Passionate owner breeder Michael Christian is living the dream with his family at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in Victoria with the growing success of their boutique breeding enterprise set to be showcased at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm was acquired by Christian and his wife Siobhan in partnership with brother Brad in 2018 and the farm has gone from strength to strength.
A quality band of resident broodmares include many from female families Christian has been involved with for years and their success on the track and in the sale ring has been impressive.
While Longwood have sold at other yearling sales in Australia in recent years and sold nine at Inglis Premier Book 1 this year for $1.6million, Inglis Easter will be a first for the team and nothing has been left to chance.
The draft features five yearlings - three from the first crop of Champion 3YO Trapeze Artist and one each by champion sire I Am Invincible and Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) – all listed below with comments from Michael Christian.
Lot 73 Colt Trapeze Artist x Bella Orfana, by Star Witness
Half-brother Group III winner Bella Nipotina, who has twice been Group I placed and is a half-sister to Group winners Hallowell Belle and Fuddle Dee Duddle, the dam of this season’s 2YO stakes-winner Brereton.
‘This yearling was a November foal, but is powerfully built much like his older half-sister, Bella Nipotina. He possesses great athleticism, and is a lovely sweet mover. He has good bone and is well balanced.
The first foal out of the mare, Bella Nipotina, is a star earning in excess of $1.5m and is due to have her next start in the G2 Sapphire Stakes on 9 April. The second foal, 3yo filly, Bella Sorellina (by Capitalist) raced impressively on debut last year and is due to run first up on April 4 with hope she will break her maiden status.’
Lot 185 Colt Trapeze Artist x Fuddle Dee Duddle, by Red Ransom (USA)
Half-brother to exciting 2YO Zoustar colt Brereton, who sold for $1million as a yearling and won the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate in the spring. Dam won the Group III WA Champion Fillies Stakes and has had three foals to race all winners.
‘This yearling is very much in the mould of stakes-winning half-brother Brereton and is a lovely athletic mover that looks like he will be up and running early. He is beautifully balanced and well proportioned. The mare has an outstanding weanling full sister to Brereton (by Zoustar) and is back in foal to Zoustar.’
Lot 264 Colt I Am Invincible x Lubiton, by Snitzel
Second foal of Group III winner Lubiton, a grand-daughter of Group I ATC Coolmore Classic winner Camino Rose. Bred on the same I Am Invincible x Snitzel cross as 2YO stakes-winner Supreme Idea and eight other winners.
‘This yearling is by a stallion that needs no introduction. He is very athletic, beautifully balanced and has a powerful hindquarter. Lubiton is back in foal to I Am Invincible, which shows how much we like this colt.’
Lot 283 Filly Justify (USA) x Mignard, by Strategic
Half-sister to $4.3million earner and triple Group I winner Le Romain, an exceptional sprinter miler with seven further Group I placings! A filly clearly stamped by her sire Justify, who was a history making undefeated winner of the US Triple Crown.
'This filly, by champion the Justify, is a half sister to outstanding multiple G1 winner Le Romain and owned by great clients of the farm, Tony & Mark Carusi. She has great size, strength and athleticism and is a graceful mover. She has really blossomed through the sale preparation and we're looking forward to presenting her at the Easter Sale.'
Lot 399 Trapeze Artist x Samara Dancer, by Hinchinbrook
Third foal of Group II MRC Blue Diamond Prelude winner Samara Dancer, a half-sister to Group III Éclair Big Bang and recent stakes-winner Black Sail with Group II Avondale Guineas winner and Group I NZ Derby runner-up La Crique jumping into the pedigree since the catalogue went to print.
‘This colt has a very close resemblance to his sire, big, strong and athletic. He has a beautiful big walking action and is wonderfully proportioned. The mare is in foal to I Am Invincible.’
See the draft at Barn J Stables 49 – 52, 62-64.
