O’Brien snares WS’s top lot

Danny O’Brien has enjoyed a long and successful association with WS and he was back for more at Karaka this afternoon. The leading Melbourne trainer was taken by a Savabeel colt and went to $450,000 to secure the first foal of the Pins mare Pins On Ice.

The youngster’s dam is a sister to the Gr 2 Avondale Guineas and Gr 3 Taranaki Classic winner Icepin and a half-sister to the Australian stakes winner Frozone. It is also the family of the Gr 2 Ascot Vale Stakes winner and former WS resident Scaredee Cat.

A brother to the multiple Group One winner and reigning champion first-season Alamosa was also the subject of spirited bidding and was finally claimed for $320,000 by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. By O’Reilly, he is out of the Centaine mare Lodore Mystic, who is also the dam of the Group performer Sacramento (No Excuse Needed). She has proved to be a gem for WS with the six of her foals sold at a Karaka average of $240,000.

The family proved popular on Monday with a three-quarter brother to Alamosa making $200,000. The youngster, out of Lodore Mystic’s daughter Honolulu, was purchased by the Hong Kong-based New Zealander Paul O’Sullivan.

Trade was fast and furious for WS with a Savabeel colt out of the dual Group One winner Glamour Puss catching the astute eye of Victorian trainer Peter Moody. He went to $280,000 to secure the blueblood while Hong Kong interests parted with $225,000 for the son of Savabeel and the O’Reilly mare Lucida. He is a brother to the multiple winner and Gr 1 VRC Oaks placegetter Placement. WS enjoyed a rewarding day with 20 lots selling for six figures.