Ms Bad Behavior: A mare creating her own dynasty

Cover image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton

There are broodmares that produce a good horse, and then there are mares capable of shaping an entire commercial and racing narrative. For Arrowfield Stud, Ms Bad Behavior is rapidly becoming the latter.

Her latest headline act came on the Gold Coast on Saturday when St Gotthard (Snitzel) exploded into Group company with a devastating win in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, further strengthening the reputation of one of the most exciting young families in the country.

The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Jon Freyer the buyer of Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}) and Arrowfield Stud's Bloodstock manager to talk about the origins and the journey that she has already taken the team on.

St Gotthard announces himself on the Gold Coast

Freyer was the man who signed the ticket for Ms Bad Behavior at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale, purchasing the mare as a broodmare prospect for US$600,000 (AU$827,700) Since then, she has become a commercial and racetrack phenomenon.

Her four Snitzel colts have collectively sold for $6.75 million through the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, but more importantly, they are producing on the track.

A winner on debut at Warwick Farm in April, St Gotthard elevated expectations again with an outstanding four-length victory in Saturday’s G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic over 1200 metres for 2-year-olds.

Prepared by Chris Waller - who also trained his brother Switzerland - and ridden by James McDonald, the colt settled just worse than midfield before unleashing a brilliant turn of foot in the straight to put the race away in emphatic style.

McDonald after the race was glowing in his assessment and suggested the colt could develop into a Group 1 horse.

“Chris is building with some really good horses and this colt will be no exception,” he said. “He cost a lot of money and he's got a beautiful temperament. He's got incredible acceleration and he's all class.”

Coolmore’s John Kennedy was equally enthusiastic about the colt’s future.

“St Gotthard is a serious 2-year-old,’’ Kennedy told Inglis.com.

“We knew from the moment we saw him at Riverside at last year’s Easter sale he was a colt we really wanted. Obviously Switzerland had already done the job for us and he was just such an amazing looking yearling and has developed into an even better looking 2-year-old.

“He did that with absolute ease today. It was only his second career start, Chris hasn’t rushed him and we’re starting to reap the rewards of that now.

“We think he’s got a big future ahead of him and hopefully we see him standing alongside his brother on the Coolmore stallion roster in years to come.’’

On Sunday, it has been suggested that there is a strong likelihood that St Gotthard could be spelled with aims on Spring targets, rather than the Queensland carnival.

Another classy type by Snitzel

In producing such a dominant display, St Gotthard became the 174th individual stakes winner for the late Arrowfield champion Snitzel.

Freyer believes the colt possesses the same explosive quality that has become synonymous with the family.

“He’s a very impressive colt and I thought he showed a devastating turn of foot, which seems to be a hallmark of these horses out of Ms Bad Behavior and, in particular, Switzerland,” Freyer said.

He also reflected on the enduring influence of Snitzel, who died in 2025 but continues to dominate through his final crops.

“Snitzel has had a remarkable season. He looks a shoe-in to win his fifth sires’ premiership. He may even finish champion 2-year-old sire again as well.

“It's going to be a close call between him and Home Affairs. He is showing no signs of slowing down with these last few crops that he's got and, you know, sometimes stallions do, but really the last couple of crops have arguably been as good as he's ever had.”

The origins of Ms Bad Behavior

Ms Bad Behavior arrived in Australia from North America in 2019 to begin the next stage of her career at Arrowfield Stud in Scone.

While paying close to the equivalent of roughly just over AU$800,000 for any broodmare based overseas carries significant risk, Freyer said he was immediately taken by the mare.

A four-time winner up to 1300 metres, Ms Bad Behavior won the G3 Ladies Turf Stakes and Listed China Doll Stakes, while also placing at stakes level on another eight occasions and finishing fourth in the G1 Del Mar Oaks.

“She was a lovely mare from the start. I think in the market we're in at the present time, she would cost, as a prospect, a hell of a lot more than she did back then,” Freyer said.

“She was a very good race mare, not far off being really top class.”

What has elevated her value even further is the consistency she is producing physically and athletically.

“She's been an amazing producer. Everything she leaves on the ground has been a glorious type and they're doing it on the track as well, which is even more important.

“It’s one thing for a mare to produce progeny that make a lot of money in the sales ring, but they've all run and I think Decorum is a pretty handy horse and he's won three.

“He pulled up with a heart arrhythmia in the Randwick Guineas and I know, talking to Michael Freedman during the week, he's been to see him, he's ready to come back into training and he's confident he can win a good race with that horse.”

Delivering in the ring and on the track

The results from Ms Bad Behavior’s progeny have been extraordinary from both commercial and racing perspectives.

Her first foal, Switzerland, was purchased by Tom Magnier for $1.5 million before going on to win the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and two Group 2 races. He now stands at Coolmore Stud at a service fee of $55,000 inc GST after covering 191 mares in his debut season.

The next colt, now a gelding named Decorum (Snitzel), was bought by TFI for $550,000 and has already won three races, while St Gotthard was secured by Magnier for $2.7 million before becoming a Group winner at just his second start.

Her current yearling colt again by Snitzel was also highly sought-after, eventually selling for $2 million to Tom Magnier, James Harron and Tony Fung.

Ms Bad Behavior also has a Snitzel weanling colt on the ground and was served by The Autumn Sun last spring.

Freyer revealed there has been one particularly unlucky bidder throughout the mare’s remarkable run of yearlings.

“Gai Waterhouse was underbidder on St Gotthard and underbidder on that colt that James Harron and Tom Magnier purchased this year at Easter for $2 million as well,” he said.

