Filly set to do family favour in Guineas

4 min read
The Inglewood Stud-bred and sold Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) can do her younger half-brother a major favour at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Lisa Latta-trained filly will take her place in the G1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas and a bold showing will provide her Karaka-bound relative with a significant pedigree update.

Stud principal Gus Wigley purchased their dam Secret Scent (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) for $19,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale.

Secret Allure is by Valachi Downs sire Zacinto

“She was in foal to Domesday and she was a bit of a weak first foal and then the mare went to Rip Van Winkle and had a late-maturing filly (Miss Gee Bee), who only had a couple of starts,” he said.

“She’s come up with a good horse now and we’ve got a stunning Shooting To Win colt who’s going to Book 1 at Karaka next year and the mare’s going to Zacinto again.” - Gus Wigley.

“There was a bit of a query. But she’s come up with a good horse now and we’ve got a stunning Shooting To Win colt who’s going to Book 1 at Karaka next year and the mare’s going to Zacinto again.”

A NZ36,000 Karaka yearling, Secret Allure won twice last season, including the Listed Champagne S., and has placed against the older horses in both of her lead-up runs to the Guineas.

Wigley and his wife Bianca took over the North Canterbury 120-acre farm in 2012 from his father Nick.

“Nick had wound the stud down and hadn’t stood a stallion since 1998 and he was concentrating on training a few and developing land,” Wigley said.

“We had to go out and buy a broodmare band and we’ve been quite selective and really target mares from prolific families.” - Gus Wigley.

“We lease the stud and own the bloodstock. We had to go out and buy a broodmare band and we’ve been quite selective and really target mares from prolific families.”

Secret Allure as a yearling

A smart piece of business was the purchase for $44,000 of a High Chaparral (IRE) filly at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

“She’s a sister to Ace High, who came out and won a couple of Group 1s so that was great,” Wigley said.

“That was a shame we couldn’t race her, but she was bought as a broodmare and she’s got a positive test to War Decree.” - Gus Wigley.

“We had her in work in the Valachi network, but she got hurt. That was a shame we couldn’t race her, but she was bought as a broodmare and she’s got a positive test to War Decree.

“She hasn’t been named yet, but it will be Red Or Black.”

War Decree, standing at Inglewood Stud

Inglewood is also home to Dolly’s Wig (Snippetson), the dam of the Listed Champagne S. winner Zigwig (NZ) (Zacinto), who is a half-sister to the G3 Summer Cup and G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Mighty Lucky (Casino Prince).

“We’ve got 25 broodmares now and we’ve sent three to Australia, it’s quite easy to get them to Sydney from Christchurch.” - Gus Wigley.

“We’ve got 25 broodmares now and we’ve sent three to Australia, it’s quite easy to get them to Sydney from Christchurch,” Wigley said.

“Enchanted Light is a maiden mare by Darci Brahma and she’s gone to So You Think, Artesian is a Hard Spun mare I bought in foal to Furnaces and she’s had a colt foal at Coolmore and is in foal to Pride Of Dubai and we sent Mystique to Merchant Navy and she’s got a positive test.”

Gus Wigley with mares and foals at Inglewood Stud

All three of the foals of Mystique (NZ) (Montjeu {IRE}) to race have won and includes the Listed Southland Guineas winner Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

The mare is out of the G1 New Zealand S., winner Seamist (NZ) (Beaufort Sea {USA}) and a half-sister to the G2 New Zealand Cup winner Torlesse (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).

“We also bought a young mare called Giggly last year at the Gold Coast and her half-brother Crack Me Up later came out and won the Villiers.” - Gus Wigley.

“We also bought a young mare called Giggly last year at the Gold Coast and her half-brother Crack Me Up later came out and won the Villiers,” Wigley said.

Giggly, a $170,000 Magic Millions broodmare purchase

“Her So You Think filly heading to Karaka is an absolute beauty.”

Inglewood formerly stood Zacinto (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and remains in the ownership of the now Valachi Downs-based stallion. The stud's current resident stallion is War Decree (USA) (War Front {USA}).

He won three of his nine starts, including the G2 Vintage S., and the G3 Diamond S., before retiring to the Wigley operation for his first season this year. He has been well received by New Zealand breeders and will serve a book of around 100.