Cover image courtesy of Coolmore
This year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale features the progeny of 35 Group 1-winning fillies and mares, and for six of them, it will be their first foal that goes through the ring at Riverside Stables.
That sextet comprises English (Encosta De Lago), Invincibella (I Am Invincible), Lizzie L’Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Nakeeta Jane (So You Think {NZ}), Qafila (Not A Single Doubt) and Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge).
Gallery: The sextet of Group 1-winning mares whose first foals will be offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Coolmore Stud has three of those, and Stud Manager, John Kennedy, said it is so pleasing to see the yearlings finally make it to sale day, given the amount of effort that goes into the lead-up.
“We really invest in these mares every year and put a lot of thought into their matings, all with a view to getting our stallions a good start in life at stud, which is important,” Kennedy told TDN AusNZ.
“When you get these animals coming through… all the hard work has been done, so we’re looking forward to the next couple of days and what lies ahead for these animals.”
“When you get these animals coming through… all the hard work has been done, so we’re looking forward to the next couple of days and what lies ahead for these animals.” - John Kennedy
Lot 180 is a Justify (USA) filly out of the 12-time victress Invincibella, who broke through in top company in the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara in 2019.
Invincibella also won four Group 2s, accruing in excess of $3 million in prizemoney.
Bred by G T Thoroughbreds, Invincibella is a half-sister to the stakes winners Secret Blaze (Sizzling) and Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice).
Invincibella is from the unraced Galileo (Ire) mare Abscond and she herself is a half-sister to the stakes performer Light Up Manhattan (Manhattan Rain).
Lot 180 - Justify (USA) x Invincibella (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Consigned by Sledmere Stud at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Invincibella was knocked down to Star Thoroughbreds for $185,000.
In 2020, the mare was offered by Glenesk Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, where Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier went to $1.3 million.
“She’s everything you look for in a first foal, out of a racemare like that,” Kennedy said.
“She’s a perfect blend of Justify and I Am Invincible.
“She’s (Lot 180) a perfect blend of Justify and I Am Invincible.” - John Kennedy
“She’s been very popular and is one of our standout fillies in the draft; we genuinely couldn't be happier with what the mating has produced.”
Lot 261 is another member of the Coolmore Stud consignment and the colt, who is also by their star former shuttle sire Justify, is from Nakeeta Jane, who won the 2019 G1 Surround S., before finishing third, just 1.2l behind The Autumn Sun, in the G1 Randwick Guineas.
A homebred for the Towell family of GT Park, Nakeeta Jane is from the stakes performer Lustre Lady (Flying Spur) and her third dam is the Group 1 victress Jet Ski Lady (USA) (Vaguely Noble {Ire}).
Lot 261 - Justify (USA) x Nakeeta Jane (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Nakeeta Jane was purchased privately by Coolmore Stud in 2019.
“Again, it’s a good mating,” Kennedy commented.
“He’s (Lot 261) been popular, there’s been plenty of interest from domestic and abroad; there’s some Hong Kong guys that are rapt by him.
“He’s a sharper-looking colt, he’s got a lot of speed about him, because the mare was quite fast, as we know.
“He’s (Lot 261) a sharper-looking colt, he’s got a lot of speed about him, because the mare (Nakeeta Jane) was quite fast, as we know.” - John Kennedy
“He’s a good effort for a first foal, that’s why he’s at Easter, and he should sell well.”
Rounding out a trio of Group 1 winners’ first foals for Coolmore Stud is Lot 300 - a Dundeel (NZ) filly from the 2019 G1 South Australian Derby scorer Qafila.
Bred by Woodpark Stud, Qafila was consigned by Attunga Stud at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Shadwell Australasia paid $450,000 for her.
After bowing out with three wins and $731,420 in the bank, Qafila made $2 million at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, when offered as part of the Shadwell Stud Australasia Unreserved Dispersal.
Lot 300 - Dundeel (NZ) x Qafila (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She has a lot of the mare in her,” Kennedy said.
“She’s very easy moving, stands over ground and has a lot of quality.
“She’s a filly that has done very well since she was born on the farm.
“She’s got a bit of maturing to do before she gets up and running, but I think she is a filly with a future, and you’ll see her doing something once she gets out over ground.”
John Kennedy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Qafila is out of the Tapit (USA) mare Zighy Bay (USA) and she herself is a three-quater sister to the stakes winner Sacristy (USA) (Pulpit {USA}).
Newhaven Park with high hopes for English’s colt
Lot 116 is the first foal of the dual Group 1 scorer English, who amassed $3,480,071 in stakemoney during her 27-start career.
A daughter of the two-time Group 2 winner Court (Anabaa {USA}) and a half-sister to the stakes performer Al Naifa (Redoute’s Choice), English was bred and raced by Newhaven Park.
Lot 116 - I Am Invincible x English (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
She was trained by Gai Waterhouse (and then Adrian Bott, too), her six victories included the 2016 G1 All Aged S. and the 2018 G1 Doomben 10,000.
English’s first foal is a colt by Yarraman Park’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible.
“He’s a lovely colt and he’s been very well-received so far,” Newhaven Park’s John Kelly told TDN AusNZ.
“We are very excited to present him to the market and see what happens.”
“He’s (Lot 116) a lovely colt and he’s been very well-received so far.” - John Kelly
Widden Stud the consignor of Lizzie L’Amour colt
Lot 202 is the first foal of the two-time Group 1 winner Lizzie L’Amour, and the Trapeze Artist colt, who was bred by Lorna Moore, will be offered by Widden Stud.
Matamata-based Moore bred Lizzie L’Amour and raced her with her husband Gary.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Lizzie L’Amour won the G1 New Zealand S. in 2017 and the G1 Herbie Dyke S. in 2018.
Lot 202 - Trapeze Artist x Lizzie L'Amour (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Lizzie L’Amour is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Al Shameel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and is closely related to the stakes winners Visions Of Clarity (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), War Will (War Front {USA}), Pathfork (USA) and Tacitus (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}).
Newgate Farm to offer Volpe Veloce’s first foal
Lot 446 is an I Am Invincible yearling from the Newgate Farm consignment and the filly is out of the Foxwedge mare Volpe Veloce - a winner of 12 races, including the 2018 G1 ARC Railway S. and two Group 2s.
Bred by Nick Vass, Volpe Veloce was consigned by Lyndhurst Farm at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, where Kiwi trainer Graham Richardson paid NZ$240,000 for her.
Lot 446 - I Am Invincible x Volpe Veloce (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
She later fetched $675,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, with Newgate Bloodstock buying her from the Volpe Veloce Partnership, and the following year, Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA)/Longwood Thoroughbred Farm/Peter Morgan went to $1.9 million for her at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, when Newgate Consignment offered her in foal to ‘Vinnie’.
Volpe Veloce is a sister to the Listed scorer Raposa Rapida and a half-sister to the Listed winner Delago Bolt (Delago Brom).
