Magnier Lands $1.1M Justify Colt at The Gulfstream Sale

A striking colt by Triple Crown winner Justify   is headed to a fitting home after bringing $1.1 million March 30 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected sale of 2-year-olds in training in South Florida.

Bloodstock agent Jamie McCalmont signed the ticket for Coolmore's M. V. Magnier on the colt, a son of grade 1 winner Appealing Zophie , making him a half brother to 2017 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tapwrit  , as well as to Ride a Comet  (by Candy Ride  ), a grade 2 winner on dual surfaces, and to Inject , a stakes-winning, grade 3-placed filly by Frosted  . He was consigned as Hip 84 by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables after initially not meeting his reserve at $290,000 for breeder Barronstown Stud at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

"Everything, I loved everything about him," an elated McCalmont said after seeing out fierce bidding. "During his breeze, he jumped two shadows and still managed to go in :10 flat and stay on his feet, which showed a lot of athleticism. It didn't affect him, and he still had a good time and a good gallop-out time."

Coolmore stands Justify at its Ashford Stud in Kentucky and shuttles him to Coolmore Australia. His first foals are juveniles of 2022; this year, the son of Scat Daddy  stands for an advertised fee of $100,000 in the U.S.

"He is by Justify, which we see many of, and the world seems to be getting very strong about them. This colt looks more of a precocious type, moreso than many of them look; we hope to have him out running in the summer," McCalmont commented. "I watched him train here for the past week, and he hasn't turned a hair wrong. He stood up to the sale well and vetted well."

"We were thrilled with the sale," Dunne said. "He is a beautiful colt. He showed himself well here and we were rewarded."

The Justify colt was the first purchase for the Coolmore group of the sale, which later came back to secure Hip 96, also consigned by Wavertree, for $575,000.

The Uncle Mo   colt sizzled an eighth in :09 3/5 to set a record for the distance at this sale. He is out of the Elusive Quality mare Brusquer, a half sibling to prominent sire Tapit   (both out of Tap Your Heels ). Bred in Kentucky by Barouche Stud, he was a $385,000 RNA at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.