Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sometimes the racing gods do smile - and for Peter Murray, that sentiment has rarely rung more true. Results in racing can benefit far more than just the obvious owners and trainers, and for Murray - a prominent owner, breeder and President of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria, the G1 Queensland Oaks win of Fireball Miss has further elevated a well-considered investment into her dam to something far more significant.
A calculated investment rewarded
Purchased by Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) and Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $900,000 on behalf of Murray and Three Bridges Thoroughbreds from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, Femme Fireball was carrying a cover to champion galloper Anamoe.
The acquisition reflected a deliberate move toward the top end of the market.
“Three Bridges and myself are looking to play at that higher end of commerciality. We did pay a lot of money for her (Femme Fireball) and we were happy to do that, hoping that we would get a nice Anamoe foal, which we did,” Murray said.
At the same sale, Yu Long Investments secured Femme Fireball's G1 South Australian Derby winner Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}) for $1.5 million - only a matter of a few weeks after she had claimed that Group 1 victory.
Femminile | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Femme Fireball has now produced two runners - and both are Group 1 winners now after Fireball Miss (Bivouac) tasted victory in the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
Fireball Miss winning the G1 Queensland Oaks | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“I’m very fortunate. Sometimes the racing gods smile down on you and that is what has happened for us lately,” Murray said.
“I’m very fortunate. Sometimes the racing gods smile down on you and that is what has happened for us lately.” - Peter Murray
“We took a bit of a risk paying good money for the mare but it’s been fantastic. Obviously with Femminile winning the Derby and then Fireball Miss winning the Oaks. So, you have to give huge credit to those trainers for doing such a great job with those fillies to help the mare. It’s fantastic.”
Peter Murray | Image courtesy of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria
Timing, pedigree and momentum
Timing is everything in racing - and the past few weeks have underlined that.
Fireball Miss signalled her class with victory in the G2 The Roses before stepping up again to claim the G1 Queensland Oaks in dominant fashion. The win came at an ideal moment, with Femme Fireball’s Anamoe weanling filly set to go through the ring as Lot 406 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
“The timing’s been unreal and the mare’s now obviously produced two individual Group 1 winners by very different stallions in Dundeel and Bivouac - one is a Derby winner and one is an Oaks winner,” Murray said.
“The timing’s been unreal and the mare’s (Femme Fireball) now obviously produced two individual Group 1 winners by very different stallions in Dundeel and Bivouac - one is a Derby winner and one is an Oaks winner.” - Peter Murray
“For a mare to produce two Group 1 Classic winners with her first two foals, I don’t know how many mares have ever done that. I’m sure there are a few but it would be pretty rare.
“The Anamoe filly that she has produced for us is very athletic and we’ve always had the plan to sell as a weanling and try and recoup some of our investment and then go on from there.”
Lot 406 - Anamoe x Femme Fireball filly | Image supplied
The appeal is obvious - the only two foals to race have both won at the elite level and this filly being by the exciting Anamoe, the market is expected to respond accordingly.
As Three Bridges’ Toby Liston noted, “Life’s about timing isn’t it?
“She’s athletic, big and strong - a typical Anamoe.” Liston said.
“The mare’s been to two different sires and produced two G1 winners, so let’s hope her Anamoe can be the third.
“Great Southern has always been a great place to sell horses. They’re good people at Inglis, and it’s great to do business there.
“There’s a great appetite for nice horses, and we take nice horses, raised in 100-acre paddocks, so it should be a fun week.”
Defying pedigree expectations
What makes the story even more compelling is how unexpected it is on paper.
Femme Fireball was a seven-time winner from 1200 metres to 1350 metres, while her dam line is similarly speed-oriented. Yet her progeny have excelled over classic distances.
“An Oaks winner by Bivouac wouldn’t have been expected, but Femme Fireball is by Pierro and while he won the good speed races like the Golden Slipper, but his pedigree is more of a miler to a stayer type pedigree, so maybe that is a big influence,” Murray said.
“An Oaks winner by Bivouac wouldn’t have been expected, Femme Fireball is by Pierro and while he won the good speed races like the Golden Slipper, but his pedigree is more of a miler to a stayer type pedigree.” - Peter Murray
Femme Fireball | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“I’m not sure, the second dam was a winner at 1200 metres and Femme Fireball herself was a sprinter also up to 1350 metres. But it’s quite amazing. Dundeel and Bivouac are two completely different stallions.
“We bought the mare in foal to Anamoe and obviously he has had a big hype on him and warranted. We were hoping that they would be received well at the sales before we would ever get a chance to sell, and he has, so it’s sort of worked out.