“I said to her afterwards, I think the colt foal by Snitzel, who's an absolute beauty, we might just have to keep him and give it to her to train because she's earned it with the under-bidding.”

A new chapter after Snitzel

Following the death of Snitzel in 2025, Arrowfield was forced to look elsewhere for Ms Bad Behavior’s next mating.

The decision was made to send her to The Autumn Sun, maintaining the extended Redoute’s Choice sireline while ending a sequence of five consecutive visits to Snitzel.

Freyer believes the mating could prove an outstanding fit.

“In some respects, it might even be a better mating for her,” he said.

“He's a big, strong horse. Blame is from the Sadler's Wells family, so you've got a duplication there, which is nice.

“So we will be looking forward to that in the spring. The Autumn Sun is going great, he had another stakes winner yesterday in Adelaide with Private Legacy.

“Actually, the farm had a few stakes-winning graduates yesterday, so St Gotthard was obviously one, but Beadman was another and Private Legacy was a third, so it was a good day all round.”

Why Snitzel has clicked with North American mares

The success of Snitzel with North American-bred mares has become one of the more fascinating patterns in Australian breeding.

Ms Bad Behavior is just one example of that compatibility. Four of Snitzel’s Group 1 winners - Wild Ruler, Russian Revolution, Hot Snitzel and Heavenly Blue - are all out of American-bred mares.

Gallery: The Group 1 winners by Snitzel who are from North American-bred mares

Freyer believes the outcross element has played a major role.

“I think one of the main things that some of the Danehill blood, in particular, seems to like is that outcrossed blood, and the American or Canadian mares offer that,” he said.

“Those mares also have an emphasis on speed and a more muscular type of body mass that suits our type of racing.

“But importantly, I think it's the blood, like obviously Blame and then Stormy Atlantic with her, and also some other stallions like Wild Ruler and Russian Revolution and the likes.

“The Snitzels have always appreciated outcrossed blood, which is not unsurprising given the Danehill line and Northern Dancer line is reasonably in-bred, particularly Danehill, so I think that's part of the reasoning.

“But some of these mares that are bred are also really high-class horses.”

He added that importing mares with elite racetrack credentials naturally raises the ceiling of what they can achieve in Australia.

“Ms Bad Behavior was verging on top class in America. Well, it brings you into play with all the best horses here, so you're having high-calibre horses to begin with that are being sent here from America, and that's important.”

A broodmares part in a hot stallion prospect

With Switzerland already at stud and St Gotthard now emerging as another potential elite colt from the family, Freyer believes the strength of the female line is becoming increasingly significant.

For him, the best stallion prospects often come from mares capable of repeatedly producing high-quality performers.

“I think that one of the criteria that you would value most highly in a stallion prospect is the horses that are out of outstanding producing mares,” he said.

“It seems to be something that they're able to pass on themselves.

“The fact that St Gotthard looks such a beauty, I think it enhances Switzerland's prospects enormously.

“For me, I always thought that he was obviously a great chance to start with on his own merits, but whatever chance you thought he had, when you see Decorum and now this fellow come out as well in three consecutive foals, you have to say there you go. That enhances his prospects.”

Freyer said the success of each colt has a compounding effect on the entire family.

“It's hard to count the impact that these horses have because it's helping each of the colts, it's helping the dam and helping the stallion, who's obviously off to, already on his own merits, such a good start as a first-season sire after winning such a big race and serving his mares.

“It’s exciting with St Gotthard and it will be interesting to follow his career.”

A rare opportunity to buy into a hot family

As an imported mare, opportunities to access the immediate family of Ms Bad Behavior have been limited - made even rarer by the fact she has produced five consecutive colts since arriving in Australia.

That is set to change at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, where her half-sister Magical Elegance (Can) (Good Magic {USA}) will be offered as Lot 597 through the Yarraman Park Stud draft.

A winner over 1150 metres in Australia, Magical Elegance is out of dual Listed winner Cumulonimble (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}) and already shapes as an appealing broodmare prospect in her own right. Her appeal has only strengthened further following the emergence of St Gotthard as the latest stakes winner from the family.

Will Johnson from Will Johnson Bloodstock, one of the key players in importing this mare, believes Saturday’s update added another layer of commercial appeal to an already highly desirable pedigree.

“Magical Elegance, before St Gotthard’s win on Saturday, already profiled as an extremely attractive broodmare prospect. You know, you don't have the opportunity to get into the female family very easily,” Johnson said.

“So, the update on Saturday was welcome and adds to her appeal.”

The mare is also in foal to Anamoe off an early October cover, further boosting interest given the strong market reception to the champion’s first crop of yearlings this season.

“She is by Good Magic. He stands for approximately AU$175,000 and he is one of the brightest young stallions in America,” Johnson said.

“Being in foal to Anamoe is a great opportunity. There is an Anamoe in every leading stable in Australia and he's impressed the breakers so far. They were extremely well received throughout the yearling sales season. He has every chance.”

Johnson also revealed himself alongside Yarraman Park and D A Dickie had identified the family early and moved quickly to secure access to the pedigree after Switzerland began showing significant promise.

“We identified her when Switzerland was sold as a yearling and located her in Canada. Once Switzerland's rating from his maiden came through, we thought he may be Group quality and we sourced her and purchased her privately with the help of Jes Sikura.”

Another half-sister, Blessed Truly (Can), also was part of the acquisition and has since been purchased by Kia Ora Stud for $700,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

“We also purchased Blessed Truly, which we sold last year at the Gold Coast Broodmare Sale,” Johnson said.

Unfortunately, Blessed Truly’s Too Darn Hot (GB) foal died shortly after birth, though she was subsequently covered by Farnan.