Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel ‘surprise’ addition to Inglis Chairman’s Sale
Group 1-winning mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni) is a surprise late addition to an already star-studded cast for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, which will take place at Riverside Stables on May 8.
Bred and raced by prominent Western Australian businessman Peter Walsh, Amelia’s Jewel was retired on Saturday after her fifth-placed finish in Randwick’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) behind Fangirl (Sebring).
That respectable effort brought to a close a career consisting of ten wins from 24 starts – all ten coming at stakes level – the highlight of which was her top-flight weight-for-age victory in the Northerly Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) at Ascot as a three-year-old.
The now five-year-old will be offered at the boutique auction as a racing and breeding prospect by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Peter and his wife Annie, much to the shock of Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch.
“It has come as a total surprise to me,” Hutch told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“Our team didn’t anticipate the possibility that Peter and Annie might look to sell Amelia’s Jewel – typically they’ve been breed to race owners and opportunities for us to trade stock for them are relatively limited.
“When I was made aware of the possibility she might be sold I was in contact with Peter O’Brien [manager, Segenhoe Stud] and it was something that really came together very quickly.
“I can’t stress enough first what a compliment it is for the Chairman’s Sale that Peter and Annie chose it, and second what an honour it is to offer a racemare of such quality. Amelia’s Jewel was an extraordinarily talented racemare and I think her record doesn’t do justice to her ability. She was an outstanding mare whose record deserved to be punctuated by far more than one Group 1 win.”
The daughter of Siyouni (Pivotal) is the first foal out of the stakes-placed winner Bumbasina (Canford Cliffs) and was an instant hit for her dam, boasting an unbeaten juvenile record of three stakes wins from three starts, culminating with a success in the Karrakatta Plate (Gr 2, 1200m) under the tutelage of her original Perth-based trainer Simon Miller.
In the spring of 2024, Walsh transferred the mare to Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Sydney-based stable, a move that yielded a victory in last month’s Guy Walter Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and three runner-up efforts at Group level, including the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
Bumbasina, who was bought for 75,000gns by Peter Walsh and Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2018, is no one hit wonder and has had continued success as a broodmare.
Her three-year-old Blue Point (Shamardal) colt Bosustow landed the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast earlier in the year, a much deserved stakes success having hit the crossbar at black-type level on numerous occasions previously, including as a juvenile when he was third in the JJ Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). He was most recently seen finishing second in February’s BCD Group Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) in New Zealand.
“It’s a great opportunity for investors to be part of a special racemare from a special family,” Hutch said.
“The dam [Bumbasina] is doing a pretty incredible job, her first runner being an elite runner, and her third foal and second runner is an elite runner by Blue Point. She’s got a couple more Siyounis to come along with a Zoustar pregnancy, so it’s exciting to think where this pedigree might get to over the next five, ten, fifteen and twenty years.
“She’s something of a collector’s item. I think something particularly desirable about her is people wouldn’t have thought they’d have the chance to invest in her.
“Siyouni is a fantastic stallion and I’m very excited by his profile as a broodmare sire. His sire Pivotal might just be the best broodmare sire in the world, and if he isn’t then it would be Danehill, and Siyouni is out of a Danehill mare. The influences from that point of view are fantastic.”
Hutch is confident that the European bred mare will have a wide scope of appeal to both domestic and international investors.
“To an extent we’re methodical about identifying mares for the sale,” he said. “We’re conscious that demand is likely driven by people associated with the major stallions and breeders and we want to be careful in offering a suitable number of mares that are likely to appeal as suitable mates for those stallions.
“As is always the case in this country, there’s a proliferation of Danehill blood and while Siyouni is out of a Danehill mare, relatively speaking that’s a small amount of Danehill in a pedigree. So she’s a mare that’s compatible I feel with Danehill line stallions but also with the ever-increasing number of exciting outcross stallions we have.
“Ultimately I think it’s a pedigree that’s going to make tremendous appeal, primarily domestically but also to international investors.”
Peter Walsh spoke of the mental fortitude of his mare, who managed Group level success at two, three, four and five, adding that the decision to sell was an emotional one.
“She means so much to us,” he said. “It’s not an easy decision to sell her but I’ve got the mother at home so we’ll keep breeding the family and racing the family.
“She’s perfectly sound and could easily race on or make one hell of a broodmare. She raced basically in Group company her whole career, did it against the best in the west and then over east and was unlucky not to have more big wins.
“I think the best thing about her was her mental toughness and versatility. She could win from 1000 to 1800 metres, she could fly from the back or be on speed and win. There was nothing she couldn’t do.”
Amelia’s Jewel will be joined in the supplementary catalogue by an ever-growing list of high-class fillies and mares, headlined by dual Group 1-placegetter Tulsi (The Autumn Sun), proven stakes producer Mousai (Fastnet Rock) and promising juvenile filly Strada Varenna (Street Boss).
Hutch added that he is hopeful the catalogue will gain further quality in the coming days leading up to the Chairman’s Sale, parlaying the success Inglis have had this year.
“Certainly in the context of the market we’ve had a very successful year,” he said. “Our clients are an intuitive bunch and have seen the hard work and know it’s something for them to take advantage of. We’ve invested a huge amount of time and effort in the format because we’ve great confidence in it and year after year it’s built and built.
“Hopefully the next demonstration is over the series of sales at the end of this month. It creates a level of pressure and expectation but that’s the sort of opportunity we’re yearning for.
“I’d be very hopeful we’ll continue to add to the quality of the sale between now and when the supplementary catalogue is printed later in the month.”
The supplementary catalogue for the Chairman’s Sale will remain open for entries until April 24.
To view the catalogue for the Chairman’s Sale – which includes the likes of Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), I Am Me (I Am Invincible), Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot), Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible), Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun), Royal Merchant (Merchant Navy), Estriella (I Am Invincible), and more – click here.