Cover image supplied

It was announced on Sunday evening that champion racehorse Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) colt by four-time Champion Sire Snitzel will be offered as part of Coolmore Stud’s draft at the 2026 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The second foal of 25-time Group 1 winner Winx, the colt will walk through the same ring as his older sister Quinceañera (Pierro), who made $10 million when selling at last year’s Easter sale to part-owner Debbie Kepitis.

“He’s a very handsome boy,” Kepitis said. “Just wait until you see him, he’s got everything going for him. From the day he was born, he’s been a very charismatic horse. He has been bred to win a Cox Plate and anyone who looks at him tells me that he has all the right physical characteristics to be an elite racehorse.’’

Four-time Horse Of The Year Winx’s 33-straight winning streak that included four G1 Cox Plates and three G1 George Ryder Stakes saw her be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame in 2017, with the rare achievement of being active at the time of induction.

It was announced earlier this month that she would be promoted to Legend status at this year’s ceremony, alongside 15-time Group 1 winner Black Caviar (Bel Esprit); an honour bestowed upon only three other horses to date in Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}), and Carbine (NZ) (Musket {GB}).

Gallery: Sebastian Hutch with the Winx x Snitzel colt, images supplied

Speaking after the record-breaking sale of her first yearling in 2024, Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch told media outlets, “horses like Winx operate on a different planet to the rest of them.”

The recently deceased Snitzel needs little introduction as a sire; the third generation of the influential Danehill (USA) dynasty to stand at Arrowfield Stud, he has produced 160 stakes winners and over 1200 winners to date, and has averaged a stakes winner every 19 days since 2010. In the 2024/25 racing season, he collected his third G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner with the filly Marhoona and was the only stallion to sire more than one juvenile Group 1 winner.

“Snitzel is one of the best stallions Australia has seen this century,” Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said earlier this year. On his passing, Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara described him as “the perfect stallion”.

With the enduring ability to produce winners over all distances at all ages, Snitzel’s finest male offspring include the stallions G1 Cox Plate-winning Shamus Award, Trapeze Artist, Switzerland, Shinzo, In The Congo, Wild Ruler, Sword Of State, Russian Revolution, Invader, and Wandjina, as well as dual $20 million Everest champion Redzel and this season’s unbeaten Group 1-winning juvenile Return To Conquer.

“The thrill the sale of the Pierro filly last year gave the ownership group was indescribable, it absolutely blew our minds,” said Peter Tighe, who co-owns the colt with wife Patty Tighe, Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock, and Elizabeth and Rick Treweeke. “The team at Inglis did an incredible job, and we think the Snitzel colt will get the attention of investors from right around the world in 2026.

“The journey Winx, and then her Pierro daughter, has taken us on has been incredible, and now somebody else gets the rare opportunity to buy a son of arguably the greatest race mare we have ever seen, certainly in our eyes at least.’’

“To have the first male offspring of the mighty Winx coming to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is an absolute thrill and something we’re hugely grateful to the ownership group for,’’ Hutch said. “I have been lucky enough to see this colt a number of times through his development. He has always looked like a good horse and I think he is going to present as a very good yearling at the sale.

“First and foremost, the objective of the ownership group has been to try and breed the best racehorse possible out of the mare, and I think this colt gives them genuine cause to be very excited. He is a handsome colt with great movement and an unflappable temperament. He’s a special sort of horse.”

Daughters of Street Cry have been responsible for 177 stakes winners, 30 at Group 1 level, and over $387 million in progeny earnings to date; their offspring include hot first season sire Farnan, Cylinder, Broadsiding, Daumier, Vino Rosso (USA), and high class racehorses Romantic Warrior (Ire) (The Ferryman {Ire}), Rebel’s Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express).

The cross of Snitzel over Street Cry (Ire) has produced a 25 per cent stakes winners to runners rate, topped by $1 million Silver Eagle winner Vienna Princess.

“His presence at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is going to make for a captivating spectacle,” Hutch continued. “The sale typically engages an incredibly broad group of bloodstock investors and enthusiasts from around the world anyway, but having this colt as the focal point of the sale is only going to enhance that further.

“The sale of his sister was compelling viewing and I don’t think anyone is going to want to miss out on seeing this colt go through the ring.”

