Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
It was a bigger sale than last year (170) with a catalogue of 219 (29 withdrawals), 127 of which were sold (108 in 2023).
The week ended with the second highest gross (last year was the record breaker) - just under $60 million - across each of the sales.
Newgate were the biggest sellers; 22 sold for $1.405 million whilst Tyreel led the way by average ($115,000 - three sold); sharing the highest median of $75,000 with Coolmore Stud.
The sale grossed $7,592,500, down on last year’s $8,047,000.
The average was also down - $59,783 from $74,509 as was the median from $55,000 to $45,000.
Two mares shared the honour of being the sale toppers - Sous la Terre (Pierro) and Starla (Snitzel) each fetching $240,000.
I Am Invincible was the most successful stallion by aggregate ($482,000; seven sold).
Western Australia strikes
The pedigree of Sous La Terre (Pierro) was certainly a stand-out in the catalogue, the unraced half-sister to the dual Group 3 winning high class broodmare Solar Charged (Charge Forward) having one of those one dam on the page pedigrees.
Darling View Thoroughbreds’ Brent Atwell purchased Sous La Terre for $240,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis
A page which caught the eye of Darling View Thoroughbreds’ Brent Atwell who, upon inspecting the 9-year-old on Wednesday thought she may just well be out of reach.
“She was one our top picks and once I saw her I thought we’d struggle to get her as she is such a lovely mare - but thankfully she just fell into her budget.”
Sold by Tyreel Stud for $240,000, Sous la Terre went through the ring as a second time for a broodmare - fetching $550,000 in 2021 with her first two foals by Zoustar selling for $550,000 and $300,000.
Lot 282 - Sous la Terre | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We are very lucky to get her,” Atwell said, citing Ozzmosis as a possible mate for the mare who is currently in foal to Spirit Of Boom.
“Spirit Of Boom has a very nice, progressive filly in Keshi Boom in Perth which helps but if Sous La Terre has a filly we may well keep it.”
“Spirit Of Boom has a very nice, progressive filly in Keshi Boom in Perth which helps but if Sous La Terre has a filly we may well keep it.” - Brent Atwell
“She may stay in the Hunter for a couple of years then maybe head home and visit a horse like (the Darling Views resident) Lightsaber - we will see what her foals are like and take it from there.”
Starla stars
Multiple city winning 7-year-old Starla (Snitzel) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB) attracted plenty of attention and it took $240,000 for Twin Hills Stud to secure the well related mare from the family of Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago).
Twin Hills’ Olly Tait is pleased to be taking home Starla | Image courtesy of Inglis
Twin Hills’ Olly Tait is pleased to be taking home the mare he described as “a big, correct mare with a nice head - I think she was good shopping and hopefully she has a nice foal.”
“At sales like this you are buying a pregnancy as well as the mare,” he continued. “And as a commercial farm we have to try for progeny who are going to get as much as possible back for us.”
To that end Tait has been happy with how the Wootton Bassett progeny have been selling and as a member of his third local crop, Starla’s foal will be sold as his sire’s first are racing.
“Hopefully they will do as well here as they have overseas,” Tait said, “and that will put us in a very good position.”
Mitchell swoops late on a nice duo
Posing (USA) (Medicean {GB}) and Wolves (Wolf Cry) were the two best sellers in the final stages of the sale, both purchased by Mitchell Bloodstock - the former for $210,000 from Coolmore and the latter for $180,000 from Yarraman.
Dam of the recent G3 James HB Carr S. winner Konasana (Dundeel {NZ}), the imported Posing - whose G3 Musidora S. winning grandam Magnificent Style (USA) (Silver Hawk {USA}) produced Nathaniel (Ire) - is in foal to St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).
James Mitchell from Mitchell Bloodstock took home the two best sellers in the final sale stages | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She is a lovely type in foal to a stallion we like,” James Mitchell said - “and the foal will be a perfect horse to sell at Easter.”
“She could go to any of our three stallions, we will see what the foal is like.”
Going through the ring just two lots later, the Group 2 place Larneuk Stud bred Wolves caught the eye on type - “she is impeccable physically,” Mitchell said - “and we could not find any reason not to buy her.”
“She may have her swansong in the Listed Luskin Star S. at Scone in a couple of weeks.”
Soldier Hollow mare to Victoria
There are just three daughters of the three times German Champion Sire Soldier Hollow (GB) in the Australian stud book and Three Bridges Thoroughbreds’ Toby Liston is happy to be taking one of those home.
