Spendthrift Australia newcomer Warrior’s Reward (USA) is building a strong clientele in the sale-rings of North America.
That continued at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale on Thursday when his colt from Heaven’s Run (Septieme Ciel) made $180,000 to the bid of Super Horse Inc owner Dr Patrick Sheehy.
It’s a prolific winning family – the colt’s dam has foaled the winners of 46 races headed by Akatsakat (Sir Cat) in the LR Michigan Futurity.
Sheehy grew up in Ireland and began racing in Southern California in 1976. His best galloper Kinsale King struck a purple-patch in 2010 winning the G3 Palos Verdes Hcp at Santa Anita and G1 Golden Sheen at Meydan before finishing third to Starspangledbanner in the G1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot.
Kinsale King was named after Sheehy’s home town in County Cork.
Warrior’s Reward’s best price at public auction was a $330,000 filly purchased by trainer Mark Casse at the 2014 Ocala 2YO Sale. Named Unbridled Reward, she won by 7 lengths on debut at Churchill Downs and then finished second in the LR Debutante Stakes under the Twin Spires.
Spendthrift Australia will introduce Warrior’s Reward to Australian breeders for a “Share The Upside” fee of $13,750 (inc gst). The son of Medaglia d’Oro is also available at $11,000 (inc gst) on a standard live foal contract.
His shares were trading for US$94,500 earlier this year in Kentucky.
Warrior’s Reward was trained by Ian Wilkes to give Medaglia d’Oro a Group 1 first in the 2010 Carter Hcp in New York. He was also Group 2 placed in the Jim Dandy at Saratoga and Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park.
Wilkes isn’t surprised the Spendthrift shuttler is one of the young guns among North America’s leading second-season sires this year. “I’m like a proud dad,” he said. “Warrior’s Reward is a class act — a very big horse but a very kind horse to be around.
“You always wanted to see him go on and graduate to the next level. He accomplished that on the track being a Group 1 winner. Now you want to see him produce Group 1 winners.”
WARRIOR’S REWARD