Yarradale Stud graduate Daytona Pete was the top-priced colt at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions and he paid the first instalment of a $280,000 price-tag at Pinjarra on Sunday.

The Steve Wolfe-trained 3yo was facing the starter for just the third time down the straight in the Country Comfort Maiden (1000m).  Always prominent along the grandstand rail, he duelled with Favourite Songs (Shalaa) and edged ahead in the final stages for stable jockey Shaun McGruddy.

Daytona Pete had been denied clear running on debut in a Belmont nursery won by Wind And The Lion (Written By) in July and resumed for an encouraging third to Pingers (Headwater) in Albany last month.

He was bred to be a big-ticket item and looked the part at last year’s Swan Valley Yearling Sale when knocked down to Commercial Bloodstock’s Noel Carter.  He’s a Gingerbread Man full-brother and stablemate of the Yarradale Stud sire’s $1.54 million earner Red Can Man.

A Group 3 winner at Caulfield and a multiple Listed winner at Ascot and Belmont, Red Can Man holds another Group 3 nomination for the $1.5 million Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot on December 14.

Older half-sister Quilista (Scandal Keeper) is by a former Yarradale-based stallion and she was also worth seven-figures when changing hands at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.  Quilista had been a black-type winner in WA prior to a transfer east where she won at Flemington and Caulfield before graduating to black-type victories in Sydney and Brisbane.

“Red Can Man cost $50,000 and I was happy to reinvest,” Carter told ANZ Bloodstock News soon after signalling the $280,000 winning bid for Daytona Pete.  “This bloke has a bit more substance and it’s a family that we know so well.  I was near to pulling up when the price kept climbing but ‘Wolfie’ was digging me in the ribs and with that bit of urging we got there.”

Yarradale Stud topped the overall leaderboard at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions with a Blue Point (Ire) filly purchased by Grant and Alana Williams for $350,000.   She’s named Blue Pepper and races for a syndicate that includes Neil Irvine (Rapid Equine), Ridgeport (Santo Guagliardo), Yarradale Stud (Lyn Sayers), Horseshoe Investments (Rod Russell) and Two Fillies Stud (Nino Tufilli).

Blue Pepper is a half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man) and apart from significant residual value, she won’t be long reducing expenses following a debut fourth to Helluva Goddess (Playing God) at Bunbury on November 14.

Daytona Pete / Photo: Western Racepix