducimus descends from WA blue-hen Born Rich (Beau Sovereign) and she is a stocky sort with a muscular shoulder and hindquarter.
There’s also a Peltzer – Maraaseem filly (Lot 281) that was pinhooked by Eva and the Willow Dale staff from Twin Hills Farm at last year’s Inglis Great Southern Sale. Peltzer (So You Think) had a first-crop filly make $220,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions and his Perth filly is a half-sister to four winners.
