Festival Miss (Bernardini {USA}) enjoyed a successful racing career in Western Australia, winning five times and placing three times at Listed level. She was purchased by Tyreel Stud, in partnership with Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), for $310,000 at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Since retiring to stud, Festival Miss (Bernardini {USA}) has made an impressive start to her breeding career. Her first foal, a Snitzel filly, fetched $575,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Ryan & Alexiou Racing, while her second, a Snitzel colt, sold to Tom Magnier for $1.5 million at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Before producing a yearling Pierro colt and a Wootton Bassett (GB) foal filly.
Festival Miss | Image courtesy of Inglis
The story behind Festival Miss
Festival Miss has always been a favourite, ever since she was purchased from the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
It’s clear, talking to Monds, that Festival Miss has built a special place at the stud.
“We picked her up at Chairman’s from the Holbrook draft, she is a beautiful looking mare, I think she is perfect physically and she throws that into her foals.”
Linda Monds | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She is a lovely natured mare, very easy to deal with and consistently leaves types.”
“We have done very well making $575,000 and $1.5 million from her two foals we have sold, and we have a Pierro yearling colt that will head to the Easter Sale and he is a real standout.”
There is something special about this filly
To be identified as one of the best foals on the farm at a prestigious and successful stud like Tyreel Stud illustrates the type of filly the Wootton Bassett filly is.
“We are very happy with all of our foals,” Monds said proudly, but she elaborated: “Although there is something special about this one.”
Gallery: Wootton Bassett x Festival Miss filly, Born at Tyreel Stud
“She is athletic, has nice shape about her, is very clever and has a smart mind.”
“She is a lovely filly, I am very happy with her.”
“She (Wootton Bassett filly) is a lovely filly, I am very happy with her.” - Linda Monds
“It’s very nice to have a filly by Wootton Bassett. She will either head to a major yearling sale, or I may keep her myself. It’s very hard to buy fillies like her.”
A mare that can be mated with confidence
Every broodmare owner dreams of a mare that gets in foal first time, produces great types, returns safely to the breeding barn, and has an outcross pedigree that can be bred to most stallions.
This has been the case for Monds with this mare, something she is particularly grateful for.
“The mare’s great, she gets in foal every time and is just so easy to work with.”
Festival Miss with her Wootton Bassett filly at foot | Born at Tyreel Stud
The Wootton Bassett mating has clearly worked, producing a lovely filly, and Monds is thrilled the mare has tested in foal to Ole Kirk, who has made such an exciting start to his stud career.
“She is pretty easy to mate with her pedigree, and with a mare that throws consistent types, you can mate with confidence.”
The loss of Wootton Bassett
The sudden loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) at age 17 in September was a huge blow to Coolmore Stud and the wider industry. The outstanding stallion had already proven himself elite in the Northern Hemisphere and was steadily building momentum in Australasia.
The late Wootton Bassett (GB) | Image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
“It was devastating for the Magnier family, everyone that looked after him and the whole team,” Monds commented.
“News like that hits everyone within the industry. I'm sure his progeny will continue to do him proud.”
