Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Rewarding their supporters by lowering the fees of each of their four existing stallions whilst offering a first season sire at a reasonable fee, Rosemont is - said Anthony Mithen “acknowledging the industry is in a tough period.”

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“We want to be truly genuine in our approach to providing ‘value for money,’” he said, proud to announce that the handsome Doull joins Shamus Award, Extreme Warrior, Hanseatic and Strasbourg at the picturesque Gnarwarre property.

Making his debut at a fee of $11,000 (inc GST), Doull has another Snitzel horse to look up to at Rosemont - the well and truly proven Shamus Award whose fee drops down sizeably from $60,500 to $38,500.

Meanwhile the speedy Extreme Choice horse Extreme Warrior stands at $16,500 down from $27,500, the well related Hanseatic also $16,500 as opposed to $17,600 last year whilst Strasbourg - who was $8800 last year - is listed as private.

And each stallion have payment on live foal terms.

Drooling over Doull

Catching the eye from the start, it took $1.2 million for the Rosemont Victorian Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) to secure Doull at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

And he hit the ground running for them - at his debut down the famed Flemington straight showing not only speed but talent, never in any doubt as he raced 2.75l clear of his rivals as favourite on the back of good jump-out form.

In the thick of things at his next two starts in Group company - including a G2 Danehill S. fourth behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), Doull continued to race well towards last spring, at his latest outing taking out the G2 Caulfield Sprint.

He did not have his own way in that 1000-metre contest but he showed plenty of heart shaking off his rivals - recording smart sectionals, running his last 600 metres in 33.1 seconds.

“He has always shown above average ability and has matured into a horse with the most beautiful temperament,” trainer Annabel Neasham enthused.

“He has got tactical speed and is just so professional.”

“He is the most beautiful animal and he matches this with Group 1 speed and the best attitude for a colt - he can carve out some astonishing sectionals when we let him rip.”

Doull - who has a Queensland winter campaign to come - is one of his four-time Champion Sire Snitzel’s 32 stallions.

That horse has already well and truly proven his worth as a sire of sires - 28 of his sons siring winners, 15 of those represented by stakes winners - 10 by Group 1 winners.

Doull was bred by Shadwell Stud whose Angus Gold was sad to see him go - “he is simply a stunning type and the one horse I most regretted having to sell in our dispersal.”

“If he passes on his looks and tremendous speed he will have every chance of making a serious stallion.”

Brilliantly fast

Described by Anthony Mithen as “brilliantly fast and magnificent looking,” Doull is, he said, a great example of the breed.

“I can’t think of a better type by Snitzel,” he said, adding that “I am confident when breeders have the opportunity to see Doull they will be as taken with him as we are.”

Bred on the successful Snitzel/Storm Cat (USA) and Snitzel/Redoute’s Choice crosses, Doull is out of the speedy mare Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}). A Listed winner at two and three-time Group 3-placed, she is also dam of the Group 3 winner Aryaaf (Epaulette).

So taken by the family, Rosemont purchased not only Doull as a yearling but also his dam - Bulbula also secured from the Shadwell dispersal; fetching $1.35 million. And for $800,000 they bought Aryaaf as well.

Served last spring by Starspangledbanner with her latest foal, a yearling full brother to Doull, sold to MG Price Racing and Breeding for $500,000 at Inglis Easter.

A half-sister to the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Khulaasa (Epaulette), Bulbula is one of the six winners produced by the dual Listed winner Taameer (NZ) (General Nediym) whose multiple city-winning half-sister Lake Como (NZ) (Pins) is dam of last year’s G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Lazzago (Capitalist).

This has been a big producing family for generations, Doull also able to boast amongst his relations the Group 1 horses Brief Truce (USA), Pour Moi (Ire), Lammtarra (USA), Act One (GB), Hector Protector (USA), Shanghai (USA) and Bosra Sham (USA) (Woodman {USA}).

Cox Plate winner continues to shine

Heading into his 11th year at stud, the G1 WS Cox Plate and G1 Australian Guineas hero Shamus Award must, Mithen said “rank as one of the more attractive options for breeders this year.”

“He boasts (more) superior stakes winner stats than most commercial stallions in Victoria and his ability to sire a high-class Group 1 winner has him amongst the very best stallions Australia wide.”

