The 6-year-old mare, a winner of five races and over $760,000 in prizemoney in her 15-start career, was offered for sale by her ownership group, headed by Tricolours Racing, after her recent third in the G2 Missile S., where she bled.
She will now be retired from the track, heading to Milburn Creek, before then going on to Yulong Stud to visit Written Tycoon, who is back in Victoria this season.
Hedge, who has had a busy season buying mares for his clients, said Fasika was exactly the right profile of mare to go to Written Tycoon.
"She's such a high-quality mare and fast. We’ve had a focus this year trying to purchase those speed mares. She raced in Sydney at the highest level for a couple of seasons. She was very genuine, raced against open class and against her own sex as well. She was so competitive all throughout her career," Hedge told TDN AusNZ.
"There are always a number of factors you are looking at with these mares and race performance is very important." - Suman Hedge
"There are always a number of factors you are looking at with these mares and race performance is very important. You also look at the pedigree and being by a Champion in So You Think, who is doing a really good job at stud, you then look at how that matches with the stallions that you have got.
"When you look at Written Tycoon in particular, it’s a very good mating. She's out of a Redoute's Choice mare and that nicks particularly well with Written Tycoon. Deeper in the pedigree you have Mr Prospector, who has worked well with Written as well. It all was a good fit and physically, she is such a good-looking mare."
Suman Hedge and Ryan McEvoy | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hedge said there was a strong resemblance between Fasika and her sire, So You Think. He also revealed that he believed she would likely break the million-dollar mark and that she only really came onto the radar for he and his clients, when he realised that she might fall within their price range.
"We thought she might make quite a bit more, based on this year and how strong the market has been. I was a bit intimidated on what she might make, almost to a point where we discarded her as an option," he said.
"It was only this morning when I was looking at the progress of the auction, that we thought there was an opportunity."
A flagbearer
Fasika is out of Redoute's Choice mare Jarada, making her a half-sister to the Listed winner Absolut Excelencia (Excellent Art {GB}), from a family which includes international stakes winners Bayreuth (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}), Dolphin Vista (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Mozu Attraction (Jpn) (Jungle Pocket {Jpn}).
She was purchased by Tricolours Racing and Syndications for $120,000 through the Middlebrook Valley Lodge draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and joined the Joe Pride stable, winning her first three starts, including the Listed South Pacific Classic. She would also win the G3 Wenona Girl S. and the G2 Sapphire S. while she was placed in a G1 All Aged S.
James Moss, director of Tricolours Racing, said the ownership group were very happy with where the market assessed Fasika's value.
"Obviously, with a large ownership group, selling online is a good way to go. There's full transparency there. It was always about the market telling us what she (Fasika) was worth." - James Moss
"Obviously, with a large ownership group, selling online is a good way to go. There's full transparency there. It was always about the market telling us what she was worth," he said.
"We put her on there with a very commercial reserve and we couldn't be more happy with the outcome.
"It's great that she has gone to a terrific judge in Suman Hedge. She’ll get every chance with Written Tycoon, and a great home at Milburn Creek. I just hope we can afford to buy her progeny in years to come."
James Moss and John Sargent | Image courtesy of John Sargent Racing
Moss admits parting with Fasika, who had been a flagbearer in the Tricolours silks, was a bittersweet moment made a bit easier knowing she was going to be given every chance in the broodmare barn.
"It’s very emotional. Especially considering she was the first Australian yearling purchase I made for Tricolours. She has taken her owners on her incredible journey and it’s emotional to say goodbye. But she is going to a good home and we're looking forward to following her into the future."
Flirt lures Telemon
In the Sale's second biggest result, Telemon Thoroughbreds went to $460,000 to secure Listed-winning mare Absolute Flirt (Stratum) from her ownership group.
The 5-year-old mare, who cost her trainer $100,000 from the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, won four of her 19 starts for Danny O'Brien and over $430,000 in prizemoney.
Out of a half-sister to Listed winner Pressing (Sebring), her best performance was in winning the Listed Queen Adelaide S. as a 2-year-old, while she was stakes-placed on another four occasions.
Absolute Flirt | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Lucicello (I Am Invincible), a twice stakes-placed 5-year-old mare out of Lucciola (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner Glass Harmonium (Ire), was secured for $370,000 by Allam Racing.
She was offered by her connections, headed by Debbie Kepitis' Woppitt Bloodstock and Anton Koolman Bloodstock, having won three of her 18 starts with Chris Waller. She also placed in the Listed The Rosebud and G3 Up And Coming S.
“What a great result, we’re absolutely thrilled!” Kepitis said.
“We were anticipating the whole sale process and when today came around we were watching it all afternoon, refreshing the screen all the time, it’s enthralling to watch, I just love the whole process.”
Manx Park secured six-time metropolitan winner Free Hearted (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a close relative to Widden Victoria stallion Doubtland, and a half-sister to Group 2 winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt), for $165,000.
Meanwhile, The Racing League paid $155,000 for Penso A Lei (So You Think {NZ}), the half-sister to stakes-winning pair Felicienne (Al Maher) and Dylanson (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). The 4-year-old mare has won two of her seven starts.
The highest-priced gelding of the Sale was Group 3 winner Thought Of That (So You Think {NZ}), who was in similar ownership to Penso A Lei. He will stay with his trainer Ciaron Maher Racing after he secured $140,000. The 5-year-old was a winner at Sale last Sunday, taking his career prizemoney to nearly $320,000.
The August (Late) Sale grossed $5.2 million and posted a clearance of 80 per cent, while seven lots sold for in excess of $100,000, bringing the 2021 tally to 62
