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For
a vendor to have sold two of the 10 runners in this Saturday's Group I
$1million Golden Rose is a notable achievement, but when one of them is the hot
race favourite they're entitled to be feeling excited.
Boutique Hunter Vallery nursery Edinglassie Stud is no stranger to producing
Group I winners having sold the likes of Bentley Biscuit, Wonderful World,
Nadeem and God's Own, with boom Fastnet Rock filly Nechita looking a massive
chance to join them this Saturday.
Bred by Jason Abrahams of Champion Thoroughbreds in partnership with Judy
Somers, Nechita was foaled and raised at Edinglassie and is the second foal of
good metropolitan winning Peintre Celebre (USA) mare Artistique.
She was sent to Magic Millions as a yearling where she fetched $130,000 when
secured by Patinack Farm and has won each of her three starts to date in
explosive fashion.
Edinglassie Stud Manager Mick Talty remembers her well.
"She was a late foal born in mid-November so was always a bit on the small
side," said Talty.
"She was a lovely filly though and was a really nice mover.
"We still have her mother Artistique here and she's due to foal any day to
Hinchinbrook."
To have Nechita (pictured as a yearling) make the Golden Rose field has been a thrill for the team at
Edinglassie, but to have a capable back-up in Ninth Legion adds to the
anticipation.
Another three year-old by champion sire Fastnet Rock, Ninth Legion (pictured as a yearling) was bred by
Davilora Lodge and was also foaled and raised at Edinglassie before being to
the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he was bought by Anthony
Cummings for $110,000.
He is the first foal of Xaar's Jewel, a half-sister to the dam of Group I New
Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner Tell a Tale, who was also bred by Davilora
Lodge and sold by Edinglassie.
Ninth Legion has won two of his five starts and been fourth at his last two
runs in the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes and Run to the Rose.
"Ninth Legion wasn't a big yearling either and when I look at him now, he still
seems to have plenty of growing left to do," Talty recalled.
"He and Nechita were similar in that regard as yearlings, although her breeders
were very keen to go to the Gold Coast so she went to Magic Millions, while he
was held back for Easter."
Talty and his partner Michelle now own Ninth Legion's dam Xaar's Jewel, so will
not be unhappy if the colt upstages the more fancied filly.
"Davilora Lodge were selling a number of mares and we decided to buy her based
on what Ninth Legion was like as a foal, so we hope he keeps progressing as
she's due to foal to Dane Shadow in the next few weeks," he revealed.
There is no sibling to Ninth Legion for the yearling sales in 2013 as Xaar's
Jewel missed to Exceed and Excel in 2010, but Talty is looking forward to
presenting Nechita's half-brother, an athletic bay colt by exciting young sire
Northern Meteor.
"He's a really nice colt and will be heading to Magic Millions in January, so
if the stars align and Nechita keeps winning and Northern Meteor gets a few
winners, he could make quite a bit of money," Talty added.
At 4pm on Saturday afternoon, this colt might find himself worth a bit more!
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