Sydney bloodstock agent James Clarke is sourcing a group of well-credentialled fillies to race for a partnership with Warwick Farm conditioner, Bjorn Baker, to guide the career of his latest acquisition.
Clarke successfully recruited a daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Lot 153, during Inglis' Classic Yearling Sale on Sunday when he paid $210,000 for the youngster consigned by Arrowfield Stud.
“This is a group of clients I put together at the back end of last year, just through my network and we are looking to get fillies by proven stallions who have got good, strong commercial pedigrees,” he said.
“Hopefully, with good racecourse performances we can upgrade their value. This is not for breeding and it is highly likely that anything that performs to stakes level will be going back through the broodmare sales in a few years’ time. I bought a Savabeel filly at Karaka and now this one.”
The daughter of Savabeel was a NZ$220,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale purchase out of Waikato Stud’s draft and will be trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
She is out of the Montjeu (Ire) mare Gracie Rose (NZ), who is a half-sister to the G1 Makfi Challenge S. winner I Do (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and the Listed Queensland Cup winner Iggy Pop (NZ) (Savabeel).
Further back in the pedigree is the G1 Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler (NZ) (Viking Ruler).
Clarke said the Not A Single Doubt youngster offered great residual value.
“She’s a lovely filly with a fantastic pedigree so she’s going to be worth plenty of money, regardless of what she does on a race course.
“She had a lot of quality about her, a typical Not A Single Doubt and a very forward running type. I am very excited, she is the one I wanted to buy and I’m very glad I bought her.
“I am very excited, she is the one I wanted to buy and I’m very glad I bought her.” – Jim Clarke
"She has thrown toward the sire, he gets strong close coupled horses who get up nice and early.
“There is also plenty of stamina in her pedigree so whatever she does as a 2-year-old, she will continue to improve at three.”
The filly is out of Forreel (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}), who was successful three times up to 2000 metres and is a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner, former New Zealand Horse of the Year and successful young sire Dundeel (NZ).
The third dam Staring (NZ) (Fiesta Star {USA}) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G1 Auckland Classic and was the champion 3-year-old filly of her year.
“This filly has definitely thrown to the sire. She will go to Bjorn, he knows the breed and trained the mother and he also had a fair bit to do with the sire Dundeel during his career,” Clarke said.
In recent times, Baker has enjoyed rich success with Not A Single Doubt’s son Samadoubt, winner of the G1 Winx S., and daughter Champagne Cuddles, winner of the G2 Breeders’ Classic and placed several times at the elite level.
“They have both been extremely good horses when they matured. I think there are a few strings to this filly’s bow and hopefully we can get the best out of her,” Clarke said.
“I think there are a few strings to this filly’s bow and hopefully we can get the best out of her.” - James Clarke
Against stiff competition, Clarke was getting toward the end of the budget he had set for the Not A Single Doubt filly.
“I thought she would make that much, it was sort of getting to the top of what I was going to spend on her, but I expected to have to go that far,” he said.
“I think the market has been pretty strong, there have been plenty of nice horses around and the nice horses have been making good money.
“I think we’ve done pretty well, but it has certainly been competitive on the better horses.”
Clarke also signed with Baker for a filly, Lot 83, by Winning Rupert out of Glenlogan Park’s draft earlier in the day for $70,000. She is a half-sister to the multiple winner and stakes performer Stroak (Real Saga).
Their dam is Cubism (Redoute’s Choice) and she descends from an international family that includes the Group 2 winners Mariensky (USA) (Gulch {USA}) and Julie Jalouse (USA) (Kris S {USA}).
