Pletcher to train Permian half-brother after €420,000 sale

Permian may have been lost in battle at Arlington this month, but the tough-as-nails dual Group 2 winner clearly won many fans across the world in his all-too-brief life.

To prove it, his yearling half-brother by New Approach is set to be trained in the US by Todd Pletcher after being purchased by James Crupi and Marco Bozzi for €420,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale on Saturday.

The colt will carry the silks of Vincent Viola, the billionaire businessman who this year withdrew from consideration for becoming US army secretary despite being president Donald Trump's nominee for the position.

Viola has owned, outright or in partnership, many top-class horses, not least this year's Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming, dual Grade 1 winner Liam's Map and Spinaway Stakes scorer Sweet Loretta.

“Tragic is an understatement to describe what happened to Permian; he was a great horse,” said a spokesman for the buying team. “His half-brother is by a proven stallion, has an excellent page and we're happy to have him.

“Full credit goes to James Crupi, who's the best agent in the US. He bought the likes of Always Dreaming, Liam's Map, Overanalyze, Stay Thirsty and Uncle Mo, and he's the one who seduced Vincent into letting us come to Deauville and buy some horses.”

He added that the New Approach colt would likely go to Viola's regular trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bozzi and Crupi also signed for an Oasis Dream half-brother to Listed winner Lady Of Kyushu at €140,000 and a Camelot filly out of Group/Grade 2 scorer Spring Star at €120,000.

The Permian half-brother represented a profitable piece of trading for vendor Camas Park Stud, which bought his dam Tessa Reef – who has also produced Listed-placed pair Samana Cay and Second Wave – for 65,000gns when she was in foal to New Approach as part of a Darley dispersal at Tattersalls in 2015.

Read the full report from the opening session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale