Discerned tops latest Inglis Digital Sale

Written by Bren O'Brien

Well-related broodmare Discerned (Zoustar), who was offered in foal to new-season Widden Stud stallion Anders, has topped the Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale when selling to Noor Elaine Farm for $120,000.

Discerned is an unraced half-sister to stakes-winning mare Vezalay (Shamardal {USA}), who sold for $1 million in 2019, and whose I Am Invincible colt sold for $1.25 million at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Their stakes-placed dam Tactfully (Flying Spur) is a sister to Roulettes, who is in turn the dam of stakes-winning pair Sun City - a resident at Telemon Stud - and Parlophone (I Am Invincible).

The mare had a colt to Trapeze Artist last year and while she missed last season, she has been scanned 45 days in foal to Anders.

She will go to Noor Elaine resident Ilovethiscity next year, according to stud manager Tim Jackson.

“The El-Fahkri family and I believe there is considerable upside to Ilovethiscity and we want to be buying more quality mares to put to him,’’ Jackson said.

“The family is fully aware they need to improve their broodmare genetics and Discerned was a mare that certainly fitted that bill.

“I saw videos on the Inglis website of her and I spoke to the team at Widden, a farm I’ve got a good opinion of and know they’re not going to bullshit you. Discerned is by a good young broodmare sire in Zoustar, she’s out of a Flying Spur mare, she has a progressive family and is in foal to a good young bull in Anders. She’s the first boxed ticked in our mare recruitment plan.

“We’re continually looking, we’re after younger mares, mares that are suitable and affordable so I guess we’re not unique like that – every stud farm is looking for that really."

Also sold in foal to Anders was Loading Zone (Street Sense {USA}), the dam of Group 3 winner Military Zone (Epaulette), who was offered by Two Bays Farm and secured by Michael Christian’s Longwood Thoroughbred Farm.

Christian said: “She’s a lovely style of mare, a beautiful mover who has produced some outstanding foals already including the three-time stakes winner Military Zone.

“She’s been bought with some clients of the farm so she’ll be a long-term prospect here at Longwood. We like the family and the fact that she’s produced some really nice foals already that have been well-received at weanling and yearling sales, we’re excited about her future moving forward.’’

Loading Zone has produced two winners, with the other being the Kermadec (NZ) gelding Shock Zone. She has been well-mated in recent years, producing a colt by Russian Revolution in 2019 and a filly by American Pharoah (USA) last year.

Her half-siblings Hesitates (Commands) and Super Lacuna (Grand Lodge {USA}) were both stakes winners, while another half-sister produced the G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner Scarlet Rain (Manhattan Rain).

City-winning and stakes-placed mare Mystique Falcon (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) is headed to the Mackrell family's Bell View Park Stud after securing a $80,000 pricetag.

A winner of two of her 13 starts, she was a NZ$220,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale graduate and is a half-sister to Listed Southland Guineas winner Replique (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, she was placed in a Listed Strutt S. earlier this year.

Multiple Group winner and Group 1 placegetter Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was secured by Ogle Racing for $75,000, while another multiple Group-winning import, Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) also found a new home, sold to Sam Kavanagh Racing for $60,000.

The Sale grossed $2.1 million and saw 142 lots sold at a clearance rate of 85 per cent.