There were unforgettable scenes at Inglis’ Riverside Stables complex in Sydney last April when the bidding surged into double figures for Quinceañera, with Resolute Racing’s John Stewart amongst the underbidders on the filly, setting a new Southern Hemisphere record for a yearling sold at public auction. Quinceañera has been placed in the capable hands of her dam’s trainer Chris Waller. No doubt there will be incredible interest again in this special offering at next year’s sale, and bidders should be braced for another exciting two minutes of selling.

Winx was not covered in 2024, and her connections have confirmed she will visit Champion First Season Sire and Champion Second Season Sire-elect Too Darn Hot (GB) in the 2025 breeding season.

The 2026 Inglis Australian Yearling Sale will take place on March 29 and 30 next year.

Cover image courtesy of Bhima Thoroughbreds

Jonthan Munz's GSA Bloodstock have had much to celebrate in their long association with Mike and Kate Fleming's Bhima Stud, from million dollar yearlings in the ring to champions on the track, both in Australia and internationally.

Formally established in 1953, Bhima has had a rich history intertwined with the thoroughbred, standing the breed-shaper Biscay when he entered stud in 1969 until he was laid to rest on the property in 1987. The Flemings purchased the site in 2015, having previously been based at Broadwater Farm, and GSA Bloodstock have been one of their longest clients.

A wonderful partnership

“Kate and I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the longstanding support of Jonathan Munz and Dean Hawthorne since before Bhima’s very first season,” Mike Fleming, who owns and manages Bhima with his wife Kate Fleming.

Fleming’s relationship with GSA Bloodstock stretches back to working under Norm Hawthorne, Dean Hawthorne’s father, at Paramount Lodge. The association led to Munz coming on board as a client when the Flemings moved to Brooklyn Lodge (where Newgate Farm is now located) in 2001, before opening their own property at Broadwater Farm, the precursor to Bhima.

“For a farm starting out, having clients like GSA Bloodstock back your vision is something you never forget. Their commitment and support helped us establish Bhima as a farm renowned for raising elite racehorses, and for that we’re genuinely grateful.”

Perhaps the most well known of Munz’s performers to be raised at Bhima is Everest champion and dual Group 1 winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick); born at Arrowfield Stud, then home of his sire Scissor Kick who Munz also bred, Giga Kick arrived as a weanling to grow out in preparation for the following year’s Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale.

After narrowly escaping a serious bout of colic the previous October, Giga Kick was ultimately withdrawn from the sale to race for Munz’s Pinecliff Racing. The rest, as they say, is history.

Another Bhima-raised GSA Bloodstock-bred is Zloties (Snitzel), who was retained to race. The 5-year-old mare had the tenacity to debut as an autumn 2-year-old, but was sidelined by injury for over two years before making a winning return as a 4-year-old last August. This autumn, she progressed through the levels to secure a well deserved stakes victory in the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes at Morphettville.

Injury earlier this month ended plans for a fairytale G1 Tattersall’s Tiara swansong, with trainer Grahame Begg confirming the mare would head to the breeding barn this spring.

Bhima have been Munz’s primary sale vendors in Australia since the partnership started, and Giga Kick isn’t the only yearling they have prepared that has gone to glory in the Pinecliff Racing colours. Dual Group 2 winner Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) and G3 Angst Quality Handicap winner Emeralds (Sebring) both passed in before going onto Group success.

Success in the ring

On the other side of the coin, Munz and Bhima have achieved success at the upper echelons of the sale; the third million dollar yearling ever sold by Bhima was GSA Bloodstock-bred Rome (Pierro) in 2018, a grandson of Listed-winning stakes producer Volcada (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who was also bred by Munz.

The following year, Bhima offered dual Group 3 winner Prague, who now stands just a stone’s throw away at Kia Ora Stud, whose stallion complex is built on what used to be Broadwater Farm. A three-quarter-brother to dual Group 1-winning stallion Stratum Star, Prague commanded $1.6 million when he walked through the Magic Millions Gold Coast ring.

“It’s been a wonderfully successful partnership - professionally and personally - and while all good things eventually come to an end, we part on good terms and wish Jonathan, Dean and their team every success in the next chapter of their breeding journey,” Fleming said.

Knocked down for $550,000 when offered by Bhima at the Gold Coast in 2022, Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) remains one of the greatest modern graduates to be bred by Munz; born at Haunui Farm, Militarize crossed the Tasman to be secured by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, and Trilogy Racing for their colts partnership. An electric, dual Group 1-winning juvenile, the son of Arrowfield Stud's Dundeel (NZ) became the first New Zealand-bred winner of the G1 Golden Rose Stakes in 2023.