“He is unquestionably one of the country’s best upgrading stallions.”

With 25 stakes winners amongst his 239 winners, Shamus Award has done a great job with his six Group 1 winners including two particularly outstanding gallopers - the recently retired Duais and the oh so talented Incentivise; those two horses winning six Group 1s between them.

Defeating the boys in the G1 Levin Classic in January, the exciting 3-year-old Quintessa (NZ) is Shamus Award’s latest topliner and there is more to come with Shamus Award’s books over the last four seasons averaging 170 mares.

Which gives Shamus Award, Mithen said “obvious upside off an appealling fee.”

Extremely Talented

It is another sizable price drop for Extreme Warrior who stands his third season at $16,500 (incl GST) having been $24,750 in his first year and $19,800 last spring.

“He has had the support of some of Australia’s most successful breeders,” Mithen said, “and so this year presents a great opportunity to capitalize on that support.”

The highest rated 3-year-old son of Extreme Choice - a horse Mithen describes as “freakish” - Extreme Warrior created a good impression winning three of his eight starts including the G3 Blue Sapphire S. and the Listed Bel Esprit S.

Competitive in the early stakes races, Extreme Warrior was all the better at three and Matthew Hill’s call of his Blue Sapphire win is one well remembered by connections - “this is going to be a demolition!” he cheered.

Describing Extreme Warrior’s first foals as “sharp and stylish,” Mithen is looking forward to the second crop for the horse who hails from a tough local family.

A half-brother to the Listed winner Thrillster (Starspangledbanner), Extreme Warrior is out of the Show A Heart mare Heart Of Thrills - a three-quarter sister to the stakes winners Gotta Have Heart (Show A Heart) and Crossyourheart (Show A Heart); the latter being dam of the G3 Ming Dynasty H. winner Swear.

The Hong Kong-based Group 1 sprinter All Thrills Too (St Covet) is also a member of this family and Heart Of Thrills has as her grandam the dual Group winner Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}).

A lovely Street Boss

Whilst not everyone can afford Anamoe, there is another lovely son of the high-achieving Street Boss (USA) at stud - the handsome chestnut Hanseatic whose fee drops from $17,600 to $16,500.

With three big books coming through, the horse who was talented and precious enough to win a Group 3 and two Listed events at two - going so close when just beaten by Tagaloa in the G1 Blue Diamond S., is bound to again appeal to broodmare owners.

“He has been hugely popular with breeders and in the sales ring,” said Mithen - pointing out that his first crop of yearlings purchased by the likes of Damon Gabbedy, Anthony & Sam Freedman, Lindsay Park, Peter Moody and Griffiths de Kock sold for up to $375,000.

“It was no surprise that he was the most patronized first-season sire in Victorian breeding history,” Mithen said of Hanseatic who hails from one of Victoria’s most popular and successful families.

A half-brother to the recent Listed winner Austmarr (Exosphere) and to the dam of the Group 3-winning juvenile Krakarib (Ribchester {Ire}), Hanseatic is out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Itameri whose grandam is the wonderful influence Scandinavia (Snippets).

That two-time Group-winning, four-time Group 1 placegetter has proven to be an outstanding matriarch - dam of the Group 1-winning successful stallion Magnus and grandam of the mighty Black Caviar.

“His trainer Anthony Freedman described him as ‘dynamite’ and with the books he has served he is perfectly set up to make a fast and immediate impact at stud,” Mithen said.

“And so it shapes as a smart pay to consider Hanseatic in 2024.”

Value for money

Also standing I Am Invincible’s G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Strasbourg whose promising first-crop runners include the stakes placed Flying Straz, Mithen is keen to help breeders out in what he describes as “a challenging period.”

“It is particularly so for those breeders in the middle market and we are steadfast in our commitment to not just saying it, but by offering genuine value for money. We have elected to reduce the fees on all of our current stallions despite some significant results both on the track and in the sales ring.”

Table: Rosemont Stud's stallion roster for 2024

Cover image courtesy of Widden Stud

Standing 18 stallions at its Hunter Valley and Victorian bases, historic Widden Stud looks set for a big spring with their star of the show - Zoustar - earning a fee increase up to $275,000 (inc GST) from $220,000 last year.

