Darby racing scoops up quality Gooree pair
The lure of accessing a quality unraced 3-year-old Lonhro colt from a Group 1-producing family proved strong for Darby Racing and Will Johnson Bloodstock, who paid the day's top price, $260,000 for Noble Privilege from the Estate of the late Eduardo Cojuangco.
It was with the recommendation of long-time Gooree Park manager Andrew Baddock that Scott Darby bid to get Noble Privilege, who will head straight to Team Hawkes with a spring preparation in mind.
"He was an absolute cracker. We had a chat with Andrew Baddock, who strongly recommended he was the horse for us, and told us he had great ability," Darby said.
"He's just a beautiful looking animal, a city trial winner and he will syndicate very well."
The colt is a half-brother to stakes-placed Sunshine Stormy (More Than Ready {USA}), with multiple Group-winning dam Queen Of The Hill (Danehill {USA}) a half-sister to the influential but ill-fated sire and Group 1 winner Northern Meteor, as well as the dam of Twin Hills Stud stallion Smart Missile.
Darby is confident that the colt has the ability to live up to his pedigree.
"It’s a terrific family, but he's probably an even better type, so we have got the whole package and we know he can gallop."
Darby Racing also picked up another 3-year-old colt from the Estate Sale in Sole Heir (Exceed And Excel), who was a winner of one of his five starts through his 2-year-old season.
"He's another one that Andrew recommended. He said he would get out to a mile-2000 metres with a little bit of time. He shows good ability, is only lightly raced and he's a sound, good looking horse and he's well-bred as well," he said.
Sole Heir is the half-brother to Smart Missile as well as stakes-winners Surge Ahead (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Kiss From A Rose (Encosta De Lago) and will head to Bjorn Baker.
Those two sales completed a big week for Gooree Park, who oversaw the Estate of the late Eduardo Cojuangco, and Baddock was delighted with the outcome.
"We couldn't be happier. We've had a great sale. It's full credit to our staff and Magic Millions in very tough times, they got the Sale over the line," he said.
"The tried horse market is as strong as I've seen it, It’s quite amazing.
"Darby bought a couple of lovely colts from our great families and I'm sure they will have a lot of success with them."
The racehorse aspect of the Cojuangco Sale realised close to $1 million across 16 lots, with the entire offering across the past week yielding $2.295 million.
