Written by Bren O'Brien
Cover image courtesy of Fernrigg Farm
Previous successes breeding from American mares has emboldened Fernrigg Farm to go to $140,000 to secure stakes-winning mare Sky Flower (USA) (Flower Alley {USA}) through the Magic Millions Online Sale (Dec 6-9).
Sky Flower, who was offered in foal to Coolmore freshman King's Legacy, topped the Sale and will join Fernrigg's broodmare band with Rae-Louise Kelly telling TDN AusNZ that she was confident she would make a good acquisition.
Sky Flower (USA) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions Online
"We have a couple of stakes-winning mares already on the farm and their speed appeals to us," Kelly told TDN AusNZ. "She seemed like quite a neat type, with a big hindquarter and pretty well put together."
The 8-year-old was offered by her previous owners Swivet Pty Ltd, having been initially purchased by Blue Sky Bloodstock on their behalf for US$70,000 (AU$98,000) through the 2018 Keenland November Breeding Sale.
Rae-Louise Kelly and Padraig Kelly | Image courtesy of Fernrigg Farm
She delivered a Better Than Ready colt in November last year who will be sold through the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and visited King's Legacy in September, returning positive test before her sale.
Kelly said the King's Legacy pregnancy was another appealing aspect of the purchase.
"It was an early pregnancy to a stallion that I think is going to be very commercial in a future yearling sale," she said.
"It was an early pregnancy to a stallion that I think is going to be very commercial in a future yearling sale." - Rae-Louise Kelly
Sky Flower won nine of her 23 starts on the racetrack in North America for trainer Gerald Books, including a Listed Latonia S. at Turfway Park. She is out of multiple Listed winner Sapphire Sky (USA) (Sky Mesa {USA}).
Kelly said that at a reasonably early stage of her breeding career, the mare looks an ideal longer-term investment.
"She fits in quite well here, so she is more of a long-term investment for us," she said. "A couple of our American mares have given us some really good-looking yearlings this year."
Devious Rumour (USA) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Among them is Devious Rumor (USA) (Street Boss {USA}), who was purchased for $220,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and whose Exceed And Excel colt is catalogued as Lot 910 at next month's Gold Coast Yearling Sale as part of Fernrigg's draft.
In other highlight results from the Sale, Merricks Station paid $85,000 for the Group 2-producing mare Electra (Zizou), who was offered in foal to Dubious.
Aquis Farm was selling the mare, who has already produced the G2 Hot Danish S. winner Electric Girl (Declaration Of War {USA}).