His son Zousain, who has made a most encouraging start to his stud career, also has a fee rise from $22,000 to $27,500 (inc GST). Meanwhile six stallions remain at their 2023 fees whilst there are reductions on nine horses.

And a new boy joins the Victorian roster - the regally bred Group 1-winning juvenile King Colorado the first son of the outstanding stallion Kingman (GB) to make his way to that state.

Zoustar's stocks soaring

Widden’s “flagship sire” Zoustar has enjoyed an outstanding season on the track and in the sales ring, the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner represented by so many talented horses that he was the world’s leading sire of winners last year.

He currently leads the way in Australia this season both by winners and wins, second only in prizemoney to I Am Invincible. 174 of his sons and daughters have been in winning form this racing year, between them win 275 races and over $19.4 million in stakes.

Fourteen of those winners have won 22 stakes races incuding the Group 1 gallopers Zougotcha, Joliestar, Climbing Star and the recently retired Ozzmosis.

Seven of his 2024 yearlings fetched $1 million and over - including his $2.2 million filly out of Prompt Response (Beneteau) - with his Inglis Easter average (27 sold) an impressive $693,333.

In a tricky financial era studs have been stepping up fees only for the elite stallions with Widden’s Antony Thompson noting that, “an increase in service fee in the financial climate we find ourselves in needs to be measured and warranted - and in the case of Zoustar he has truly earned it.”

A horse who has been on the rise since he debuted in 2014 at $44,000 (inc GST), Zoustar (of the current announcements) now shares joint billing with I Am Invincible and Extreme Choice as Australia’s most expensive stallions.

“We have always had complete belief in the potential of Zoustar to become an Australian champion sire and we are delighted for all of our clients who have shared in his constantly evolving story of success,” Thompson said.

Zoustar’s overall statistics make for good reading - 69.2 per cent winners-to-runners, 6.2 per cent stakes winners with eight of his 53 stakes winners successful at the elite level. He has already had three sons represented by winners whilst amongst his first three winners as a broodmare sire is this year’s G3 Black Opal S. winner Holmes a Court (Capitalist).

Zoustar's heir

The first son of Zoustar to sire a Group winner is his stud mate Zousain whose early success has seen his fee up from $22,000 to $27,500 (inc GST).

Seven of the G3 Champagne Classic winner’s debut crop runners are winners with all of them winning races at metropolitan meetings.

The G3 Magic Night S. was a good race for Zousain, his promising daughters Drifting and Chateau Miraval finishing first and third and others showing talent including the unbeaten Brisbane colt Zouna.

“He has a marginal increase on the back of encouraging results,” said Thompson, noting that there is more to come with Zousain so well supported in his first few years at stud - serving 189 mares last year, 171 the year before and 214 in 2021.

New boy for Victoria

Victorian breeders will remember being offered brief access to Invincible Spirit (Ire) from 2003 to 2006 and now the state welcomes a horse by one of his finest sons - the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner King Colorado being a son of Juddmonte’s outstanding stallion Kingman.

The first Kingman to stand in Victoria, King Colorado is one of that Cartier Horse Of The Year’s 76 stakes winners and 10 Group 1 winners (another enjoying local success - the G1 VRC Oaks winner Zardozi) and what a pedigree he has, Widden rightly describing him as “blue-blooded.”

He is a son of the stakes winner More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) a member, as her name suggests, of the internationally prolific Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {USA}) family.

“His world class pedigree stamps him as a serious sire prospect,” Thompson said, adding that there are a limited of shares on offer.

Due to make his debut at $16,500 (inc GST), King Colorado - the first Australian Group 1-winning 2-year-old to retire to stud in Victoria in four years - did a great job winning his big race at just his third outing.

In doing so he impressed his jockey Jason Collett who noted that, “when I clicked him up... the amount of horse I had, I was kind of surprised as I wasn’t anticipating that!”

King Colorado remained in good form at three without a great deal of luck, running a tough G1 Caulfield Guineas fourth off a wide run and striking interference when second in two Group 3 events including the CS Hayes S. in which he ran into Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}).

Leading second crop sire

The current leading second-crop sire both by earnings, winners and wins, Trapeze Artist - who with his four Group 1 wins is one of Snitzel’s best sons - remains at the same $55,000 (inc GST) he stood at last year when proving popular serving 132 mares.