Purchased on his behalf by Paul Willetts, Clear For Take Off (GB) came from Widden Stud for $200,000 in foal to Zoustar - a stallion who has been good to Three Bridges with Liston noting that “every time we’ve touched a Zoustar we’ve made money!”
Paul Willets purchased on behalf of Toby Liston | Image courtesy of Inglis
A fan of the German breed - “it is good, sound blood” - Willetts loved Clear For Take Off’s pedigree with the Group 3 placed five times winner being a daughter of the dual Listed winner Chantra (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) - half-sister to the German Champion 2YO Colt Cheirokratie (Ger) (Winged Love {Ire}) and also dam of the Group 3 mare Calyxa (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
With his keen eye rarely missing anything, Willetts noticed Clear For Take Off’s first foal by Blue Point (Ire), taking a liking to him - something he had in mind when recommending her to Three Bridges.
“And of course she is in foal to the best stallion in Australia,” Willetts said, “and we got her for less than his service fee.”
There are six stakes winners amongst the first 78 winners produced by daughters of Soldier Hollow who died, aged 24, just last week.
Mares in foal to Justify in demand
Another mare in foal to Justify (USA) had her admirers with Wu Darl (Dundeel {NZ}) sold by Rathmore Lodge to Holloway Equine for $180,000.
Purchased on Ian Holloway’s behalf by Swettenham Stud’s Sam Matthews, the 7-year-old half-sister to the four times Group 1 winner Montefelia (Kermadec {NZ}) was being sold as a broodmare for a second time - purchased by Rathmore and Avesta Bloodstock for $220,000 at the 2022 Chairman’s.
Montefelia was purchased on Ian Holloway’s behalf by Sam Matthews | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She is a very nice mare - a typical Dundeel/High Chaparral (Ire) type, not overly big so Justify is the right mating for her,” Matthews said, pleased to source a mare from “a good, active family.”
“Her dam Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) is still at stud and has another couple of Kermadecs” Matthews noted - and Montefilia is also being given every chance, served in her debut season last spring by Alabama Express.
Stratheden Pastoral get their mare
It is always satisfying for a breeder to get the mare they really wanted and such was the case for Stratheden Pastoral’s Gerard Maher who was impressed by the breeding and looks of the stakes placed winner Celtic Glory (Toronado {Ire}).
Purchasing the 5-year-old from Glenbeigh Farm for $180,000, Maher described the chestnut as “just a lovely mare,” one who came with the bonus of being in foal to an exciting young stallion in the shape of Home Affairs.
“I bought her to sell her progeny and Home Affairs is a very commercial young stallion. I have not thought too far ahead as yet so I will have a think about who she visits this spring.”
Lot 356 - Celtic Glory | Image courtesy of Inglis
Celtic Glory is out of the winner Reward For Glory (Reward For Effort), half-sister to the speedy Listed Merson Cooper S. winner British Lion (Celtic Swing {GB}), dam of the Listed Chester Manifold S. winner British General (General Nediym).
Fireflies to North Bloodstock
Sold by Segenhoe to North Bloodstock for $175,000, Fireflies (Not A Single Doubt) was described by Mick Malone as “just a lovely mare.”
“I love Not A Single Doubt mares,” he enthused (and rightly so, the late stallion already broodmare sire of 20 stakes winners) “and she has a nice pedigree being out of a stakes winning mare.”
“I thought she was good value in a tough market,” he added, very happy at the prospect of a Pierata foal.
Fireflies was purchased by North Bloodstock's Mick Malone for $175,000 | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We sold him as a yearling so obviously there is a connection there - and he is doing a great job with his first crop.”
A lightly raced winner of two races, Fireflies is out of the G3 Eulogy S. winner Whistling Dixie (NZ) (Pins), a half-sister to the Listed winner Atmosphere (NZ) (Savabeel).
Nocab Racing - excited newcomers
It was an enjoyable experience for Brisbane couple Steve and Tina Bacon of Nocab Racing being part owners of the Group 3 placed two times Rosehill winner Shihonka (Capitalist) and it seems that fate has decreed that the mare they named - “it is Japanese for capitalism” - become an even bigger part of their lives.
Sold off the track for $110,000 to Newgate at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale the daughter of the Group 3 placed Stroak (Real Saga) was put in foal to In The Congo and reoffered - and for $175,000 she is now owned wholly by Nocab.
