Lot 260 - Debate (So You Think {NZ} x Alisa Free {Favorite Trick {USA}}) - $60,000
Covering sire: Home Affairs
Buyer: McConnell Bloodstock, Rathmore Bloodstock, and Arrawed
Vendor: Coolmore Stud
The Inglis team had promised that there would be great value to be had at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale on Friday, and they were not wrong - particularly in the case of McConnell Bloodstock, Rathmore Bloodstock, and Arrawed, who teamed up for purchase Debate (So You Think {NZ}) for $60,000 from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
The 9-year-old half-sister to G2 Schillaci Stakes winner Unpretentious (Stratum) was a dual winner on the track and has had four foals since entering stud, and is currently carrying her fifth, by Coolmore resident Home Affairs who stood for a fee of $82,500 (inc GST) in 2024.
Debate - Lot 260 | Image courtesy of Inglis
For Rathmore Bloodstock’s Ross Hatton, she was a mare that ticked all the boxes, and he hopes to be back at the Riverside Stables sales complex this time next year to offer the resulting weanling at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
“I’m a big fan of Home Affairs,” he said. “Everybody’s hugely anticipating his first runners, so hopefully they can go as well as everyone expects and we can be back next year.”
Hatton has had plenty of success with the model of purchasing in-foal mares and selling the resulting weanling for a quick return on investment, and Debate has already produced foals that have done well in the sales ring and are beginning to fire on the track. Her oldest living foal Naina (Pierro) is a 3-year-old and was a winner in February, proving herself worthy of nomination for the G1 Queensland Oaks.
“She's (Debate) proven that she can throw not only a good type that will sell in a sale ring, but she's already the dam of a winner that's a potential stakes horse.” - Ross Hatton
“She’s (Debate) a gorgeous mare,” Hatton said. “She’s a big, strong mare. It’s a nice, early cover and she’s due at the end of August. I quite like the 3-year-old that's with Chris Waller, and she produced a $200,000 King’s Legacy colt that’s with Gerald Ryan. We see plenty of upside with that.
“She's proven that she can throw not only a good type that will sell in a sale ring, but she's already the dam of a winner that's a potential stakes horse.
“She's (Debate) proven that she can throw not only a good type that will sell in a sale ring, but she's already the dam of a winner that's a potential stakes horse.” - Ross Hatton
“The key for us will be that Home Affairs comes out flying with his first runners next year.”
Hatton couldn’t be more pleased to have found a mare that “ticks as many boxes as we have to tick”. It’s too early to make a decision on who she might visit this breeding season, but Hatton has his eye on some of the new recruits to the sire ranks in 2025, particularly Broadsiding, Celestial Legend, and Starlust (GB).
“They’re the ones interesting me the most,” he said. “Although I saw Private Life parade here at the complex the other day. He’s quite a nice looking horse.”
Ross Hatton | Image courtesy of Caroline Searcy
As well as being a half to a stakeswinner, Debate is out of a placed half-sister to Rockabubble (Bubble Gum Fellow {Jpn}), winner of the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and dam of multiple Group winner Rock Magic (Redoute’s Choice), whose 16 wins include nine at stakes level. A layer deeper in her page, her second dam is a full sister to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Chortle (Rory’s Jester).