In those sire charts leading Justify (USA), The Autumn Sun and Harry Angel (Ire), Trapeze Artist has been somewhat of a quiet achiever - doing a fine job with a G1 Caulfield Guineas winner in the shape of Griff in his first crop.

That crop also produced the stakes winners Facile and Ducasse and several of his second crop youngsters are displaying good ability including the lightly raced stakes placegetters Fly Fly and Spywire.

He seems to be picking up on differing pedigrees so far - Griff carrying three Danehill (USA) strains whilst his other two stakes winners are out of Lonhro line mares.

Second season for Jacquinot

Speaking of interesting pedigrees, Jacquinot - who has a fee drop from $33,000 to $27,500 (inc GST) - certainly has one, being bred on a 3 X 4 cross of the wonderful mare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad), the dam of Redoute’s Choice and grandam of Rubick.

Jacquinot took his pedigree to the track, winning five of his 12 starts incuding the G1 Golden Rose S. and the C.F Orr S. - getting up on protest in the latter having struck interference taking on the older horses.

In those two races beating home 11 other Group 1 winners, Jacquinot also contested The Everest at three and was right in the thick of things behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).

“He was the only horse amongst last year’s first-season sires to retire as a Group 1 weight-for-age winner,” Thompson noted, adding that he has been pleased by the support he received in his first year - covering 157 mares.

Written By also good value

Another young horse on the up but down in fee is the Neville Begg-bred Written By, one of his Champion Sire’s Written Tycoon 62 stakes winners and 15 Group 1 winners - and one of his four sons (his first four to stud) to sire stakes winners.

Down to $22,000 (inc GST) from $27,500, the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner has enjoyed good success on the track and in the sales - siring the stakes winning 2-year-olds The Novelist and Ripcord in his debut crop and the exciting Straight Charge in his second.

Buyers are liking what they are seeing with the Written Bys, his three Inglis Easter yearlings selling for $260,000, $330,000 and $700,000 - undoubtedly an outstanding return of service fee.

Sky's the limit

The particularly handsome Portland Sky - who has his first weanlings going through the ring at Inglis next week - is another horse down in fee, from $22,000 to $19,800.

Joining the likes of Fastnet Rock, Snitzel and Starspangledbanner as 3-year-old winners of the great speed test that is the G1 Oakleigh Plate, Portland Sky won four of his 10 starts - also taking out the G3 Red Anchor S. and the G3 Manfred S., stamping himself as one of Victoria’s best 3-year-olds.

“His first foals are nothing short of outstanding,” Thompson enthused, noting that Portland Sky is the only Group 1-winning son of the retired Deep Field at stud. And what a great job that horse - who kicked off his stud career at $22,000 - has done with his 29 stakes winners.

Speedy Supido

His name translates to “speed” and Supido had plenty of that, winning seven races between 1000 metres and 1200 metres with his success at Group 3-level coming in the same race won by I Am Invincible - the Sir John Monash S.

Competitive in Group 1 dashes, Supido has a fee drop from $19,800 to $16,500 (inc GST) and as a horse getting regular winners he looks value.

His winners-to-runners ratio of 58.6 per cent is excellent for horse whose oldest runners are only four and in regards to strike rate he leads the way amongst the top 10 third-season sires; sitting above the likes of Hellbent and Russian Revolution.

“He has covered 311 mares in his last two seasons, indicating that the best is to come,” Thompson said.

Not A Single Doubt boys

Widden have shown faith in the late Not A Single Doubt and why not - that excellent speed influence is the sire of one of Australia’s finest young stallions in Extreme Choice.

There is a Not A Single Doubt on offer for New South Wales and Victorian breeders - the G3 San Domenico S. winner Anders standing in the Hunter Valley at the same fee - $16,500 (inc GST) - as last year whilst the dual Group winner Doubtland remains at $13,200 (inc GST).

Both horses are being prepared for their fourth season at stud and Thompson is encouraged by how their first yearlings sold - Anders’ fetching up to $330,000 with a Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale average of $194,000 whilst the Doubtlands sold for up to $220,000 with a Magic Millions average of $168,333.

“Both horses have every opportunity to succeed,” Thompson said, noting that the progeny of Anders were purchased by the likes of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Star Thoroughbreds, Michael Freedman, Paul Moroney and Bjorn Baker whilst Doubtland’s yearlings were secured by Hawkes Racing, Tony McEvoy, Gerald Ryan, Suman Hedge and Dean Hawthorne.

