Lot 34 - Ausbred Flirt (Maurice {Jpn})
Buyer: Astute Bloodstock / Cressfield
Vendor: Fairview Park Stud
It was the combination of Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) and Cressfield that put their hand up to the tune of $250,000 to secure Ausbred Flirt (Maurice {Jpn}) from the Fairview Park Stud draft.
It proved a busy evening for Le Metayer, who purchased four mares while also selling two, including Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) to Gilgai Farm for $350,000. Among his activity throughout the night, it was Ausbred Flirt who stood out as a particularly appealing value buy - a mare Le Metayer knows intimately, having purchased her as a yearling and managed her racing career throughout.
Lot 34 - Ausbred Flirt | Image courtesy of Inglis
Ausbred Flirt announced herself with a debut victory and went on to record six career wins up to a mile, while banking just under $540,000 in prizemoney. Along the way, she also placed in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes, G2 Dane Ripper Stakes. and G3 Angst Stakes.
The daughter of Maurice (Jpn) is safely in foal to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Shinzo, whose first weanlings created plenty of attention at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale this week. His filly out of Special Lover (NZ) (Pins) topped the sale at $600,000, while his colt out of My Xanadu (Fastnet Rock) matched the second-highest price of the auction at $400,000.
Pedigree only adds further appeal to Ausbred Flirt’s page. She is a half-sister to 10-time winner and Listed Oakbank Stakes victor Scratchy Lass (U S Ranger {USA}), as well as Listed winner Rich Itch (Danerich). The family also features G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield Cup hero Viewed (Scenic {Ire}).
Louis Le Metayer | Image courtesy of Astute Bloodstock
Her dam, Seven Year Itch (Keltrice), has produced eight winners in total and, in recent seasons, has also left behind a yearling colt and weanling filly, both by Maurice.
Le Metayer recalled purchasing Ausbred Flirt during the unique circumstances of the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
“We purchased Ausbred Flirt as a yearling for $110,000 in 2020," he said. “It was that Covid online sale, the first virtual sale that we had here. I remember at the time driving around the Hunter Valley because there was no auction here.
“I was driving around the Hunter Valley from farm to farm and bidding on my laptop. We purchased her and she’s been a really good mare to us. She won six races and earned about half a million dollars.
Ausbred Flirt | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She was unlucky not to win a good race and she is a beautiful, big, scopey mare - very correct, with a great head.
"One of my good clients, Bruce Neill from Cressfield, was looking for mares in foal. So we chose to have a bit of a go at her and were delighted to buy her for $250,000.”
Le Metayer said the mating flexibility within the mare’s pedigree was another major attraction.
“We were trying to concentrate on mares that have outcross pedigrees and are free of Danehill, that are easy to mate with any stallion, because I think there’s a bit too much inbreeding in this part of the world. So that was a big attraction with this mare.
“We don’t mind Shinzo - he has had a really good week.”
Having such strong familiarity with the mare only added to the confidence behind the purchase.
“It’s great when you know a mare so well and you have that inside or in-depth knowledge to have lots of confidence when purchasing.”
“It’s great when you know a mare so well and you have that inside or in-depth knowledge to have lots of confidence when purchasing.” - Louis Le Metayer
Le Metayer also praised the atmosphere surrounding the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
“It’s been a great night. I love the atmosphere, the prestigious and upmarket feel. I love getting a table and bringing clients and celebrating the end of our mares’ racing careers.
“It’s a great balance between socialising, business, buying and selling. Inglis do a great job with the sale.”
