Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Arrowfield Stud on Wednesday strengthened its already star-studded broodmare band, adding the triple Group 3 victress Flying Mascot (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). The recently retired 6-year-old was offered by Flying Start Syndications (as agent) at the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Unsurprisingly, Flying Mascot was the sale-topper, realising $600,000.
Bred by Finemore Thoroughbreds, she was consigned by Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale (Book 1). There, Flying Start Syndications, Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) paid just $25,000 for her.
Flying Mascot commenced her career with Lindsay Park, before being transferred to Tom Dabernig. She raced 19 times, winning six races, including the G3 Tesio S. in 2021 and the G3 Mannerism and G3 Matron S. the following year. Furthermore, she placed on five occasions, finishing with $565,525 in prizemoney. The mare also placed fifth, beaten just 2.25l, in the G1 Empire Rose S. in 2021.
Arrowfield Stud’s Bloodstock Manager, Jon Freyer said the Upper Hunter Valley-based farm is delighted Flying Mascot will be joining its broodmare band.
“She’s a lovely mare with an outstanding pedigree,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We love Tavistock mares, they’re already very good. I think he will be a very successful broodmare sire. We’ve got a few in the broodmare band, probably not as many as we would like, but we have got a few and we like them. You can never have too much of a good thing
“We love Tavistock mares, they’re already very good. I think he will be a very successful broodmare sire.” - Jon Freyer
“She would suit nearly any of our stallions.
“She was a really, really talented race mare. We rate her very highly and thought she was the right type of mare that fitted our portfolio. She probably could have won a slightly better race than she did, in terms of gradings.”
Freyer said “we will get her home first”, before revealing she will likely be covered by Arrowfield’s kingpin.
“At this stage, we’re thinking Snitzel,” Freyer remarked.
Flying Mascot is from the winless Zabeel (NZ) mare Lucky Mascot (NZ) - a sister to the stakes performer Maythehorsebemagic (NZ), as well as World Exclusive (NZ) - the dam of the Listed victress Exclusive Lass (Nicconi) and Axiom (NZ) - the dam of the elite-level hero and Group 2-producing sire Xtravagant (NZ) and the Group 2 winner and Group 3-producing stallion He’s Remarkable (NZ).
Jon Freyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The mare is a half-sister to the Listed scorer Koala Bear (Exceed And Excel) and is closely related to the stakes performer Marsupial (Street Cry {Ire}) and the Group 2 winner Trobriand (Kermadec {NZ}). Her grandam is the multiple Group 2 victress Arletty (NZ) (Centaine).
“It’s a family that we have had a little bit to do with, we’ve got some good clients that have had that family and they’ve sent them to us over the years from New Zealand. It’s a very admirable family, one that produced good horses and good-looking horses. So, from a commercial standpoint, that’s always good,” Freyer commented.
“There’s good broodmares sires all the way through - Tavistock, Zabeel and Centaine - it’s terrific.”
“There’s good broodmares sires all the way through - Tavistock, Zabeel and Centaine - it’s terrific.” - Jon Freyer
Gin Martini realises $220,000
The Group 3 victress Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was initially passed in, but was later bought from the Tricolours Racing and Syndications consignment for $220,000 by Lime Country Thoroughbreds, who was acting for a client.
Bred by Bree Baddiley And Sons, Gin Martini was offered by Landsdowne Park at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). She made NZ$40,000, with Tricolours Racing and Syndications buying.
Gin Martini (NZ) | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Gin Martini is out of Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) - a 2100-metre winner, making her a half-sister to the stakes performer Nothin’ On Me (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt). Her grandam is the Group 2 victress Gordon’s (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
The 5-year-old, who has been retired after sustaining an injury, won the 2022 Listed Sandown Cup and the 2023 G3 Epona S., amassing $538,640 in stakemoney.
“Our client is overjoyed. They’re New Zealand clients but they do a lot of business over here (Australia) and they’re trying to breed high-class milers, so she fit the bill perfectly for them,” Jo Griffin from Lime Country Thoroughbreds told TTR AusNZ.
“Our client is overjoyed... they’re trying to breed high-class milers, so she (Gin Martini) fit the bill perfectly for them.” - Jo Griffin
“She will stay here and get mated this season. We haven’t confirmed a stallion for her, we’re just going through a few options now. She is free of Danehill, so there’s plenty of options there and our clients have got shares in some stallions.”
Redoute’s Choice mare makes $210,000
Another mare to exceed $200,000 was Syncretism (Redoute’s Choice), who was knocked down to Walnut Farm for $210,000.
Syncretism was offered on account of Hesket Thoroughbreds as a breeding or racing proposition.
The 4-year-old, who is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Slightly Sweet (Charge Forward) and the stakes performer Positive Charge (Charge Forward), has notched one win (a Ballarat maiden) and a minor placing from six starts. She is from the unraced Dubai Destination (USA) mare Semitone - a half-sister to the Listed winner Stay Tuned (Marscay).
Syncretism | Image courtesy of Inglis Digital
Meanwhile, Eloquent Ruby (Turffontein), who is the dam of the G3 Victoria H. victor Cardinal Gem (Choisir) and was offered in foal to Toronado (Ire), was passed in (she had a reserve of $500,000).