Both horses boast strong pedigrees, the $670,000 Magic Millions graduate Anders hailing from a high-class American family whilst the $1.1 million Inglis Easter purchase Doubtland is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of his own fourth dam - Rory’s Jester’s dam Rory’s Rocket (GB) (Roan Rocket {Ire}).

He's a rebel

There were only 27 foals in Rebel Dane’s first crop and 26 in his second. And yet from those limited opportunities he was able to sire a stakes winner in each - Subterranean taking out the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic whilst his headliner Fireburn earned Champion 2-Year-Old status with her memorable wins in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires Produce S.

Winning another Group 2 races, Fireburn now calls Japan home and there is more to come for her sire whose books have increased on the back of his early success.

“His biggest and best crop of foals will hit the yearling sales in 2025,” Thompson said.

A horse in the Spirit Of Boom mould, Rebel Dane showed himself to be not only classy - winning two Group 1 sprints - but durable and tough, racing 40 times - winning eight races and amassing over $2.4 million in stakes.

A successful venture

It was quite the project to purchase a Northern Hemisphere-bred yearling and race him in Australia but it was a successful venture for the Danny O’Brien stable with the handsome Russian Camelot (Ire).

Winning four of his 11 starts incuding the G1 Underwood S. and the G1 South Australian Derby, Russian Camelot was not one to shirk a task - also running great races in the G1 WS Cox Plate and the G1 Melbourne Cup.

Remaining at his 2023 fee of $19,800, Russian Camelot was well-received by buyers with his first-crop yearlings selling for up to $250,000 win an average of $94,000. Danny O’Brien was happy to add them to his stable and they were also bought by he likes of Griffiths de Kock, Anthony Freedman and Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

Russian Camelot is one of the 60 stakes winners and 11 Group 1 winners for his sire Camelot (GB) whose victories in the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby earned him the title of European Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and Irish Horse of the Year.

For those interested in a bit of historical trivia - Camelot is a descendant of the famed Kincsem (Hun) (Cambuscan {GB}), the legendary unbeaten winner of 54 races.

Victoria's stalwart

Down from last year’s fee of $22,000 to $16,500 (inc GST) is one of Victoria’s favourite stallions Nicconi.

With his 29 stakes winners including the superstar sprinter Nature Strip, Nicconi has well and truly etched his name in local racing history and he is no one-horse stallion - rewarding his supporters with an excellent 72.5 per cent winners-to-runners strike rate.

Nicconi’s yearlings continue to sell well - fetching up to $270,000 this year - and the well related G1 Lightning S. and G1 Galaxy winner is one of the best proven stallions in the state.

A second Written Tycoon

Whilst Written By stands in New South Wales, Widden offers Victorian breeders access to the Written Tycoon genes via his G2 Schillaci S.-winning son Dirty Work.

Remaining at his 2023 fee of $13,200 (inc GST), he has been popular with breeders and buyers - serving 373 mares in his first three years at stud with his first yearlings selling for up to $260,000 with a Magic Millions average in excess of $140,000.

“They have been purchased by astute buyers,” Thompson said - highlighting the likes of Griffiths de Kock, Aramco Racing, John Thompson, Boomer Bloodstock, Ciaron Maher and Phillip Stokes.

The fast good looker

Describing the second-season sire Bruckner as “fast and good looking,” Thompson is looking forward to filling the second book of Snitzel’s Group 3-winning son Bruckner.

A horse who caught the eye from early days - topping the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Brucker debuted at $11,000 (inc GST) last year and remains at that fee.

Competitive with the best of his season’s 3-year-olds - running second to Home Affairs in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. - Bruckner comes from a family of lookers with his full sister topping this year’s Inglis Premier.

And it is a family of speed, Bruckner out of the city winner Jestajingle (Lonhro) whose Listed WATC Gimcrack S.-winning dam Jestatune (Rory’s Jester) produced the G3 Vain S. winner Jukebox.

Victoria's proven trio

The three lower priced horses on the Widden Victoria roster offer broodmare owners a chance to breed a nice horse with Gold Standard down from $13,200 to $9900 (inc GST), Star Witness from $11,000 to $8800 (inc GST) and Overshare down from $8800 to $5500 (inc GST).

