Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
There were 11 million-dollar mares sold during the Dispersal, topped by G1 South Australian Derby winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), who was purchased, in foal to Dundeel (NZ), by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for a partnership with Coolmore and GSA Bloodstock for $2 million.
“You’ve got to pay for these nice mares. It’s been strong all day, hasn’t it? Everyone seems to be partnering up, so it seems good to be partnering up. We’ve partnered with Coolmore, so we are just having to find partners," Hawthorne said.
“She was a hell of a racemare. We followed her as a racemare, she is a good type and that’s the market, really, and I can’t really see it stopping.
“She is a good long-term investment. Of course, we have got King’s Legacy with Coolmore now and we’ve been shareholders in him all the way through."
Hawthorne said a decision on a stallion for Qafila would be made in the next few weeks.
Lot 815 - Qafila | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Rosemont senses opportunity
The dominant buyer in the Shadwell Dispersal was Rosemont Stud, who secured four mares, Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) for $1.8 million, Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}) for $1.35 million, Khulaasa (Epaulette) for $1.35 million and Aryaaf (Epaulette) for $800,000.
Rosemont Stud Principal, Anthony Mithen, revealed that Minhaaj, a 3-year-old filly, would likely race on.
"It was a Shadwell family and I'm hoping in time that it might be referred to as a Rosemont family. It’s an amazing job that Shadwell have done with breeding these mares. The opportunity to buy Minhaaj, a fast 3-year-old filly by Exceed And Excel, one of the best stallions in the country, what an amazing opportunity," Mithen said.
"It’s an amazing job that Shadwell have done with breeding these mares. The opportunity to buy Minhaaj, a fast 3-year-old filly by Exceed And Excel, one of the best stallions in the country, what an amazing opportunity." - Anthony Mithen
"She will race on. We'll rub our chin and think about what we do with her and what we set her for. Those fast fillies are hard to get."
Amazingly, Rosemont has now purchased three of the progeny of Bulbula across the Shadwell Dispersals in the past two months, as well as the mare herself. They will decide matings for their mares in the coming weeks.
Anthony Mithen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
It’s Go for Telaawa
Go Bloodstock and Coolmore came together to pay $1.7 million for Minhaaj's dam, Telaawa (Lonhro), who is in foal to Exceed And Excel.
"We came here and Sir Owen thought it was a great opportunity with the Shadwell Dispersal, we wanted to add to the very top end of our band and she is a Lonhro mare. We loved the yearling back at the Inglis Easter Sale that Dean Hawthorne bought, and of these Shadwell mares, she was our pick," Go Bloodstock's Steve O'Connor said.
"It was great to partner with Coolmore, who we own some great horses with, like Merchant Navy. She's a lovely mare to have and she is an outcross to all these Danehill-line stallions that will be retiring for us."
O'Connor said Telaawa was likely to go to a Coolmore stallion.
Lot 824 - Telaawa | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Shadwell mares for Kia Ora and Longwood
Kia Ora Stud secured Grade 2-winning South African mare Ektifaa (More Than Ready {USA}) for $1.7 million from the Shadwell Dispersal, landing its first major recruit to support its debuting stallion Farnan.
"The whole Shadwell Dispersal was an amazing draft, but this is one mare we really picked out, being by More Than Ready. More Than Ready with Not A Single Doubt is a phenomenal cross when it comes to stakes results, which looks great for Farnan," Shane Wright, Kia Ora Stud Manager, said.
"She's in foal to I Am Invincible, and the foal sold last week was a lovely foal that made very good money as well. No mare today was cheap, but we think she's a mare we can really appreciate going forward and Farnan will love.
"It’s a beautiful family, she's a great type, and we were very happy to get her."
Lot 831 - Ektifaa | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm came together with Sheamus Mills Bloodstock and Peter Morgan to pay $1.5 million for Rimraam (NZ) (Commands), in foal to Dundeel (NZ) as Longwood's Michael Christian also seized the opportunity to secure some Shadwell quality.
“She was just an outstanding mare just in terms of her physical attributes. I don’t think I’ve seen a better mare, so we were happy to go hard for the one we wanted and we were able to purchase," Christian said.
“She will go to Longwood Thoroughbred Farm to foal down and get her back in foal to who knows what.
"At the end of the day, pedigrees are great and it helps that this mare is a stakes winner but I think when it comes down to it, people are buying on type and physical attributes and that is where this mare absolutely excels, so it will be exciting to bring her home and see what she produces over the next 10 years.”
Christian said I Am Invincible was the likely next stallion destination for Rimraam.
Mare Sale closes Shadwell chapter
The Shadwell Dispersal of mares, as was the case with the yearlings and weanlings, proved a spectacular success, with Yarraman Park's Arthur Mitchell saying it was a fitting reward considering the effort put in by Shadwell Racing and Bloodstock Manager Angus Gold in building up the band over many years.
"It’s been the culmination of 25 years of growing a broodmare band and nurturing them and buying the best yearlings. Angus Gold has done an amazing job and this is the culmination," Mitchell said.
"It’s been the culmination of 25 years of growing a broodmare band and nurturing them and buying the best yearlings. Angus Gold has done an amazing job and this is the culmination." - Arthur Mitchell
"It is sad to see the end of Shadwell's investment in Australia. Maybe there's a chance they may come back, but it was obviously a phenomenal Sale tonight. The mares sold really well, and we are so proud of our staff, they have done an amazing job.
"It’s been really hard work and Magic Millions have done a wonderful job promoting and running the Sale. I think everyone would be absolutely delighted by the way it has gone."
A Yarraman Park mare parading at Magic Millions Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Mitchell said the blockbuster Sale, which surpassed all expectations, was historic in its significance.
"I've been around the world for many year, and I've seen big markets in America, and this is as strong a sale as you’d see, all the way through," he said.
"It wasn't just the Shadwell Dispersal, but the Sale and I think the industry is very buoyant here. It’s not just Australians buying, it’s people from across the world and this seems a very bouyant market to play in at the moment.
"Australia is in a good place, racing is in a good place and breeding is in a good place. It’s wonderful to see all these different people investing in these mares."
The significance of the Shadwell Dispersal was also not lost on Magic Millions Managing Director, Barry Bowditch.
“Shadwell was one of the most emotional things you’ll see at a horse sale. It was truly special and we’re extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to sell these horses and it is a big reflection on Yarraman, Angus Gold and Sheikh Hamdan’s investment world-wide," he said.
"These horses commanded respect and the buyers got behind them and gave them the most respect they possibly could which was extraordinary. It was a lot of money what they grossed, but it was well deserved.”