Shihonka is just the second broodmare purchase for Nocab who were in action at the Chairman’s last night, the very first mare they have called their own being the $450,000 Rocket Science (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in foal to Justify (USA).
Lot 274 - Shihonka | Image courtesy of Inglis
They are very excited to have a Justify on the way, having already enjoyed a fair bit of luck with that stallion - being part owners of Storm Boy.
It was only six or so years ago that the couple first ventured into racehorse ownership. Always racing fans, they enjoyed a trip down to the Melbourne Cup with Steve’s parents (whose dual Group winner Autumn Ballet (The Autumn Sun) sold at the Chairman’s for $1.6 million) and during that week attended a lunch at the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stables at Flemington.
“Next thing we knew we had a share in a horse!” Steve laughed and of course like so many of us, they found the experience rather addictive and one share led to several.
Enjoying feature race success not only with Storm Boy but also with the G3 Gimcrack S. winner Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) whose half-sister is this year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), the couple consider the transition into breeding a natural one.
Buying a share in Ozzmosis, they intend to support him and Storm Boy - planning to buy another two mares this year and two next year - “we have a plan to get up to around ten mares over a five year period.”
Meanwhile they will continue to race horses with the Waterhouse and Bott stable, forming relationships with Bruce Slade (advisor) and Ridgmont Farm where they will keep their mares.
A Pearl of a purchase
It was a happy and relieved Tammy Notman after securing one of her top picks early in the sale - Lot 247 Pearl Congenial (Gio Ponti {USA}) purchased from Newgate for $160,000.
“We (Northmore Thoroughbreds) have been here all week and have found it very difficult to buy one we (husband Rod) both loved. The market for quality horses is very strong.”
“We missed out on a few wealings and a couple of mares at The Chairman’s so we are rapt to get this mare so early today.”
“She is a beautiful mare with a lovely head,” she said, adding that she tries to envisage what the progeny of the in-foal mares are going to look out - confident that Pearl Congenial is just the right mare for what she has inside her - a Justify (USA).
Especially as that mating has already produced results, Pearl Congenial’s Justify colt purchased by Ciaron Maher and David Redvers (who raced Pearl Congenial) for $380,000 at this year’s Magic Millions.
And this is a family which enjoyed success during the week - Pearl Congenial’s half-sister Atomic Pulse (Deep Field) the dam of a Toronado (Ire) colt who sold for $320,000 on Tuesday.
“We (Northmore Thoroughbreds) have been here all week and have found it very difficult to buy one we (husband Rod) both loved. The market for quality horses is very strong.” - Tammy Notman
A two times stakes placed Sandown winner, Pearl Congenial is out of the Randwick winner Congenial (Redoute’s Choice) whose Group 2 winning dam Toast Of The Coast (Rory’s Jester) is grandam of the G1 Caulfield Guineas winning emerging stallion Super Seth.
“We have bought her in partnership with a friend,” Notman said, hoping to sell the Justify at the Inglis Melbourne Premier where Northmore sold one of the breed this year, a $180,000 colt out of Shahzade (Sebring).
“We have found that the sire of a yearling is what gets a horse out of the box,” she said, “and with Justify not returning to Australia it will be great for us to have another yearling by him to sell.”
Tammy Notman | Image courtesy of Northmore Thoroughbreds
Confessing to being “a bit of a control freak with my horses,” Northmore is looking forward to getting Pearl Congenial to her new home at Murchison straight after the sales - “we have the float hooked up and ready to go!”
Hutch sums up
“It’s been a really pleasing week,” Inglis’ Sebastian Hutch said.
“We like to get to the end of each sale with the feeling that we have done our best for vendors and I come out of this week with the comfortable knowledge that we have addressed the challenges as best as we can.”
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
“There are some holes in the market but on the whole the market is very, very keen to reward quality - there are plenty of people willing to speculate on pregnancies with foals they can bring back to our sales.”
“Right to the last lot there was demand for quality,” he said.