Siring the Group 1-winning 2-year-old Sheeza Belter in his debut crop, the G2 Stan Fox S. winner Gold Standard has “his biggest and best crop of foals” heading to the yearling sales next year whilst the dual Group 1 winner Star Witness keeps doing the job with his 24 stakes winners.

Gallery: The Widden Victoria roster offers broodmare owners a chance to breed a nice horse for less than $10,000

“He has sired 100 or more individual Australian winners in each of the last six seasons,” Thompson noted. “He has sired eleven individual million dollar winners and has progeny earnings in excess of $74 million.”

The G3 Zeditave S. winner Overshare - son of I Am Invincible - has one of the best mares in the country with his daughter Lady Laguna winning the G1 Canterbury S. whilst the lightly raced Adelaide 3-Year-Old & 4-Year-Old Classic winner Overstrike is showing plenty of talent.

Table: Widden Stud's stallion roster for 2024

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

This year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale and Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale are set to offer a host of talented fillies and mares including Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun), Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) who present buyers with opportunities to tap into prospects with significant racing upside.

Table: The 10 most expensive racing and breeding prospects sold in Australia

Of the most expensive mares sold in Australia, many have been sold as racing and breeding prospects. While not all have gone on to race for their new owners, of those that have, Sunshine In Paris (Invader) and Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) stand out as remarkable investments.

Sunshine In Paris was a lightly raced Group 1 winner when she realised $3.9 million at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale to James Harron Bloodstock.

Now owned by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, she won the G2 Sheraco S., first-up which earned her a slot in the $20 million The Everest only to be scratched due to a a minor ligament strain. Returning from a lengthy spell, she was a narrow runner-up in this year’s G1 The Galaxy, worth $1 million.

As a 4-year-old, a host of opportunities lie ahead for the Annabel Neasham-trained mare including another possible tilt in this year's edition of The Everest.

Similarly, Montefilia, a four-time Group 1 winner, was featured at last year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale. She was purchased by Yulong Investments for $3.4 million and subsequently transferred to trainer Chris Waller. Following the transfer, Montefilia claimed the $2 million G2 Hill S., effectively recouping nearly 40 per cent of her purchase price with that single victory.

Table: The 10 most expensive racing and breeding prospects sold in the US

In the United States, a similar trend is observed, with 70 per cent of the top 10 highest-priced mares over the past five years being sold as both racing and breeding prospects.

A notable example is Royal Delta (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}), a dual Grade 1-winning Champion 3-year-old filly, who was purchased for a substantial US$8.5 million (AU$13,005,000) by Besilu Stables at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale. Under her new ownership, Royal Delta raced 14 times, achieving seven wins, including four additional Grade 1 victories, and even secured two Eclipse Awards along way. Throughout her career with the new team, she earned over US$3.1 million (AU$4,737,000), significantly offsetting her initial purchase cost.

Similarly, multiple Grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil (USA) (Daredevil {USA}) and seven-time Grade 1 winner Monomoy Girl (USA) (Tapizar {USA}), who were purchased for US$5 million (AU$7,650,000) and US$9.5 million (AU$14,535,000) respectively as racing and breeding prospects, went on to achieve additional Graded stakes success, helping to recoup a portion of their initial investment costs.

Table: The 10 most expensive racing and breeding prospects sold in Europe

Notably, three of the top 10 highest-priced European racing and breeding prospects have been acquired for racing interests in Australia. These include Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {Ire}), Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), all racing in the Yulong green and white silks.

Via Sistina was a standout acquisition at last year’s Tattersalls December Breeding Stock sale, purchased for 2.7 million gns (AU$5.46 million). A winner of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland, the 6-year-old mare kicked off her Australian campaign with a dominant victory in the G1 Ranvet Stakes, with Yulong Investment's other high-profile purchase, Place Du Carrousel, finishing second.

Via Sistina's recent runner-up finish in the $5 million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. has earned her new owners approximately $1.1 million, effectively reducing her net cost to just over $4.36 million, even before she transitions to breeding.

Additionally, Coolmore and its partners acquired Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) for €3 million (AU$4,920,600) at the 2021 Arqana December Breeding Stock sale. As a Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly, they decided to continue her training, which paid off as she went on to secure further Grade 1 victories in the United States, bringing in over US$500,000 (AU$765,000) in prizemoney for her connections.

