‘It’s going to be a good catalogue and there is plenty more to come’
Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch looking forward to the upcoming Chairman’s Sale with another trio of star mares confirmed
Group 1-performed mares Hope In Your Heart (Dundeel), C’est Magique (Zoustar) and Pennyweka (Satono Aladdin) have all been added to what already looked a strong offering at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, it was revealed yesterday.
The trio will join the likes of dual Group 1 winner She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice), star three-year-old filly Kimochi (Brave Smash), Tattersalls Tiara (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Startantes (Star Turn), elite-level placegetter Steinem (Frankel) and 2022 Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) third High Emocean (Ocean Park) in the feature sale, set to be held at Riverside Stables on May 9.
Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) and New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) heroine Pennyweka looks sure to be highly sought after in the sale, with Australian Oaks winners having a terrific record as broodmares.
Since 2000, a total of 14 per cent of Oaks-winning mares in Australia have produced a Group 1 winner and 38 per cent of them have produced a winner at stakes level, a list which includes the likes of Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer), Dizelle (Zabeel), Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), Anamato (Redoute’s Choice), and Rising Romance (Ekraar), while 2013 NZ Oaks winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready) produced last year’s Kikuka Sho (Gr 1, 3000m) hero Durezza (Duramente).
“She’s a dual Oaks winner, a proper racemare,” Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch told ANZ Bloodstock News of Pennyweka. “The record of Oaks-winning mares producing stakes winners is really good and I think anyone would be surprised when they see those facts.
“The opportunity to acquire a mare like her is very rare and it’s great the Wallace family have trusted us in selling her.”
A three-time winner from her 12 starts for Opaki-based trainer Jim Wallace, Pennyweka is by far the best foal to come out of unraced Pentire (Be My Guest) mare Threepence, with Wallace forecasting a bright future for the $1 million earner when she hits the breeding sheds.
The record of Oaks-winning mares producing stakes winners is really good and I think anyone would be surprised when they see those facts
“She’s sound as a bell, she’s never had a day of soreness in her life and while she’s been officially retired here in New Zealand, I’m sure the new owners could investigate their options.
“The greatest thing about her was her temperament, she was simply unflappable. And she has a great set of lungs, just one of those horses with amazing lungs, it didn’t matter how far she was asked to go, she just thrived. She was a natural athlete, her ability to quicken during a race was extraordinary.”
Fellow four-year-old C’est Magique is a half-sister to 2018 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner and now fledgling stallion Written By (Written Tycoon), being out of the winning Tobougg (Barathea) mare Yau Chin.
From her ten starts on the racetrack to date, the daughter of Zoustar (Northern Meteor) has managed just her sole debut maiden victory, but has been placed in four stakes races, including a runner-up effort behind In Secret (I Am Invincible) in the 2022 Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and a third placing in the Triscay Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Randwick when last seen in action on February 17.
“I saw her at Randwick when she ran last Saturday week and that was a nice field of fillies and mares, but she stood out like a beacon,” Hutch said.
“She is all quality, has a great colour, is tremendously athletic and very much in keeping with what you’d expect from the very best progeny of Zoustar. It’s a great opportunity for us to offer her for the Begg family.”
The Grahame Begg-trained mare has been accepted to run in Saturday’s Wenona Girl Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) at Randwick.
“She’s a very good type, a strong mare and her form tells you she’s top class,’’ her owner Neville Begg said.
“The day she split In Secret and Buenos Noches in the Coolmore, she proved that day she was elite, she came from nowhere and announced herself among the very best of a very, very good crop.
“She’s continued to train on, she’s sound as a bell, she’s not over-raced and she’ll run very well on Saturday from a perfect draw [barrier two].
“She has a lot of racing ahead of her, she’s going to give her new owners a rare opportunity to buy a mare who can race at the elite level for seasons to come if they choose, and then become an elite broodmare.’’
Three-time Group winner Hope In Your Heart rounds out the trio of new additions to the Chairman’s Sale.
Trained by Kembla Grange-based Kerry Parker, the five-year-old daughter of Dundeel (High Chaparral) has landed the Guy Walter Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), Angst Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m), and Tibbie Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) during her 28 starts to date, amassing over $1.75 million in prize-money.
Hope In Your Heart has performed at the top level on nine occasions, with her best finish coming when second to subsequent Champions Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Atishu (Savabeel) in last year’s Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
“This mare is a Group 1 winner in all but name,” Hutch said.
She’s going to give her new owners a rare opportunity to buy a mare who can race at the elite level for seasons to come if they choose, and then become an elite broodmare.
“She’s been racing against the very best horses, mares and open-company horses, during her career and performing extremely well.
“She’s by Dundeel which is an excellent start as a broodmare and she looks great having recently seen her at the races.
“It’s unfortunate that [her breeder] Mrs Deidre Illes passed away late last year and to have the opportunity to celebrate this mare will be a special and emotional occasion. Hopefully we can make it a very special night for them all.”
Hope In Your Heart, who is a half-sister to Group-placed winner Rising Light (Dawn Approach) being out of the Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) mare Hayaat, will be offered by her owners Illes Breeding and Racing as a racing and breeding prospect as part of the Torryburn draft.
“She’s currently spelling and will be ready to come back in ahead of the Chairman’s Sale so she will be perfectly let down to head straight to the breeding barn or ready to be prepared for the Spring Carnival, pending what the new owners want to do with her,’’ Torryburn Stud manager Mel Copelin said.
“She’s very neat and tidy and has grown into a beautiful mare, a typical Dundeel and you can also see a lot of Montjeu in her. She’s the perfect size to breed to basically any stallion in the market.
“She gave her owners a lot of buzz racing her and they had the time of their lives, but they feel they can’t give her the best stallions if they were to keep her, so they’ve decided to sell her to someone who can give her the best chance as a broodmare.”
Having already been confirmed as part of the Chairman’s Sale in November last year, dual Group 1 winner She’s Extreme was yesterday viewed by Hutch, who is looking forward to what he feels is an occasion to celebrate quality breeding stock.
“Her specifically, she is a fantastic looking mare,” Hutch said of the Newgate Farm-consigned mare. “It’s tremendous to get that sort of confidence from owners, and they see this as an opportune way to showcase their most valuable asset.
“The sale was set up with an idea that we could create an occasion that is basically a celebration of breeding stock of real quality.
“In Pennyweka, C’est Magique and Hope In Your Heart I think we bring three of the most desirable broodmare prospects that could be offered in 2024.
“These mares on offer this year are real high-class racemares that anyone would be happy to be associated with, and this is not just to showcase their ability, but hopefully a celebration and recognition of it by the market in their value. It’s going to be a good catalogue and there is plenty more to come.”