Mogumber Park stallion Safeguard is gunning for a third WA 2YO sires’ premiership this season and that will give him a head-start leading into the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale this month.
Safeguard (Exceed And Excel) claimed the 2YO title as a freshman in 2018-19 and won again in 2022-23 before taking an early lead this season thanks to another flyer named Sinful Living.
She went back-to-back at Ascot on New Year’s Day and has banked $218,000 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $88,000.
Mogumber Park’s Colin Brown and Fiona Lacey are prepping 15 yearlings for the Swan Valley Sale and a third Top 5 finish on the vendors list since 2019 is another gettable goal for the Bullsbrook couple.
“Our yearlings are treated as individuals and naturally receive the best of care with Fiona doubling up as our on-site vet,” Brown said. “We’re really pleased with how they have developed throughout the preparation and they have been well-received since we started inspections.”
Among Brown’s highlights in this year’s consignment is the Safeguard – Tej colt (Lot 177). “He’s a half-brother to Honey Dew (Headwater) who has won four races at Belmont for a syndicate of South Freo footballers. He looks a 2yo with the presence and strength that attracts everyone who visits the farm.”
Hellbent is off to a great start at stud alongside his own sire I Am Invincible at Yarraman Park and his filly from Group 1 mare Happy Hippy (Lot 72) is a full-sister to Flemington 2yo stakes performer Bohemian Daisy. “She’s an athletic filly and a real eye-catcher. She has a personality that lets you work with her and there’s residual value with a black-type pedigree right down the page.”
Rommel (Commands) stood at Mogumber Park before transferring to Ridgeport Farm last year and his Mogumber filly from Irish-bred mare Kerimba (Lot 91) is a half-sister to LR Gosford Belle of the Turf winner Cathay Lady (Exceed and Excel).
Kerimba (Sinndar) foaled her sixth winner in December when Stand Guard (Safeguard) made all in a Hawkesbury maiden for trainer Amanda Turner. “There are two types by Rommel,” Brown explained. “There are the early ones and those that put it together at three like Pale Rider who was runner-up in a WA Derby before going to Hong Kong.
“Our filly is letting down into the second category. And there’s residual value as she’s from a family of European black-type winners bred by The Aga Khan.”
Mogumber Park’s first-crop colt by Dirty Work from Safeguard mare Mindarie is catalogued as Lot 110. Widden Victoria stands Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) and his first yearlings averaged $140,000 on the Gold Coast last month.
“He’s a dude and thinks he owns the place. He’s a first foal and has the right structure to be a 2yo with very a strong hindquarter. Mindarie won first-up as a 2yo at Ascot and she’s a sister to Specialism who was instrumental in Safeguard winning his first premiership.”
Without getting too far ahead of themselves, Colin and Fiona are also looking forward to the first foals by their new sire Marine One in the spring.
Marine One (Capitalist) won a G2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield and stands for an $8,800 service fee at Bullsbrook in association with Kingstar Farm owner Matthew Sandblom and the China Horse Club.
Earlier this season, they supported Marine One with mares who foaled colts and fillies by Brutal, Tiger Of Malay, Cosmic Force, Captivant, Flying Artie, Unite And Conquer and Hanseatic after arriving in WA. They were then covered by Marine One and, under the Westspeed breed-back option, those Eastern States-conceived foals will be catalogued for the 2025 Perth Magic Millions as Westspeed-eligible yearlings. The first Marine One yearlings will be catalogued for the 2026 Perth Magic Millions.
