Prominent owner purchases first progeny by the Newgate Farm-based stallion

Having not purchased a yearling by Capitalist (Written Tycoon) at the yearling sales, Tony Fung jumped on the Capitalist bandwagon on Thursday when he purchased a colt by the Newgate Farm-based sire at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for $260,000, who Fung will retain to race. 

Catalogued as Lot 124, and offered as part of the Fairhill Farm draft, the colt is out of the five time-winning Keeper (Danehill) mare Keeping Score and she has already produced three winners. 

Keeping Score herself is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Zacielo (Zabeel) and the dam of Listed winner Tannhauser (Tavistock). 

Aquis Farm CEO Shane McGrath, who signed the docket on behalf of Fung, told Racing & Sports Bloodstock the colt fitted the profile of what the operation looks for when sourcing stock for their stallion syndicate. 

"I thought he was a very straight forward colt. He is a good mover, very correct, great head and a great attitude," said McGrath. "He fitted the profile of what I look for at the yearling sales for the stallion fund and I thought we would buy him as a weanling and maybe get an opportunity to buy him at a weanling price rather than a yearling price. 

"He is the first Capitalist we have bought, but the sire is on the rise and he was just a lovely horse and hopefully he is lucky for us. 

"He will go straight into the racing system and he can pair up with next year's Magic Millions January purchases and I don't think he will look out of place. 

We were delighted to get him as it was a very strong market and I think Inglis did a very good job, anytime there was a good foal in the ring there was plenty of action on them and credit to them and it only bodes well for the next sale going forward."

McGrath explained they had targeted this sale, believing it was a good way to source stock at weanling sale prices rather than what they would make as yearlings.  

"Every sale presents a unique opportunity and we are always trying to identify these nice foals that can give you a ticket in the lottery. We have had a lot of luck with the yearling side of things and it is the same theme and the same criteria in which we select the horses, whether it be yearlings or weanlings, they go into the same programme. 

"We have just bought a colt by a very hot sire for less than three times his advertised service fee and that looks like good business in our book."