Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Talented race mare Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) sold for $500,000 on Wednesday in an Inglis Digital Spring Boutique Sale to the bid of Widden Stud and Julia Ritchie’s Bangaloe Stud. The 5-year-old has snared three Group victories in a 16-start career to date for Lindsay Park Racing, and was offered as a racing or breeding prospect by her trainers on behalf of Rupert Legh and partners.
The result makes Coeur Volante the seventh lot to achieve a price of $500,000 or more on Inglis Digital this year, a list which includes stallion shares in Zoustar, Ole Kirk, and Extreme Choice.
An incredible opportunity
An impressive metropolitan winner at her second start as a juvenile, Coeur Volante raced exclusively in stakes company from the start of her 3-year-old season, and was fourth in a strong G1 Thousand Guineas field at the culmination of her spring, beating subsequent G1 Australasian Oaks winner Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun) and recent G2 Hot Danish Stakes winner Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}).
Twice a Group winner as a 3-year-old in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G3 Scarborough Stakes, she returned with the same verve at four to take out the G3 Mannerism Stakes by four lengths, defeating the likes of G1 Levin Classic winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) and multiple Group winner Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
Coeur Volante | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“When Rupert mentioned to (Inglis Victoria Bloodstock Manager) James (Price) that there might be an opportunity to offer her, we jumped at the chance, and we are very grateful to the partners for their support of the platform,’’ Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.
“When Rupert mentioned to (Inglis Victoria Bloodstock Manager) James (Price) that there might be an opportunity to offer her, we jumped at the chance.” - Nick Melmeth
“Widden are incredible patrons of Inglis and have been supporters of Inglis Digital from the start, so we hope that she is lucky for them. It’s a strong partnership with Julia, and all being well, we will see a Zoustar yearling out of Coeur Volante come back through an Inglis sale ring in a few years’ time.”
Already counting Listed-placed Hasstobemagic (NZ) (Scissor Kick) as a half-sister, there is more to come for Coeur Volante’s page, as her half-brother by Per Incanto (USA) was purchased for NZ$260,000 by Moody Racing last year, her Noverre (NZ) half-sister sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready 2 Run Sale also on Wednesday, and her dam is due to foal a full sibling this spring. Hasstobemagic also has offspring by Sweynesse and Proisir to follow.
Replenishing the herd
Co-buyer Julia Ritchie was delighted to purchase the mare, who she shared would join her broodmare band after a potential return to racing if she still had the heart for it. The purchase was part of building up her herd again after the loss of three mares this breeding season.
“Fortunately their foals were able to survive,” she told TTR. “But it is more about rebuilding the broodmare band. I had already purchased another race mare, Bossy Nic, and then this one came up.”
Julia Ritchie | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
Bossy Nic (Nicconi) and Coeur Volante are old sparring partners; as 3-year-olds, Coeur Volante emerged the victress when they clashed in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G3 Scarborough Stakes.
Bossy Nic was no slouch either, winning the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes as a juvenile and collecting numerous highly credible placings, most recently running third in the G2 Tristarc Stakes behind Abounding (Rich Enuff).
“I think she’s (Coeur Volante) had a very substantial racing career, so we will get her home to my place and just let her relax for a while and see how she lets down.” - Julia Ritchie
“On paper, she’s (Coeur Volante) great," Ritchie said. "She needs a bit of a let down now. I think she’s had a very substantial racing career, so we will get her home to my place and just let her relax for a while and see how she lets down. If she still has the ticker for racing, why not? She will let us know.”
A mare fit for Zoustar
A stallion has yet to be locked in for Coeur Volante, given that she will not be covered until the 2026 season regardless, but Ritchie indicated that Widden Stud’s Champion Sire Zoustar would be high on the list for the mare.
Ritchie purchased a share in the stallion in June of 2024 for $1.3 million, and has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the stud.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
“Widden and my family go back a long, long way, and they prepare my yearlings for the sales ring,” she said. “I’m very supportive of their stallions, and I really like working with Antony and his crew. Buying at this time of year represents very good value, because I think being a breeder, you’re not impatient about it. You’re thinking of the long game. We’re investing in these good stallions going forward.
“The good thing about working with someone like Antony (Thompson) is that we are as patient as each other.” - Julia Ritchie
“The good thing about working with someone like Antony is that we are as patient as each other. It’s not like someone (in the ownership) is demanding we put her back into work or cover her. We will be guided by the condition of the horse.”
“She’s a beautiful mare with a neat pedigree that had a dynamic 3-year-old season especially,’’ Widden’s Director Antony Thompson said.
“I’ve seen her on race days and seen videos of her in the lead-up to this sale but did rely heavily on (Inglis Bloodstock CEO) Sebastian (Hutch), who saw her last week and relayed his thoughts to us, but it’s really exciting to have secured her.
“When the time does come, we think Zoustar will be an ideal match on both pedigree and type.” - Antony Thompson
“Whether it’s this season or next, we’ll let the dust settle before locking anything in like that but when the time does come, we think Zoustar will be an ideal match on both pedigree and type.’’
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis
A page still developing
As they parted with one member of the family, Lindsay Park Racing were across the Tasman on Wednesday at Karaka purchasing another element, where they outlaid NZ$320,000 for Coeur Volante’s Noverre half-sister in collaboration with Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ).
The 2-year-old filly, who was offered by Prima Park on behalf of the breeder Fairdale Stud, breezed in 10.71s and was the highest priced lot by her sire sold on the first day of the 2025 Ready 2 Run sale.
JD Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Co-trainer JD Hayes was pleased to secure the half-sister to a horse the team have grown to know so well, saying, “we loved her. She had a good breeze, and we liked the way she moved really well when she walked. She’s quite an athletic filly and she stood quite bum-high so there’s plenty of growth to still come.
“She (Noverre x Shanina '23) had a good breeze, and we liked the way she moved really well when she walked.” - JD Hayes
“We know the family quite well, so she was one that we earmarked before the sale. She looks like a slightly bigger version (of her sister), so we’re hopeful she’s got similar ability.”
In a strong sale, she was one of two lots purchased by the Hayes brothers and Hawthorne on the first day of the sale - they also signed for a Sword Of State colt from the draft of BMD Bloodstock with a price tag of NZ$120,000.
