Lindsay Park secured a remarkable 10th Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) with Little Brose at Sandown on Saturday.
Trainers Ben and JD Hayes were upholding a family tradition when they prepared Little Brose (Per Incanto) for their first victory in Victoria’s premier 2yo event. Their grandfather Colin won it on three occasions and their father David a record-breaking six times.
JD Hayes was in Perth last week for the Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he purchased a first-crop colt by Long Leaf (pictured) who won the 2018 Blue Diamond Preview for Lindsay Park. He also visited Rangeview Stud where Long Leaf has been averaging books of over 80 mares.
“He was an easy horse to do anything with,” JD told The West Australian. “I was travelling foreman for the stable when we took him across to New Zealand to win the 2019 Karaka Millions Classic.
“That was an exciting trip and it was good to see him again. Western Australia is a great breeding ground for good horses and hopefully his progeny have got the same temperament.”
Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) had 16 lots sell at the Perth Magic Millions at an average of $75,469 which was only bettered by Playing God ($119,286), Safeguard ($78,500) and Maschino ($77,364) among WA-based stallions with more than three sales. That’s over 13 times his service fee of $5,500.
Rangeview (as agent) sold JD the Long Leaf colt from Encosta de Lago mare Tricolore (Lot 31) for $50,000. He’s a half-brother to Everglade (Street Boss) who won at Moonee Valley earlier this season for Lindsay Park and Seymour Bloodstock.
Other Long Leaf buyers in the Swan Valley included Simon Miller (2), Vern Brockman (2), Colin Webster, Dan Morton, Grant & Alana Williams and McEvoy-Mitchell Racing. “The good judges are on his yearlings,” Rangeview’s Robbie Gray said. “They’re good-sized and some look like two-year-olds and some are more leggy, three-year-old types.”
Long Leaf has another two colts entered for the Adelaide Magic Millions on March 14 and 15. Lot 148 from Collingrove Stud is out of Karmella (Dick Turpin), an unraced half-sister to Listed winners Gold In Dubai (MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes) and Gold Busker (TTC Gold Sovereign Stakes).
Lot 463 from Bodhi Blue (Northern Meteor) is being offered by Newhaven Park and is a half-brother to High Blue Sea (Merchant Navy). He doubled up at Rosehill and Warwick Farm in December before being turned out by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
