Lot: 430 - Links (Spieth x My Lady’s Chamber {Arena}) - $50,000
Buyer: Swettenham Stud
Vendor: Ciaron Maher Racing
Swettenham Stud seized on an opportunity at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to secure a mare at what they considered a value price, that would complement their outstanding resident stallion Toronado (Ire). One that stood out for them was Links (Spieth {NZ}), a 4-year-old chestnut mare they snapped up for $50,000.
For Swettenham, the purchase came with a sense of irony, as Marcus Heritage from Swettenham Stud explained.
“We actually bid on Links as a yearling, and she went for $325,000. I think she has been the most expensive Spieth that has sold as a yearling, so we are pleased to get her now for $50,000.”
Links | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Heritage was impressed by the mare’s overall physical makeup and her compatibility with Toronado.
“She is a really nice type, good moving, lots of quality, and is a good average size athletic mare. She matches physically to Toronado and that is where she will go this spring.”
“She (Links) is a really nice type, good moving, lots of quality, and is a good average size athletic mare.” - Marcus Heritage
Swettenham also has confidence in the pedigree match, with Heritage pointing to proven success from similar bloodlines.
“She has a half-brother by High Chaparral (Highlad) who is a Group winner, and Suavito who was a dual Group 1 winner is bred on the reverse Thorn Park/High Chaparral cross, and she has left a stakes winner (Sethito) by Super Seth.
“So we have a lot of confidence with Toronado suiting this mare.”
Links comes from a family with notable black-type depth. Her dam, My Lady’s Chamber (Arena) was a winner of the Listed National Sprint Handicap and placed in the G1 Flight Stakes, among other stakes performances. She has produced five individual winners, including Highlad (High Chaparral {Ire}), an eight-time winner whose victories include the G3 Rotorua Cup and the Listed Wanganui Guineas.
Marcus Heritage | Image courtesy of Swettenham Stud
Still active at stud, My Lady’s Chamber has a yearling filly by I Am Immortal and is currently in foal to So You Think (NZ).
Further back, the pedigree also includes G1 Coolmore Classic winner Regal Cheer (Arena) and the stakes performers Regal Chamber (Archregent {Can}) and Knowdart (More Than Ready {USA}).
Swettenham had long kept Links on their radar, having missed out on her as a yearling but followed her closely during her racing career.
“We have always liked her and followed her. She won really nicely down the straight which was impressive. When we saw her entered we thought she could be a good option.”
Reflecting on her price tag, Heritage saw significant value in the purchase.
“We got her for a lot cheaper than she cost as a yearling, and with the strength of the market, we feel she is a value buy.
“We got her (Links) for a lot cheaper than she cost as a yearling, and with the strength of the market, we feel she is a value buy.” - Marcus Heritage
“We have been looking to buy a few for Toronado. We have him here, he is a great stallion and we may as well try to buy some nice mares to support him.”