Pinecliff Racing remain in the ownership of the three-time Group 1 winner who returned to racing this season after a brief stint at stud, coming within a length and a quarter of winning the G1 Doncaster Handicap and finishing fourth in the G1 Doomben Cup.

The way forward

In the words of Fleming, with change comes opportunity, and Mike expressed excitement about what the future holds looking towards the 2025 breeding season.

“The departure of GSA Bloodstock opens up space at Bhima for the first time in years,” he said. “We’re now in a position to welcome a small number of new clients, something we haven’t been able to offer openly in recent times due to capacity.”

The 2025 sales season has closed out successfully for Bhima yet again, with two colts breaking the $500,000 barrier. The Bhima brand has been carried to victory this season by the likes of G2 Shannon Stakes winner Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}) and G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint winner Enriched (I Am Invincible).

“We’re excited about the future. We’ve got a great team, a great farm, and we look forward to building the next wave of partnerships and raising the next crop of exceptional racehorses from Bhima.”

The GSA name has been one of a number of successful breeders to produce Group 1 winners on the Scone flats of Bhima.

“Imperatriz, Forbidden Love, Manzoice, and many others, all come from a wide range of breeders who’ve trusted us to do the job well,” Fleming said, “and we’re proud of our track record."

As mentioned by Fleming, other Bhima graduates from recent sales include G1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}), three-time Group 1 winner Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), G1 Myer Classic winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible), G2 Villiers Stakes winner Brutality (Shamus Award), Group 3-winning stallion North Pacific, and G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes winner Caballus (I Am Invincible).

That is not to forget, of course, Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Knocked down to Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis CZNM for $360,000 when offered by Bhima on the Gold Coast in 2020, the 10-time Group 1 winner is emblematic of the care put into the horses that Bhima raises and prepares for sale.

For Imperatriz’s breeders Raffles Dancers, Bhima has also consigned G1 Australasian Oaks winner Glint Of Hope (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Bhima is the only Magic Millions vendor to have consigned a Group 1 winner in four consecutive drafts, all by four different breeders; Forbidden Love in 2019, Imperatriz in 2020, Manzoice in 2021, and Militarize in 2022.

“Raising future champions is what we’re here to do, and that mission has always been the anchor of Bhima," said Fleming.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Sometimes big things come for bargain prices - and no one understands that better than Kelly Schweida, who purchased 4-year-old filly Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) for just $20,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. In 29 starts, the mare has been in the placings 16 times, and she added win number six on Saturday in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown over 2100 metres to shatter the $1 million prize money barrier.

Improving every prep

It’s an elite club, and made all the more so by being Miss Joelene’s first stakes win, although she has proved she is capable of making the grade since her juvenile season where she was beaten less than two lengths in the G2 Champagne Classic, and then produced to roar home from last to run fourth in both the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes and the G1 JJ Atkins.

“She just changed with every prep,” Schweida said. “She just got stronger every time, and she was one of those athletic 2-year-olds that come on every time they come in.”

As a 3-year-old, Miss Joelene returned to bat at stakes level several times, showing Schweida enough to warrant a trip to Sydney for the G1 Flight Stakes and the G2 Tea Rose Stakes. While she didn’t place, it was a path that Schweida had taken with her mother; Cellargirl (More Than Ready {USA}) ran third in both to Alizee (Sepoy) and Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt).

Returning home to Queensland, Miss Joelene relished being back in the sunshine for her 3-year-old autumn, running third by less than a length in the G2 The Roses and backing that performance up two weeks later with a third behind Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Her late spring last year was just as classy; Miss Joelene placed in all six starts over the Queensland summer carnival and took out the $500,000 The Wave, before running third in the $1 million Magic Millions Trophy in January. After just an eight week break, she was straight back into the autumn.

“Every run, I thought that she had improved just that little bit extra,” Schweida said. “She put herself into a lot of these races.”

Miss Joelene kicked off her seven-start autumn and winter campaign with a confidence-boosting win at Doomben in April, beating multiple Group winner Cifrado (Encryption) by a length and a half. She ran fourth in the G2 Hollindale Stakes before being sent out to contest Antino’s (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) record-breaking G1 Doomben Cup.

Schweida said that, if anything, Miss Joelene relishes deep preparations.