Top lots
| 282 | Sous la Terre | Pierro | Soul Singer | Tyreel Stud | Darling View Thoroughbreds, WA | $240,000 |
| 285 | Starla | Snitzel | Houston Benefactor | Coolmore Stud | Twin Hills Stud Pty Ltd, NSW | $240,000 |
| 414 | Posing | Medicean | Distinctive Look | Coolmore Stud | Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA), NSW | $210,000 |
| 363 | Clear for Take Off | Soldier Hollow | Chantra | Widden Stud | Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy, VIC | $200,000 |
| 356 | Celtic Glory | Toronado | Reward for Glory | Glenbeigh Farm | Stratheden Pastoral, NSW | $180,000 |
| 416 | Wolves | Wolf Cry | Grand Manners | Yarraman Park Stud | Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA), NSW | $180,000 |
| 318 | Wu Darl | Dundeel | Bana Wu | Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | Holloway Equine (Australia) Pty Ltd, VIC | $180,000 |
| 387 | Fireflies | Not a Single Doubt | Whistling Dixie | Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd | North Bloodstock Pty Ltd, NSW | $175,000 |
| 274 | Shihonka | Capitalist | Stroak | Newgate Consignment | Nocab Racing / Kestrel, QLD | $175,000 |
| 408 | His Glory | Mineshaft | Glorious Sky | Coolmore Stud | Yarramalong Park, QLD | $160,000 |
Top buyers
| Twin Hills Stud Pty Ltd | 3 | $375,000 | $125,000 | $240,000 |
| Darling View Thoroughbreds | 2 | $350,000 | $175,000 | $240,000 |
| Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $390,000 | $195,000 | $210,000 |
| Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy | 2 | $206,000 | $103,000 | $200,000 |
| Holloway Equine (Australia) Pty Ltd | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Stratheden Pastoral | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Nocab Racing / Kestrel | 1 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 |
| North Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 1 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 |
| T L Graham & R K Notman | 2 | $205,000 | $102,500 | $160,000 |
| Yarramalong Park | 6 | $192,000 | $32,000 | $160,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | 27 | 22 | $1,405,000 | $63,864 | $175,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 20 | 15 | $1,363,000 | $90,867 | $240,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone | 16 | 10 | $855,000 | $85,500 | $175,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 20 | 12 | $675,500 | $56,292 | $160,000 |
| Rathmore Lodge, Rockleigh, SA | 11 | 9 | $397,500 | $44,167 | $180,000 |
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 4 | 3 | $345,000 | $115,000 | $240,000 |
| Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | 3 | 3 | $330,000 | $110,000 | $145,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 9 | 7 | $297,000 | $42,429 | $180,000 |
| Glenbeigh Farm, Scone | 8 | 5 | $271,500 | $54,300 | $180,000 |
| B2B Thoroughbreds, Mittagong | 8 | 5 | $270,000 | $54,000 | $110,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | 4 | 3 | $345,000 | $115,000 | $240,000 |
| Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | 3 | 3 | $330,000 | $110,000 | $145,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 20 | 15 | $1,363,000 | $90,867 | $240,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone | 16 | 10 | $855,000 | $85,500 | $175,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 8 | 3 | $240,000 | $80,000 | $200,000 |
| Newgate Consignment, Aberdeen | 27 | 22 | $1,405,000 | $63,864 | $175,000 |
| Willow Park Stud, Scone | 20 | 12 | $675,500 | $56,292 | $160,000 |
| Glenbeigh Farm, Scone | 8 | 5 | $271,500 | $54,300 | $180,000 |
| B2B Thoroughbreds, Mittagong | 8 | 5 | $270,000 | $54,000 | $110,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 11 | 3 | $135,000 | $45,000 | $60,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 7 | $482,000 | $68,857 | $120,000 |
| Snitzel | 5 | $429,000 | $85,800 | $240,000 |
| Pierro | 1 | $240,000 | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Capitalist | 2 | $240,000 | $120,000 | $175,000 |
| So You Think | 3 | $240,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 |
| Medicean | 1 | $210,000 | $210,000 | $210,000 |
| Pride of Dubai | 2 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $150,000 |
| Soldier Hollow | 1 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Dundeel | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Toronado | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Capitalist | 2 | $240,000 | $120,000 | $175,000 |
| Pride of Dubai | 2 | $210,000 | $105,000 | $150,000 |
| Exceed and Excel | 2 | $180,000 | $90,000 | $150,000 |
| Snitzel | 5 | $429,000 | $85,800 | $240,000 |
| Tavistock | 2 | $165,000 | $82,500 | $120,000 |
| Dane Shadow | 2 | $164,000 | $82,000 | $130,000 |
| So You Think | 3 | $240,000 | $80,000 | $110,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 2 | $150,000 | $75,000 | $80,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 7 | $482,000 | $68,857 | $120,000 |
| Charge Forward | 2 | $125,000 | $62,500 | $90,000 |