“We haven’t seen them run yet, but you would think that they will, looking at the style of horse that’s come from those matings. So it will be interesting to see how she sells.
“Three Bridges has always sold a few weanlings, and this was always the plan. We’d like to support sales in Victoria when we can and hopefully she will be well received.”
A family on the up and the importance of a good team behind you
The depth of the family continues to build, beyond the first two foals that have proven to be standouts.
Prior to her sale, Femme Fireball produced a Pinatubo (Ire) filly, purchased for $250,000 by Laurel Oak Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and she has also left a So You Think (NZ) yearling filly - interestingly she has left five fillies in succession.
Lot 392 - Pinatubo (Ire) x Femme Fireball filly | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Femme Fireball had quite a late foal last year, so we decided to give her a year off,” Murray said.
“She’s had a year off and at this stage, we’re still deciding on where we would like to go.
“There’s a few options there and we’ll decide over the next couple of weeks what happens. It’s exciting. We’re very fortunate to be in this position. I’m sure we’re the envy of a few farms.”
Reflecting on the broader picture, Murray was quick to acknowledge the people behind the results.
“It’s a good story and hopefully there will be more stories to come.
“I really appreciate everyone that has been involved - Craig ‘Boomer’ Rounsefell and Paul Willetts purchased the horse, Toby and the Three Bridges' team do a great job, and also the trainers of these Group 1-winning half-sisters that have developed the family and made the mare and her produce so much more valuable. I really appreciate all the hard work they have done.
“I really appreciate everyone that has been involved... I really appreciate all the hard work they have done.” - Peter Murray
“It’s a good team we have got together.”
The changing broodmare market
While success like this is the goal, Murray acknowledges that sourcing mares is becoming increasingly challenging.
“Everything’s obviously changed a lot, as you know, with a lot of the broodmares now getting sold online. It’s just a different environment and it actually gets harder to pick, to get something because the sales are quite compact,” he said.
“Everything’s obviously changed a lot, as you know, with a lot of the broodmares now getting sold online. It’s just a different environment and it actually gets harder to pick, to get something because the sales are quite compact.” - Peter Murray
“So, therefore, you’re not looking at 1000 mares, you might be looking at 300 and everyone’s got the microscope on those 300 and then it’s kind of hard to find things to pull through the gaps because the gaps are much smaller.”
He sees continued strength in the weanling market, where physical inspection remains key.
“I think the weanling sales are becoming stronger and stronger. I think you need to see a weanling, you can’t just buy them online, you need to check them out. Sometimes seeing is believing. I can understand buying mares online and even that scares me a bit because I like to see them, and that is where live sales are so important.
“I think the weanling sales are becoming stronger and stronger. I think you need to see a weanling, you can’t just buy them online, you need to check them out.” - Peter Murray
“The Great Southern Weanling Sale has a great reputation of selling good stock and people on both sides of the coin are able to get a win, which is important in this business - everyone has to have a win in this game.”
Victoria’s breeding momentum
Murray remains optimistic about the broader Victorian breeding landscape, despite recent shifts and it’s something Murray has a good gauge on being the current President of Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV).
“It’s been a bit of a knock losing some commercial stallions in Victoria with Yulong purchasing Segenhoe Stud and sending the likes of Alabama Express and Tagaloa up north, but we understand that in terms of the commercial aspect,” he said.
“Victoria’s in a strong position. People are enjoying breeding here. We’ve got a very good racing and breeding incentive scheme with VOBIS, which I think helps to give people confidence in their purchases.” - Peter Murray
“But we have Vinrock coming, which is exciting, and obviously Observer coming down to Northwood Road, and Ghaiyyath coming back. Victoria’s in a strong position. People are enjoying breeding here. We’ve got a very good racing and breeding incentive scheme with VOBIS, which I think helps to give people confidence in their purchases.”
Observer | Standing at Darley Victoria
Still, Murray acknowledges the broader pressures facing participants.
“We’re working hard to make this industry viable for as many people as possible. It is getting very, very hard, especially with the way the cost of living - in terms of training, just everything. It all comes back to the owner or the breeder in the end in terms of cost and it does make it hard for people to stay in the game.
“It can become a bit polarising, but we’re trying our best to make it an environment where people can succeed.
“I think in Victoria, with what we’re doing with Racing Victoria regarding VOBIS and bonuses, it really helps to give people an added bit of confidence and hopefully a bit of extra income to offset some of the cost.
“Breeders have to keep chipping away, keep doing it with a smile on our face. The racing business is a great business, full of great stories and great people.”