“She’s a bit of an unusual filly,” he said. “She seems to do better the further she gets into a prep. She looked better yesterday than she did seven days ago in the Ipswich Cup. Every race brings her on that bit more. She eats better now than she did at the start of the prep.”

From good stock

In a small twist to this week’s Buy Of The Weekend, Schweida was involved in the breeding of Miss Joelene with Darren Wilson’s Wilrace; of course, Schweida trained her dam Cellargirl to win the Listed Bill Carter stakes and take her big swings down south against Sydney’s best fillies, and Schweida then assisted in selection of her stallion.

When she was offered for sale by Kenmore Lodge, Schweida was happy to sign the docket for the filly to stay - particularly at just $20,000. The average price at the 2022 edition was $46,423, with a median of $26,000.

“She was athletic, but she wasn’t very big,” Schweida said. “Her mother wasn’t very big either. There’s not many Russian Revolutions that can run 2100 metres and she happens to be one of them, so she’s done a good job.”

Indeed, Miss Joelene is one of only five winners for Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution to win a race beyond 2000 metres - over half of his career winners have been between 1000 and 1200 metres, much in the form of their father - and she is his lone stakes winner over the trip. She is also one of only three filly stakes winners for the sire.

Schweida and Wilson took the punt on Russian Revolution in his second season at stud when the dual Group 1-winning sprinter stood for $55,000 (inc GST). Miss Joelene is the seventh stakes winner from that crop, alongside recent G2 Victory Stakes winner Libertad.

“He was a new stallion, and a bit unknown, to be honest,” Schweida admitted. “She’s probably one of his better ones.”

While Russian Revolution would be the Champion First Season Sire in 2021/22 when Schweida purchased Miss Joelene, his first crop had featureed just two juvenile stakes winners; Revolutionary Miss would take out the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies) and Rise Of The Masses would win the G3 Pago Pago Stakes. In the years since, that number has jumped to six stakes winners, with five picking up wins since the start of 2025.

Russian Revolution was the only first season sire that year to have more than one stakes winner, and would far outstrip his rivals with 15 first crop winners. His best performer, Russian Conquest, picked up $582,850 in earnings from two wins and a narrow second to Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The price is all the more interesting when examining Miss Joelene’s family. Chris Waller produced Cellargirl’s 9-time winning half-brother Cellarman (Mossman) to win the G3 Doncaster Prelude, and another half-sister Cellarmaid (Husson) ran second in the G2 The Roses for Schweida.

Their dam Vintage Blend (Cape Cross {Ire}) was an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Vinter (Hennessy {USA}), dam of Listed Mona Lisa Stakes winner Fitou (Street Cry {Ire}), and dual Group 1-placed Perfect Drop (Quest For Fame {GB}).

In fact, Miss Joelene shares her fourth dam Tristram Lady (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) with Alizee via her influential daughter Triscay (Marscay), who appears in many of Darley's best pedigrees.

When otherwise surrounded by sprinters, it is the presence of broodmare sires Sir Tristram (Ire) and, closer to home, Cape Cross (Ire) that perhaps inject the staying power into Miss Joelene.

One can only imagine that a diminutive filly - perhaps an archetypal maiden foal - simply didn’t attract many bids at that time of year.

Eyes on summer

Miss Joelene now heads for a well-earned break, with Schweida tipping she will enjoy six to eight weeks in the paddock as a reward.

“She backed up in seven days (from the Listed Ipswich Cup),” he said. “She’s raced 4300 metres in seven days, so she well and truly deserves a break. (When she comes back) she might chase a similar path, since she won The Wave last year and then went on to the Magic Millions.

“It's just when you race so deep into the prep for a fairly long period, you've got to give them a good break. It rules out a lot of the other carnivals.”

While it’s unlikely we will see Miss Joelene back on track before late October, Schweida will have her 3-year-old sister to bring along; the now deceased Cellargirl’s only other living foal Autumngirl (The Autumn Sun) is currently out enjoying a break after struggling to cope with the wet, and Schweida hopes she returns an improved horse.

“She's a bit different to her sister,” Schweida said. “I had high hopes for her, especially because I thought she had a bit of a stouter pedigree being by The Autumn Sun. But I gave her a few runs this time in, and we just tipped her out as I just thought she was hating all the wet tracks. Even though she won on a wet, I don't think she likes the wet.”

The daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun was second on debut as a late 2-year-old, before breaking her maiden at her second start last December. She was set to be offered by KBL Thoroughbreds through the same sale as her older sister, but was withdrawn.