By Bren O'Brien
Group 1 winning mare Nakeeta Jane (So You Think {NZ}) has been sold to Coolmore Stud and will visit Justify (USA) in his first season in Australia.
The 4-year-old mare, the winner of the G1 Surround S., was sent to the paddock by trainer Mark Newnham after suffering a fetlock injury at trackwork last month, with reservations about her racing future after the injury.
Her owners at GT Park have confirmed she has been retired, with Coolmore securing her as part of its impressive list of mares to visit its unbeaten US Triple Crown winner this season.
Nakeeta Jane, secured by Coolmore as part of its impressive list of mares to visit Justify (USA)
"Immediately after she suffered the injury, we got a lot of offers wanting to buy her as a broodmare for this year," managing owner Mark Towell told TDN AusNZ.
"It was all very sudden and such a shock that I said no to everyone, because she'd been great to us and I didn’t want to sell her. But an offer then came through from Coolmore which, when we did the sums on it, made sense.
"It was a heartbreaking decision to have to make to sell her, but financially it made sense to do it."
Coolmore confirmed that Nakeeta Jane had been high on its radar after that Surround S. success earlier this year.
“Nakeeta Jane was one of the highest-rated fillies of her generation and one of the best daughters of So You Think, who is performing so well for us as a sire." Tom Magnier, Coolmore Australia Principal said.
“Nakeeta Jane was one of the highest-rated fillies of her generation and one of the best daughters of So You Think, who is performing so well for us as a sire." - Tom Magnier
"She beat the likes of Fundamentalist, El Dorado Dreaming, Pohutukawa, Oohood, Fiesta, Miss Fabulass, Seabrook and Mizzy in the Surround S. and came within 1.2l of The Autumn Sun in the Randwick Guineas.
"On top of her outstanding racecourse performance, she is a beautiful individual. We are supporting Justify with an incredible book of mares this season and physically, she will suit him perfectly. She is the type of mare that can produce highlight lots at the top yearling sales in 2022 and beyond. She is a very rare commodity and we are delighted to have her.”
Justify (USA), to be visited by Group 1 winning mare Nakeeta Jane
Coolmore purchased several high-profile mares at the breeding sales earlier this year to support Justify in his first Australian season, including Srikandi (Dubawi {Ire}), Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Invincible Star (I Am Invincible), Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) and I'll Have A Bit (Smart Missile).
Towell said that while the decision to sell Nakeeta Jane was difficult, the fact she was going to such a high-profile stallion was some vindication.
"We are breeders but we are realists, and the money that was on offer was too good to refuse. It's a great result for her if it’s Justify they are sending her to," he said.
"We are breeders but we are realists, and the money that was on offer was too good to refuse. It's a great result for her if it’s Justify they are sending her to." - Mark Towell
Significant in the decision to sell Nakeeta Jane was the fact that GT Park still retains her dam, Lustre Lady (Flying Spur), and she is due to foal a full sister or brother in the next few weeks.
"That helped with the decision a little bit I suppose," he said. "Lustre Lady is at the walk-on farm we use, Davali Thoroughbreds and she's ready to foal in the next 15 days."
So You Think, will cover Lustre Lady later in the spring
Lustre Lady will go back to Coolmore's So You Think (NZ) later in the spring, while her yearling colt by Pierro will likely go through the sales next year.
Nakeeta Jane won three of her eight starts, having also won the G2 Light Fingers S. in February. She was also placed in a G1 Flight S. and a G1 Randwick Guineas and finished fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S.
She is one of three Group 1 winning daughters of So You Think, who stands for $38,500 (Inc GST) this season.
