Yulong’s freshman sire, Pierata, not only chalked up his first win on Wednesday, it was a Listed triumph. Following Coleman’s excellent debut performance, The Thoroughbred Report caught up with a very happy Sam Fairgray – the stud’s chief operating officer.
Ahead of Wednesday’s Listed Debutant S. at Caulfield, there was a spruik about the unraced colt Coleman from the Matt Laurie yard. The son of Pierata put the writing on the wall with impressive jump-outs at Sandown and Mornington.
Sent out a short-priced favourite, Coleman sat behind the leader, Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the run, before peeling three-wide just before the run home. The colt sprinted quickly when asked for the supreme effort by jockey Ben Melham, dashing away to score by 1.25l. Arabian Summer held on for second, while Aardvark (Capitalist) got home well from back in the field to run third.
Coleman’s win handed his sire a maiden victory and first Stakes triumph. Pierata, who stands at Yulong Stud in Victoria at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST) this spring, has had three runners this season.
Pierata commenced his stud career at Aquis Farm in Queensland. He covered 169 mares in his first season, 143 in his second and 139 last spring.
A jubilant Sam Fairgray – Yulong’s chief operating officer – wasn’t surprised to see Pierata land an early blow and believes this is the tip of the iceberg for the 2019 G1 All Aged S. hero.
“It’s fantastic for Pierata to get his first winner and for it to be a Stakes winner. He’s off the mark and running, so it’s a great result,” Fairgray told TTR AusNZ.
“Coleman was very impressive. He was particularly strong at the end of his race. It’s exciting for Pierata to have such a talented horse as Coleman from his first crop.”
“It’s exciting for Pierata to have such a talented horse as Coleman from his first crop.” – Sam Fairgray
Fairgray is supremely confident Pierata will make his mark in his freshman season.
“We bought a couple of Pierata yearlings and we’re very happy with them,” he explained.
“The feedback we’ve been getting from trainers that have Pieratas has been really positive, so that’s very pleasing. He obviously was a fantastic racehorse, very consistent, raced at the highest level and it’s just great that we were able to acquire him and that he will stand the rest of his life at Yulong.”
“The feedback we’ve been getting from trainers that have Pieratas has been really positive, so that’s very pleasing.” – Sam Fairgray
Pierata’s first book included the Group 1 victress Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible). Her filly made $800,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Kevin Kelly buying her from Segenhoe Stud’s consignment.
The son of Pierro also covered the stakes winners Celebrity Girl (Starcraft {NZ}), Cinq Rouge (Red Ransom {USA}), Oregon’s Day (Domesday) and Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}), among others
A great result for Victoria
Coleman’s triumph was a shot in the arm for Victoria, with the colt being trained by the Mornington-based Laurie, by a Victorian-based sire and bred by Rhys and Chloe Smith’s Kulani Park, which is situated at Goulburn Weir, near Nagambie.
“Rhys and Chloe have been great breeders for many years now and they do a fantastic job. It’s great, they’re a neighbour to Yulong, really,” he said.
“Rhys and Chloe (Smith) have been great breeders for many years now and they do a fantastic job. It’s great, they’re a neighbour to Yulong, really.” – Sam Fairgray
“The mare is safely back in foal to Pierata.”
‘He was one of those horses that was hard to fault’
Coleman was consigned by Kulani Park at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was knocked down to Matt Laurie Racing/Justin Bahen for $550,000, making him the third-highest of Pierata’s progeny to be sold at Bundall.
The colt is from the Redoute’s Choice mare Sboog. She was placed at two and is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-producing stallion Rothesay, as well as the Listed scorer Sensei (Dream Ahead {USA}), the Stakes performer Baranof (Hinchinbrook) and the Newcastle winner Fast Shanti (Fastnet Rock). The latter has produced the Listed winner Fast Witness (Star Witness).
Coleman is also closely related to the Stakes scorers Rockolicious (Fastnet Rock), Astute Angel (Godswalk {USA}) and Causeway Lass (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).
Chloe Smith told TTR AusNZ Coleman’s victory was “right up there” with their greatest thrills in the sport.
“We’re over the moon, it’s so good. We’ve bred some good horses, but he looks like he could shape up to be anything,” she said.
“We’ve bred some good horses, but he (Coleman) looks like he could shape up to be anything.” – Chloe Smith
“He was really impressive and did it quite comfortably in the end.
“He showed he was talented at the jump-outs, but to do it on raceday is a different ball game, so to tick that box, it’s great.”
The colt was a lovely type with a great attitude, according to Smith.
“From day one he impressed us. He had a lovely temperament, in fact everything about him was what you look for. He was one of those horses that was hard to fault. He’s the type of horse you want,” she remarked.
“From day one he (Coleman) impressed us. He had a lovely temperament, in fact everything about him was what you look for.” – Chloe Smith
Smith said the $550,000 sale price was roughly what they were expecting.
“It’s pretty good money for a yearling by a first-season sire,” commented Smith.
The Smiths bought Sboog, in foal to Pierata, for $100,000 from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. Before being covered by Pierata for a second time, she foaled a Flying Artie filly.
“She’s a lovely mare and she’s doing a good job,” said Smith.
“We’re glad we sent her back to Pierata and that she’s in foal to him.”
This is an edited version of the TTR Aus NZ article written by Trent Masenhelde