Racing upside enhances market value

While it's difficult to estimate the price of acquisitions should they have been sold solely as breeding prospects, it's clear that racing upside enhances market value.

Henry Field, Managing Director of leading mare consignment Newgate Farm affirms that racing potential can substantially increase a mare’s value.

“In terms of mare acquisitions, we consider their estimated value plus potential earnings capacity. For instance, if a filly is valued at $1 million, and she has the potential to earn an additional half-a-million on the track, we might value her at $1.5 million,” Field explained.

Vin Cox, with his deep understanding of the mare market, agrees that racing success can add considerable value to a mare’s purchase price.

“The market certainly gets very excited about the prospect of racing on. People are attracted to the possibility of earning further black type and certainly more prize money."

“Adding a Group 1 victory can increase a mare’s value by about 30 to 40 per cent, on top of her pedigree and previous winnings.” Cox stated.

From his experience at Magic Millions, Cox noted that fillies and mares with potential upcoming races or a few more seasons left tend to fetch higher prices.

“Certainly from my experience going back to my Magic Millions days, fillies and mares that had a prospect of a race coming up or a season or two in front of them made overs.”

Premium prices but potential significant returns

While racing prospects often command a premium, there remains significant potential for buyers to realise substantial returns.

“Montefilia is a great example of the value of racing upside. Purchased for $3.4 million, her win in the $2 million G2 Hill Stakes effectively reduced her net cost to about $2.25 million," Field emphasised.

“We strongly felt that a mare like Montefilia had the racing upside to win a race like that (the G2 Hill Stakes). Mr Zhang and Yulong were smart enough to handicap the value of her potential racing upside and ended up buying what was one of the steals of the sales year.”

While still a substantial sum, it's crucial to note her promising future as a breeding prospect. For example, despite not racing on for her new connections, the progeny of a high-profile Group 1 winning mare like Sunlight (Zoustar), have been highly profitable. Her first two yearlings, sired by Justify (USA) and Wootton Bassett (GB) sold for a combined $2.8 million, already recuperating over 60 per cent of her $4.2 million purchase price.

Transparency the key for both parties

While such offerings hold considerable potential for high returns, Field emphasises the success of such high-stake investments hinges significantly on transparency, ensuring confidence for both buyers and sellers.

“At Newgate, we ensure that buyers have access to X-rays and scopes and maintain a completely transparent record of the horses’ racing potential. This level of transparency, which is standard at broodmare sales in America, is something we strive to emulate to enhance the professionalism and integrity of our consignments in Australia.

“I think plain and simply, Australian breeding stock consignments haven't been good enough. And that's where we found those big edges to try and increase the professionalism and transparency on that side of the business.

“Buyers are paying us for confidence in the integrity of our consignment. When mare owners are paying to consult with us and when buyers are purchasing off us, they are paying for the confidence of the integrity in our consignment”, Field concluded.

That said, if sellers can convincingly assure the marketplace of the real racetrack potential of their elite racing prospects, they can yield significant returns, just as buyers who successfully identify such mares can benefit greatly.

Opportunities knock

With an impressive lineup of promising fillies and mares set for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, buyers are spoilt for choice.

The Inglis Chairman’s Catalogue highlights exceptional 3-year-old fillies such as Tutta La Vita and Kimochi, both lightly raced with significant racing potential. Tutta La Vita, trained by Chris Waller, is preparing for the Queensland Winter Carnival, with races like the G2 The Roses and G1 Queensland Oaks on her agenda. With these races offering nearly $1 million in prizemoney, her new owner could see a swift return on investment, not even factoring in potential earnings from next season's races.

Should the new owners choose to continue racing them, both fillies could target lucrative events such as the G1 George Main S., G1 Epsom H., and the $10 million Golden Eagle during their 4-year-old spring campaigns.

At the Magic Millions edition, the spotlight is on Chain Of Lightning, the G1 T J Smith S.-winning mare, who comes with an invitation to Royal Ascot's prestigious G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. in June.

Additionally, promising 3-year-old stakes winners Legacies (Justify) and Facile (Trapeze Artist) are on offer, providing buyers with opportunities to acquire top-tier racing talent with substantial upside.