Written by Lydia Symonds
Cover image courtesy of Inglis
A pair of Peters Investments-owned mares Graceful Girl (Nicconi) and Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready {USA}) are the latest headline acts confirmed for this year’s Chairman’s Sale, which takes place on May 4 at Riverside Stables.
Graceful Girl’s six race wins were headed by a victory in the 2021 edition of the G1 Winterbottom S. and she accrued $890,500 in prizemoney earnings throughout her career.
Graceful Girl | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Bred by Bob Peters’ Peters Investments, the daughter of Nicconi is a daughter of Group 2 winner Avenida Madero (Metal Storm {Fr}) making her a sister to Group 3 scorer State Solicitor, while she counts G2 Western Australian Derby winner Respondent (Haradasun) among her half-siblings.
Meanwhile, Listed winner Celebrity Miss has already proved herself in the breeding shed, producing two winners headed by G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice), who was purchased by Tom Magnier for a sale-topping $2.5 million at the 2021 edition of the sale.
Bob Peters said selling the mares was tinged with disappointment, but made sense from a business perspective.
“We are reluctant sellers of mares, especially from our top families but it has to be done because we run a business,’’ Peters said.
“We are reluctant sellers of mares, especially from our top families but it has to be done because we run a business.’’ - Bob Peters
“Graceful Girl will be a particularly difficult one to part with as we never really saw the best of her. She was a later foal and we took a patient approach with her, as we do with them all. She won her Group 1 coming from last to run away on the line in a fast time and was really starting to mature into herself.
“She went to Melbourne and things didn’t work out but I think she was very, very good. Everything out of the dam is a winner and it’s a very tough, fast, honest family.
“It is our policy not to serve mares that we are considering selling so as to keep the business viable. This enables purchasers to get a nice early start with a stallion of their choice.’’
“It is our policy not to serve mares that we are considering selling so as to keep the business viable. This enables purchasers to get a nice early start with a stallion of their choice.’’ - Bob Peters
The two mares join the early list of Chairman’s Sale entries, which includes the three-time Group 1-placed sprinting mare Swats That (Shamus Award), mares in foal to the likes of American sire sensation Gun Runner (USA) and Champion European sire Frankel (GB).
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch noted it was a ‘privilege’ to have the opportunity to present mares of such quality on behalf of the Peters family.
“We’re extremely grateful to Bob and Sandra Peters, they showed unwavering support by offering Celebrity Queen at the Chairman’s in 2021 and were thrilled with the result and to have them back again in the sale this year with these two outstanding mares is humbling,’’ Hutch said.
Sandra and Bob Peters
“The breeding and racing operation that Bob has developed over decades is one of the most effective anywhere in the world, so this is a fantastic opportunity for buyers to acquire quality mares from families that have been carefully cultivated by a master of his craft.”
The Chairman’s Sale will be held at Riverside Stables in Sydney on the evening of Thursday, May 4 and forms part of the Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series which also includes the Australian Weanling Sale, Australian Broodmare Sale, Great Southern Weanling Sale and Great Southern Broodmare Sale.
