BUSHRANGER TOPS SEPTEMBER SALE

Eliza Park shuttler, Bushranger, has topped the Tattersalls September Yearling Sale in Ireland when one of his first crop colts was knocked down for 75,000 euro.

A Champion 2YO of England and France, Bushranger is clearly one of the hottest stallion prospects in Europe with his yearlings selling up to 90,000 pounds at the Doncaster Sales in England earlier this month, while his weanlings were sold up to 70,000 guineas last year.

Reporting on the sale which has experienced three years of steady growth, Racing Post stated: “There was no doubting the star of the final day as the Bushranger colt lit up proceedings to provide a terrific dividend on the 12,000 euro that he cost at the Goffs February Sale.

“The colt is the first foal of a half sister to a North American stakes winner and was the subject of a lengthy battle that went the way of Emerald Bloodstock’s Pauline Marterer after she had seen off the attentions of Ger Lyons and (leading Bloodstock Agent) Ross Doyle.

(Doyle has been particularly active in terms of Bushranger’s first crop, stating at foal sales last year: “Bushranger is the only one that’s got my attention so far. The ones I’ve seen have been strong, good-walking sorts and obviously they have sold very well”).

Emerald Bloodstock purchased the colt on behalf of French trainer, Urs Suter, who had snapped up a Bushranger filly and another of his colts earlier in the sale.

Although Australian yearling sales are still over three months away, Eliza Park’s sales and nominations team has reported solid interest in Bushranger this spring.

“Broodmare owners have obviously been watching what’s been happening overseas,” Eliza Park’s Mark Lindsay points out. “Bushranger (below) was a top class performer at two and he’s throwing very good types. Very forward.

“Naturally enough, a lot of his bookings in 2012 are repeat business … they like what they see.”