I Am Invincible breeding right sells for $520,000

Written by Lydia Symonds

A breeding right to the newly-crowned Champion Sire I Am Invincible was the headline act of the Inglis August Early Online Sale on Wednesday with Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, who were working on behalf of their client Pete Murray, going to $520,000 for the right in the Yarraman Park-based stallion.

“Pete is always looking to strengthen his product and you can’t strengthen any breeding set-up much more than getting a breeding right to the Champion Sire,’’ Three Bridges’ Toby Liston said.

“Vinnie is great to be involved with and when he no doubt goes to private in years to come, Pete will have access to him.

“We figured he’d cost double service fee and as it turned out, it was double service fee plus some but we were adamant we wanted it.”

Wheeler takes home Duchess Kate

The most expensive mare of the afternoon was New Zealand Group 3 winner Duchess Kate (NZ) (Savabeel), who was purchased by John Wheeler for $455,000.

Consigned by Kitchwin Hills on behalf of her owner Max Whitby, the daughter of Savabeel was offered in foal to Kia Ora Stud’s G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning stallion Farnan and she has already produced one winner in the shape of Hayley (Sooboog).

Meanwhile, she handed Kitchwin Hills a brilliant result in the sales ring earlier this year when her colt by first-season sire The Autumn Sun was purchased by Justin Bahen and Kris Lees Racing for $950,000 - which is a record for the stallion - at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Duchess Kate herself is out of dual winner Royal Prize (NZ) (Prized {USA}), making her a sister to Saavoya (NZ), who landed two races in New Zealand at Group 2 level.

Wheeler also purchased Avila (Written Tycoon) for $125,000 and Vinay (Fastnet Rock), who was offered in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB), for $250,000. All three of Wheeler’s purchases will be covered by Widden Stud resident Russian Camelot (Ire) this spring.

“I’m actively out there looking for and buying mares for Russian Camelot, I’ll keep looking and as the right ones become available and while I don’t run out of money, I’ll pick them up as I go,’’ Wheeler said.

“These Savabeel mares are very good and at the end of the day I’m hopeful Duchess Kate will measure up; she certainly does on all the breeding indicators.

“I thought $400,000 was where I’d need to go to get her but clearly there was somebody else, or some people else, who were keen on her as well and that’s what happens, when two people want the same thing, you’ve got to pay more than you want.’’

Meanwhile, Kitchwin’s Mick Malone added: “I’m so happy, really happy with that. I mean I’m sad to see her go but so happy with the price.

“It’s the right time to sell her. She’s already the dam of the highest-priced first-season sire yearling in The Autumn Sun at $950,000 and she’s absolutely the type who could achieve that again with Farnan when this foal hits the sale ring.’’

Trilogy secure Surecan and Zebreez

Meanwhile, Trilogy Racing, who made waves throughout the yearling sale series this year, were active via the online platform on Wednesday, when they paid $300,000 apiece for dual winner Surecan (Not A Single Doubt) and Zebreez (Sebring), whom they bought under the guise of EIH Breeding and Racing.

Surecan is out of the Group 1 winner Ofcourseican (Mossman) and she produced five other winners including the dam of G3 Bart Cummings H. winner Persan (Pierro).

Ofcourseican herself is a half-sister to South African Grade 1 winner and now sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Tim Wilson, whose First Light Racing offered Surecan, was over the moon with the result and said he wasn’t sure she would make that much.

“It was great to see her make that price, I thought it was unlikely if I’m being honest but the Inglis team has done it again,’’ Wilson said. “We’re thrilled with the result, the owners are over the moon, they’ve enjoyed this whole process and it’s a fantastic result for everyone.’’

Meanwhile, the winning Sebring mare Zebreez was offered by Widden Stud – on behalf of clients Scott Gibson and Murray Murdoch.

The daughter of the late Widden Stud-based sire Sebring is a daughter of Listed Summoned S. winner Cabernet (Al Maher), who is also the dam of G2 Tristarc S. winner Madam Rouge (Zoustar) and with Zebreez being offered in foal to Zoustar, it means the resulting foal will be a three-quarter sibling to the Group 2-winning mare.

“The ease and trust of the system is fantastic with Inglis Digital, these astute buyers can go out of their way to source quality stock regularly that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to,’’ Widden’s Matt Comerford said.

“Three-hundred thousand for Zebreez is another great result. Vendors know they can sell with Inglis Digital and realise top prices, which is why we’re always using the platform.’’

Indie Investments take home Charleise

Charleise (Foxwedge) was another mare to realise $300,000 on Wednesday, when she was purchased by Indie Investments.

Offered by Segenhoe Stud as agent for Chris and Jane Barham and Peter O’Brien, Charleise won five races on the track, headlined by a victory at Listed level.

“She won $400,000 on the track and now she’s sold for $300,000, they got to meet great people, got a great insight into the industry, got to big racecourses and won stakes races all with their first horse, so it’s been great fun,” said Chris Barham.

At the completion of the August (Early) auction $5,095,600 had been grossed, with 12 lots realising $100,000 or more and seven selling for $200,000 or more.

The next Inglis Digital Online Auction is the ‘August Boutique Sale’ featuring three Australian Bloodstock mares Wandabaa (Wandjina), Enchanted Heart (Shamus Award) and Lunakorn (Puissance De Lune {Ire}).

The sale will be live from 9am AEST on August 16 and close for bidding at 4pm AEST on August 17.