Makybe make an impression on day two

Makybe Racing and Breeding unveiled their draft on day two of the Magic Millions, with a lovely Zoustar filly out of the farm’s broodmare La Fluorescent selling to the Bennett Racing syndicate for $180,000.

The chestnut filly is a half-sister to Oughton (More Than Ready x La Fluorescent), the talented Team Hawkes-trained colt who won at his second start at Sandown.

She will be sent to the stables of multiple Group 1-winning trainer Phillip Stokes, who also prepares the Bennett Racing-owned three-year-old Blazerro (Pierro x Blazing Snitzel), a close second two starts back in the Group 2 Neds Sandown Guineas.

Fluorescent is the half-sister to a Group 2 winner in Savvy Nature, and Jo Griffin – co-owner of Lime Country Thoroughbreds – was pleased to sell the filly on behalf of Makybe for a competitive price.

“I think it was a very shrewd purchase,” she said.

“Makybe meet the market on the day and she was a good buy for Bennett Racing, she’s probably a slightly lighter, racier filly than the previous fillies we’ve sold out of this mare so I think they’ve got a really good prospect on their hands.”

Ed Cummings was the buyer of the second Makybe-bred yearling to go through the sales ring, paying $50,000 for a Divine Prophet filly who is the half-sister to Group 3 winner Ellsberg.

Makybe will have a further four lots hoping to catch the eye of buyers this week, starting with a Shalaa colt (Lot 425) early on day three.

He will be swiftly followed into the ring by a Brave Smash x Summer Surf filly, who according to Griffin shares many of her sire’s traits.

“She’s the first foal out of a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Farnan,” she said.

“Brave Smash came over from Japan and won two Group 1s, and was very much an Australian-style sprinter. This filly has thrown to the family, she’s very neat, sharp and tidy.”

Brave Smash is presenting his first crop of yearlings and the same goes for Showtime, who produced Lot 697. The chestnut colt out of Without Saying (by Sepoy) has already piqued the interest of several potential suitors, and Griffin believes he could be a contender for the inaugural edition of the $1 million race for two-year-olds which will debut on Magic Millions Raceday next year.

“Makybe bought a share in Showtime and they’ve sent him some really good mares to give him a kick-along,” she explained.

“He’s an attractive colt and has been well-received during the inspections, so there should be some interest in him when he goes through the ring.

“I’ve told a few people that I think he could be a good candidate for The Debut. He’s ‘eat, sleep, work, repeat’ so is a real professional already and could easily be ready to tackle a 900-metre race first up this time next year.”

The final yearling in Makybe’s draft is Lot 744, an Impeding colt who has made great strides in his time on Lime Country’s farm.

“This colt has probably been the biggest improver since he arrived, and I can really see that improvement continuing in the coming months,” said Griffin.

“We had an Impending filly who was sold to Ellerton-Zahra Racing for $180,000 last year, she was much the same as this boy in that she was a big improver so hopefully he can keep maturing.”