Australians swoop for Three Witches
Three Witches (Into Mischief), a Grade 3-winner, who was last seen finishing third behind Midnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Gr 1, 7f) at Santa Anita on November 5, was the headline act of the third session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Friday, after Rifa Mustang Europe – working on behalf of Australian clients – went to US$1.7 million (approx. AU$2,672,500) to secure the Indian Creek consigned mare.
Barry Bowditch, managing director of Magic Millions, who also works as Keeneland’s Australasian representative, indicated that Three Witches, who was purchased on behalf of an investment group based in both Australia and Europe, will remain in the United States to further her racing career. A decision on who would train the filly will be made later. She made the first eight starts of her career under the care of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
“For a mare who raced five days ago, in one of the strongest Breeders’ Cup races of the weekend, she looked so well and handled it so well, the trip back,” Bowditch said. “You just feel the best of her racing is yet to come. It will be great to have a new investor racing horses here in America.”
On the Australian activity at Keeneland this week, Bowditch said: “We’ve had a great week. I think we bought sixteen or seventeen thus far for Australia, which is great. Obviously, this is a sale that does Australia very well. The bloodlines have a good outcross, there’s good speed lines for Australia: That’s important. That’s what we’re looking for when we come to America and we’ve found plenty of it this week.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Sutherland of Indian Creek, said: “I thought it was pretty fantastic. Obviously, the filly was well received and we knew she was a standout both physically and with her race record and pedigree. Anytime you get over a million dollars though it’s pretty special. It exceeded our expectations, and we’re just thrilled.”
Out of the unraced Tale Of The Cat (Storm Cat) mare Layreebelle, Three Witches is a half-sister to multiple Graded stakes-winning gelding Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) and the Grade 2-winning mare Spellbound (Bernardini), the dam of 2021 Santa Anita Oaks (Gr 2, 8.5f) winner Soothsay (Distorted Humor).
Having been active all week at Keeneland, John Muir’s Milburn Creek and Suman Hedge got in on the action once again on Friday, purchasing stakes winner Mom’s Town (Speightstown) for US$100,000 (approx. AU$157,200).
Offered by Hill ‘N’ Dale, the three-year-old filly, who won the Showtime Deb Stakes (Listed, 6f) in 2022, is out of stakes-placed Kitten’s Joy (El Prado) mare Moms Choice, herself a half-sister to Listed winner Nick The Vest (Runhappy).