‘A phenomenal outcross to most of the major stallions worldwide’: Vixen set for Fasig-Tipton date

A tactical stock reduction will see DJ Stable part with a selection of high quality bloodstock, but none are more high calibre than Grade III-winning, Grade 1-placed 3-year-old filly Vixen, who will head to Fasig-Tipton’s Night of the Stars sale on Monday, November 3. The filly is also part-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

A headturner from the first crop of multiple Grade I-winning sire Vekoma (USA), Vixen has already proven a capable athlete, and DJ Stable’s Jon Green believes she has plenty more to give her new connections.

A proper athlete

Vixen is one of 19 Graded stakes race-winning graduates of the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Spring 2YO sale - a particularly vintage edition.

“Vekoma’s stud fee has jumped from $30,000 to $75,000 to $100,000 for 2026, as his foals are showing up well on the track and in the sales ring,” Green said. “Kentucky breeders recognise talent and Vekoma has been popular from day one.”

Sire of 14 black-type winners to date, Vekoma descends from the fruitful Fappiano (USA) sireline and shares his own sire Candy Ride (Arg) with the elite American sires Gun Runner (USA) and Twirling Candy (USA).

DJ Stable signed the docket for US$200,000 (AU$306,000) for Vixen, who was offered at Ocala by Steven Venosa.

“We loved Vixen’s breeze,” Green said when recalling why the DJ Stable team were drawn to the filly. “She’s a really athletic and fluid mover. She breezes the way she runs in a race - effortlessly with a tremendous turn of foot. She was one of the most expensive Vekomas offered at a 2-year-old sale that year, so we weren’t the only ones who liked her.”

An international pedigree

More answers to the price tag and anticipations lie in Vixen’s pedigree, with Noble Mission (GB), a successful full brother to Frankel (GB), and Street Cry (Ire) populating the close-up spots on her damline.

While the dams may have performed and produced in the Northern Hemisphere, they are full of strains that are known and proven to work with Australian stock. In addition, Danehill’s (USA) nearest appearance is above Noble Mission’s dam Kind (Ire).

Vixen's third dam Let (USA) (AP Indy {USA}) was a Grade II winner herself and is the dam of GI Jenny Wiley Stakes winner Centre Court (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}), who has herself produced Grade III winner Navratilova (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}). Let’s other offspring include Grade III-winning sire Ravel (USA) and After Thought (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), the dam of three stakes performers.

“I think her pedigree is multi-faceted, starting with freshman sensation Vekoma,” said Green. “Vixen was his first Graded stakes winner, and he’s had so many from his first crop. You add in the presence of international sires like Noble Mission and Street Cry into the mix, and her pedigree is legitimately worldwide.”

One of the best

A winner at just her second start, Vixen proved herself worthy of a chance in the GI Natalma Stakes at Woodbine, where she ran second by just a neck, beating out the early leader and subsequent Grade I winner Nitrogen (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

“Going into the Natalma, we thought Vixen was going to run well,” Green said. “She ran a truly impressive race and almost gutted out the victory. At the very least, we knew she was one of the best turf fillies in the country.

“I think her post (barrier 13) beat her more than the fillies in the Juvenile Filly Turf next start.”

Almost the widest runner in Lake Victoria’s (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf, Vixen was gallant in defeat and earned a two month break between runs until the January of her 3-year-old year, where she captured back-to-back stakes wins in the Listed Sweetest Chant Stakes and GIII Herecomesthebride Stakes.

“Vixen won at all the major tracks during their most competitive meets,” Green said. “She’s a Grade III winner and Grade I-placed earner of over $530,000. She has been closely beaten by five Grade I winners, which has to be considered when looking at her race record.”

Exactly what you want

With all this in mind, it is not an easy decision to part with the filly. But DJ Stable understands the value she represents, both on the track and in the breeding barn.

“She is exactly what you want in a filly - fluid, athletic, good size, and a wonderful disposition,” Green said. “We are selling over 30 mares and racing prospects in a calculated, curated reduction, but Vixen is the only one we selected to sell at Fasig-Tipton’s Night of the Stars because of her race record, pedigree, conformation and presence.

“She’s sound and could run again in a few weeks, or she could be a phenomenal outcross to most of the major stallions worldwide.”