Arrowfield pays $3.2 million for Arcadia Queen

4 min read
Triple Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro) has been purchased by Arrowfield Stud for $3.2 million, in a deal struck two days after she initially passed in at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

The sale of the Champion mare was announced as the National Broodmare Sale came to an end on the Gold Coast, with owner Bob Peters meeting the market and sending his superstar to a new home as a Sale-topper. She had initially been passed in at $3.4 million, with a reserve of $4 million.

"We made a business decision. As I said before, we’ve got lots of the family and lots coming on for us in the future, so one of them has now gone out of the family, and not a lot of them have come out of that over the years," Peters said.

"They are very competent people and I'm sure they will look after her really well. She's only just down the road from where she's been living."

"They are very competent people (Arrowfield Stud) and I'm sure they will look after her (Arcadia Queen) really well. She's only just down the road from where she's been living." - Bob Peters

Arrowfield's Paul Messara said while it was a significant investment, such an opportunity was hard to pass up and it was a matter of finding the right price point.

"Looking at it after the event, we valued her around the mark and she’s one of those foundation mares that you don’t get the opportunity to buy too often. They are great mares to have, hard to come by, and we are very happy to have her on the farm," he said.

“Bob’s done a great job breeding and racing, so to be able to get into a family like that and also at the top-end of that family. She’s the pinnacle of that family, so to have the top of it is fantastic."

Lot 723 - Arcadia Queen

Messara said Arrowfield had partnered with others during the original bidding on Arcadia Queen on Tuesday but having missed out then changed tack to secure her under its own name.

“We weren’t at the time, but we were in association with someone else but that fell away when she was passed in and so, separately, we came in after the event," he said.

Messara said a mating for the mare would be decided in the coming weeks, but there were some clear options on Arrowfield's roster for a mare of her profile as well as outside options.

"We haven’t really decided at this stage. We have got Dundeel who would be a perfect cross for her (Arcadia Queen), but we will look outside our roster if need be." - Paul Messara

"We haven’t really decided at this stage. We have got Dundeel who would be a perfect cross for her, but we will look outside our roster if need be," he said.

"Obviously, we want to have the best commercial outcome and produce the best horse. With those types of mares, you really have got to have a good look everywhere for the best possible options for her. At this stage, we have nothing firmed up."

Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud

The prospect of a mating with Dundeel (NZ) was something that Peters thought made sense and something he may have pursued himself if he had have retained Arcadia Queen.

"That was an option that I thought would make a good mating," he said. "She'd suit Dundeel down to the ground, really. I've got a share in Dundeel and we breed a couple of mares to him every year. He would definitely be a really good mating for her, if she were to go that way."

Rare gem finds new home

Peters reflected on Arcadia Queen as a mare of rare quality both in racetrack performance and in terms of her physical make-up.

"It’s very rare that you get a big mare like her that is so athletic. Most of them aren't like that, but she has just got everything you could want," he said.

While Arcadia Queen garnered global interest, she remains in Australia for now. Peters said he didn't have a preference for which location she ended up in.

Bob Peters

"It’s good that she stays here, but on the other side, it would have been great to see her on the international stage as well. Either way it is good to see she is going somewhere where she will be really well looked after," he said.

Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch praised Peters for getting the deal done, and Arrowfield for seizing the opportunity.

"We are thrilled to be able to get the deal done. Bob Peters is an outstanding owner and he lowered his sights and was very realistic and was motivated to sell her," he said.

"I'm pleased that John and Paul Messara and the team at Arrowfield could make an offer that was worthy of being accepted and I'm thrilled that she is going to one of our great farms."

Arcadia Queen
Arrowfield Stud
Magic Millions
Bob Peters