Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Retiring as a 6-year-old mare, Icebath’s career is one marked by consistency at the top level.
Although she had to wait until this season to claim her first elite-level success, the daughter of Sacred Falls (NZ) has been mixing it with the best since her juvenile career, running in G1 Golden Slipper S. lead-up races as a 2-year-old.
Icebath (NZ) after winning the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
When she finally claimed her well-earned Group 1 victory in the Empire Rose S. at Flemington last October, it had been a long time coming. Her CV also boasts five Group 1-placings - two in the Doncaster Mile, and one each in the George Main S., Queen of the Turf and Cantala S.
In all she has so far taken in 39 races, winning five and placing in a further 16 - but it’s her prizemoney haul which tells the real story of her success as a tough servant for her owners.
At a little over $5.2 million, a hefty proportion of that can be attributed to her success in the inaugural $2 million The Invitation, in which she beat a crack field of fillies such as Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Madam Rouge (Zoustar), whilst she also finished just 0.1l second in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
It represents an unreal return on her $100,000 price-tag at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale - which of course makes it the second time Inglis will be responsible for selling the star. Inglis’ NSW Bloodstock Manager Chris Russell is delighted to be able to offer the mare, and described Icebath as “the complete package’’.
“We’ve offered some elite mares at the Chairman’s Sale in recent years and Icebath is right up there with the best of them,’’ Russell said.
“She’s accomplished on the track with a Group 1 win and more than $5 million in prizemoney, she’s very well bred and she’s a very pretty mare. A lot of mares tick one or two of those boxes but Icebath really ticks all three, which is rare.
“It’s a genuine honour to be entrusted to offer a mare of Icebath’s quality and I think it’s testament to the regard this sale is now held in the market that the connections of the best broodmare prospect to go to public auction in Australia this year have chosen the Chairman’s to sell her through.
“She’s (Icebath) accomplished on the track with a Group 1 win and more than $5 million in prizemoney, she’s very well bred and she’s a very pretty mare. A lot of mares tick one or two of those boxes but Icebath really ticks all three, which is rare.’’ - Chris Russell
“We’re extremely grateful to David and John McGrath, Simon and David Basheer and Tass Roufos for their loyalty and we can’t wait for the Chairman’s Sale to offer Icebath and so many other outstanding mares to the market at Riverside in early May.’’
A thrilling ride
Speaking to TDN AusNZ in the wake of Icebath’s Empire Rose victory, co-owner David Basheer said: “Not everything has always gone right with Icebath… but having said that, we’ve also been very appreciative of racing a horse at that level. We’ve never come away from those races disappointed, just glad to have a horse like her.”
“Not everything has always gone right with Icebath… but having said that, we’ve also been very appreciative of racing a horse at that level. We’ve never come away from those races disappointed, just glad to have a horse like her.” - David Basheer
After the announcement of her heading to Inglis, Basheer added: “She has a heart as big as the Hawkesbury river, her courage, longevity and character is amazing. She will never know how much we love her. She has raced the best for so long and consistently brushed aside poor luck to compete at the highest level.
“We look forward to her putting her great ability and desire into her progeny in the years to come.”
Also an ATC Director, Icebath’s managing owner David McGrath said owning the star mare had been “the ultimate racing dream’’.
“She is such a competitor and has a rare determination and closing speed which few horses possess,’’ McGrath said.
“She (Icebath) is such a competitor and has a rare determination and closing speed which few horses possess.’’ - David McGrath
“Since her 2-year-old years right through to 2023, Icebath has raced at the highest level and shown so much heart in her races. She's one of the most loved and consistent Group 1 horses in Australia.
“Icebath's longevity is down to the way (trainer) Brad Widdup and his team have cared for the mare.”
A special horse for Widdup
For her trainer Brad Widdup, Icebath’s victory in the spring also marked his own maiden top-level success, and he said she’s been a special mare all along, and far from being disappointed that she’ll no longer be a part of his Hawkesbury operation, he said he was pleased to have been part of the journey.
Brad and Milissa Widdup | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
“It is what it is, she’s been terrific for me, and as a long as she retires safe and sound at the end of her career I’m not too phased,” he told TDN AusNZ.
“She’s been here a long time now, and she’s a special horse in our place. But, that’s how the world goes around, you’ve just got to move on.
“There’s not a lot wrong with her, but she’s got to the point where she’s 6 years old and the owners don’t want to race on with her after this season, and they don’t want to breed with her, so that’s the next option, I suppose.”
With Icebath’s latest run being an impressive fourth-place finish in the G2 Apollo S. on February 11, it’s notable that her form remains as strong as ever; 1.25l ahead of her that day was the brilliant Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}).
“There’s not a lot wrong with her (Icebath), but she’s got to the point where she’s 6 years old and the owners don’t want to race on with her after this season, and they don’t want to breed with her, so that’s the next option, I suppose.” - Brad Widdup
And the celebrations might not be over…
“Same as last year, she’ll head towards the (G1) Doncaster (H.),” Widdup reported.
Whether she’s able to add a further Group 1 to her CV, Icebath already boasts an exceptional pedigree that will make her extremely sought-after come May 4 at Riverside.
Bred by Waikato Stud, she’s out of their top producer Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel) and has two stakes-winning siblings - Nowyousee (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Courier Wonder (NZ), the latter a full brother who is a Group 3 winner in Hong Kong.
Fabulist (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
With such an enticing offering joining their Chairman's catalogue alongside such horses as fellow Group 1 winner Graceful Girl (Nicconi), Group 1 producer Celebrity Miss (NZ) (Civics) and three-time Group 1-placed Swats That (Shamus Award).
A consignor for Icebath will be made apparent in the coming weeks having not been announced alongside this news.
