A weanling out of the SA-bred three times Grade 1-winning sprinter Via Africa (Var) sold for Aus$600,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

The price was the highest on the first day of the sale which had 197 lots.  

The Equus Champion Sprinter of the 2013/2014 season, Via Africa won ten races for Duncan Howells, including the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint twice and the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship.

The small but ultra quick filly has already produced a Group 1 winner in Australia, the Snitzel colt In The Congo, who won the Grade 1 Golden Rose Strakes over 1400m at Rosehill racecourse in Sydney.

The buyer of the weanling filly today was Silverdale Farm/Shrone Bloodstock and the vendor was Newhaven Park, Boorowa, New South Wales.

The weanling is by The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), .

The Autumn Sun was the head of his generation, a winner of $3.4 million and 5 Group 1 races from 1400 to 2000m in 9 starts, and the only horse to win the three major Australian Guineas races at Caulfield, Randwick & Rosehill.

He retired to stud at Arrowfield in 2019 with a Timeform figure of 126 – equalling Redoute’s Choice. 

Picture: Lot 107 (The Autumn Sun-Via Africa) knocked down for Aus$600,000 (Magic Millions).