Written by Jessica Owers
Inglis Digital on Wednesday afternoon was the host of some spirited bidding on a well-bred Juddmonte mare. Of Good Cheer (GB), an imported daughter of Dark Angel (Ire), sold for $560,000, going the way of Yulong dressed up as Chatsworth Farm.
She was one of 432 in the catalogue for the June (Early) Online Sale, and by virtual hammer-down she had attracted 41 bids, a flurry landing in the final half-hour. Consigned by Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud on behalf of Juddmonte, she was the session’s best seller by a long way.
Four-year-old Of Good Cheer was offered in foal to Frankel (GB) on a September cover, making her a lucrative package deal. By Dark Angel, she is from the Dubawi (Ire) mare Radiator (GB), and this is one of Juddmonte’s striking families.
Lot 318 - Of Good Cheer (GB) was offered in foal to Frankel (GB) and was purchased by Yulong for $560,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
It features the G1 Metropolitan H. winner Mirage Dancer (GB), also by Frankel and a half-brother to Radiator, while the third dam on the page is Hasili (Ire), who was a gifted stakes-producer responsible for five individual Group 1 winners.
Of Good Cheer was imported into Australia in December last year. She was a winner over 1300 metres in France and her progeny slate is clean. Her Frankel foal will be her first.
She has lived the last few months since her importation at Twin Hills Stud, with Tait enjoying a fruitful relationship with Juddmonte’s Australian interests.
“We’ve been lucky enough to be able to represent Juddmonte in the sale of a number of their mares over the last couple of years,” he said, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “Of Good Cheer is one of those, and she’s going to Yulong, which is a very good result.”
“We’ve been lucky enough to be able to represent Juddmonte in the sale of a number of their mares over the last couple of years. Of Good Cheer is one of those, and she’s going to Yulong, which is a very good result.” - Olly Tait
Yulong is fresh off a manic spend at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale a fortnight ago, but there seems no stopping its appetite for anything well-bred. In the end, the Victorian farm might have snagged a good deal on Wednesday because last month, Of Good Cheer was passed in at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale with a reserve of $600,000.
“Mr Zhang is not only a great supporter of Frankel,” Tait said. “He’s a great supporter of the Australian industry, so we wish him all the best with this mare.”
Tait said the decision to sell these sorts of mares was no different for Juddmonte as any other commercial operator.
Olly Tait | Image courtesy of Inglis
“There are always females that are put to the market,” he said. “This mare, in particular, has a wonderful family and there are a number of mares that Juddmonte would have from it. So they felt it was a good opportunity to put her in foal to Frankel.
“But most importantly, what they are aiming to do is get some nice Frankels bred to Southern Hemisphere time. That will give Frankel additional opportunities in Australia to show what a truly remarkable stallion he is.”
Seeking a Fortune
Of Good Cheer topped Wednesday’s sale by a long way, with the next best-selling being Lot 418, the 5-year-old mare Fortune Seeker (Written Tycoon).
Offered by Newgate Farm, she was also purchased by Yulong, who went to $300,000 to get her. She had previously been withdrawn from the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last month.
Lot 418 - Fortune Seeker was offered in foal to Stay Inside and was purchased by Yulong for $300,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fortune Seeker was offered with an October cover to Stay Inside, one of Newgate’s hottest sire propositions in a long time. In the midst of her sale this week, her Capitalist half-sister, Comrade Rosa, accepted for the G2 Dane Ripper S. this weekend.
Fortune Seeker had a short career on the track when trained by Tulloch Lodge. She won her first three starts and raced only seven times, and she was offered as a breeding prospect with her first foal in utero.
She is from the very smart mare No Looking Back (Redoute’s Choice), who was second to Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and relegated to second behind Driefontein (Fastnet Rock) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2012.
In the aftermath of Wednesday's sale, Newgate’s Jim Carey said he was pleased with the result for Fortune Seeker.
Jim Carey | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The mare is owned by Nick Vass, a great supporter of the farm and it’s a fantastic result overall,” he said. “Mares in foal to Stay Inside have sold extremely well this year and we wish Mr Zhang and the Yulong team all the best with her. Hopefully there’s a big update for them as early as Saturday in the Dane Ripper.”
Seven in the six figures
Of Good Cheer and Fortune Seeker were two of the seven horses to fetch six-figure amounts at the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale on Wednesday.
The Testa Rossa mare Testa Sarah was sold to Kitchwin Hills for $190,000, consigned by Vinery Stud in foal on a November cover to Exceedance. This mare is already the dam of the smart, stakes-winning juvenile Saltaire (Star Turn).
“We know how good Saltaire is and we’re actually really excited to be purchasing her mother,” said Mick Malone, the Kitchwin Hills studmaster. “We’re also big believers in Exceedance as a stallion, so it’s all a match made in heaven. We’ll foal the mare down and then send her back to Star Turn to get a fully to Saltaire, and we hope by then she’s (Saltaire) won a few Group 1s for us.”
“We know how good Saltaire is and we’re actually really excited to be purchasing her mother (Testa Sarah). We’re also big believers in Exceedance as a stallion, so it’s all a match made in heaven.” - Mick Malone
At Vinery Stud, Adam White said it was an equally good result for the farm's emerging sire, Exceedance.
“His progeny sold up to $380,000 at Inglis Easter this year. He’s started off really well in the ring and we can’t wait to see his 2-year-olds hit the track later this year.”
The Maurice (Jpn) filly Killiako was offered by Phillip Stokes Racing in the catalogue, and she was bought by Murray Thoroughbreds for $160,000. Bay Thirteen, a 3-year-old daughter of Deep Field, was offered by Matt Laurie Racing (as agent), and she was bought by Trilogy Racing for $130,000.
Whipping in the seven was 10-year-old mare Scrum (Flying Spur) in foal to Russian Revolution, bought by Spartus Bloodstock who struck last October when paying $100,000 for the James Harron colt London (Capitalist).
Gallery: Some of the top-selling lots, images courtesy of Inglis Digital
Lastly, buyer Graham Stewart paid $100,000 for the 3-year-old filly Estilete (Written Tycoon), who was offered by Annabel Neasham Racing.
Wednesday’s sale grossed a total spend of $4,107,750, with a clearance rate of 71.76 per cent. The average was $13,468.
Entries are now open for the Inglis Digital June (Late) Online Sale, which will run from June 23 to 28. Entries will remain open until midnight on June 21, with the catalogue already confirmed for the Group winners Daisies (Sebring) and Literary Magnate (Written Tycoon).
