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Last-start maiden winner most popular of McKenna’s lot.
It was no surprise that members of the Halo Racing reduction consignment dominated the top end of proceedings at the latest Inglis Digital offering.
But it was not shares in proven Group 1 performers Duke De Sessa or Attrition who attracted the largest bids at the November (Late) Sale, rather the most lightly-raced horses who were offered solely.
Three-year-old Justify colt Perfect Excuse, a $400,000 Magic Millions yearling whose only start to date realised an impressive Warrnambool maiden win, was the most popular of the late Colin McKenna's lots when he sold to So Bloodstock for $355,000.
Other results in the 41-lot Halo Racing reduction sale, which concluded on Wednesday, included:
$305,000 Half Yours – Belmont Bloodstock and McEvoy Mitchell Racing teamed up to buy the four-year-old St Jean gelding, who has won two of five starts for Ciaron Maher.
$240,000 – Some People Callme: The Maher-trained Maurice gelding, who has had 11 starts for two wins and three placings and won an Avoca trial earlier this month, was snapped up by Cameron Cooke.
$145,000 – La Casona: Mark Pilkington liked what he saw in the four-year-old Snitzel mare, who has had eight starts for two wins and a couple of second placings for Maher.
$115,000 – Bracarde: The four-year-old Brazen Beau gelding, who was unplaced at Caulfield at his most recent run in July but did not finish outside the top two at his earlier three starts, found a new home with Define Bloodstock.
$115,000 – Pendle Hill: Not content with one $115,000 purchase, Define Bloodstock also bought the Aaron Purcell-trained four-year-old Ribchester gelding who, like Perfect Excuse, is a last-start Warrnambool maiden winner.
$95,000 – Seatonic: The eight-year-old Sebring mare, who is out of a half-sister to the dam of Black Caviar, will soon be in the care of Titanic Park. An unnamed Blue Point filly from the same mare, Sistonic, also sold for $37,500.
$75,000 – Attrition 5% share: Mitch Freedman's Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner and recent Group 2 Hill Stakes winner was most popular of the horses Halo Racing was selling part-shares of with Aubred holding the winning bid.
$60,000 – Chorlton Lane 17.5% share: Mira Barbadoro snapped up the offering in the imported son of Mehmas, whose most recent performance or Maher realised victory in the $200,000 Canberra Community Chest.
$55,000 – Federer 10% share: A winner of his first two starts by an aggregate margin of 9-1/2 lengths, the four-year-old gelding is by Dundeel out of McKenna's pride and joy, Jameka.
$50,000 – Light Infantry Man 5% share: Jack Pakis can look forward to a Group 1 runner in just over a week after he bought into the import, who was beaten as favourite in last Saturday's Group 1 Railway Stakes but is still heading towards the Group 1 Northerly Stakes.
$40,000 – Duke De Sessa 5% share: Maher himself bought the share in the imported son of Lope De Vega who he prepared to win the Caulfield Cup just over a week before McKenna succumbed the brain tumour that claimed his life.
$40,000 – Future History 5% share: One of two Melbourne Cup runners in whom shares were offered, Heathcote Racing paid up for the seven-year-old son of Showcasing.
$27,500 – Interpretation 5% share: Pakis also bought into the seven-year-old son of Galileo, last year's Bendigo Cup winner who has competed in the Melbourne Cup the past three years.
Outside's McKenna's lots, the most popular was Pinstriped's dam Snitzel Blitz, who sold to Lime Country Thoroughbreds for $255,000 in-foal to Tassort, while Redoute's Choice mare Luluoru sold in-foal to the same sire for $130,000.