The virtual online Inglis Chairman’s Sale next week is a select offering of premium mares including some in foal to the boom first season horses that captivated Australian breeders last spring in Trapeze Artist (Widden), Justify (Coolmore) and The Autumn Sun (Arrowfield), so in this three part series of stories we’ll take a closer look at those mares.
Standing at Widden Stud, Trapeze Artist was the most expensive and also the most popular first season sire in Australia last spring covering 180 mares at a fee of $88,000.
As a four time Group I winner of $5.6 million, Trapeze Artist has won more Group I races than any other horse by Snitzel and barring dual Everest winner Redzel, is his highest stake earner.
There are six mares offered in foal to Trapeze Artist as listed below:
Lot 8 Samara Dancer – Widden Stud.
“She was an incredibly fast 2YO and the record of those precocious fillies as producers is excellent, as we know with the likes of Solar Charged, the dam of Sunlight. She has let down into a beautiful mare and her first two foals are outstanding. The fact that she cost $825,000 straight off the track probably tells you all that you need to know about the high regard in which the market holds mares like this.” - Antony Thompson, Widden Stud
Lot 11 Shigeru Sendan – Fernrigg Farm
“She is a very sexy sort of mare with a great shape to her. We bought her for the Merchant Navy pregnancy she was carrying and the resultant colt is overwhelmingly good, so we are delighted. She is Danehill-free, which opens up all sorts of options for matings and I would be surprised if she didn’t have a very good Trapeze Artist foal. When they are as good-looking as she is, you expect them to have good foals and she certainly hasn’t let us down. ” - Rae-Louise Kelly, Fernrigg Farm
Lot 39 Fuddle Dee Duddle – Widden Stud
“We were inundated with nice mares like this for Trapeze Artist in his first season, which isn’t surprising given his credentials. Fuddle Dee Duddle was a very smart racemare and it’s a family going places. Her first two foals sold nicely and she has quality stock to run for her over the next few years, so there looks to be plenty of blue sky with her.” - Antony Thompson, Widden Stud
Lot 74 Solar Cry – Segenhoe Stud as agent for Peprico Trading
“Solar Cry’s dam, Solar Charged, is a broodmare synonymous with top-flight success on the racetrack through her Champion sprinter and multiple G1-winning daughter Sunlight as well as the high-class Sisstar. Solar Cry’s Sebring yearling filly and Zoustar weanling filly will be retained by her current owner and I am exceptionally excited about the Zoustar filly as she is one of the best foals on the farm. She is offered IF to Trapeze Artist who we think is a perfect physical match.” - Peter O’Brien, Segenhoe Stud
Lot 77 Viviette (IRE) – Glenesk Thoroughbreds as agent for Bell View Park
“Viviette is by one of Europe’s best stallions and is from one of Europe’s best families. We know her sire works well here via the likes of I Am Invincible. We also know her female line has worked well here via the deeds of G1 winner Hot Snitzel. This is a family which has produced Champion sires (Cape Cross, Iffraaj) and Champion fillies (Park Appeal, Shadayid, Alydaress, Russian Rhythm). It would be therefore safe to assume a yearling out of her, whether a colt or a filly, will be on everyone’s radar.’’ - Brett Howard, Glenesk Thoroughbreds
Lot 81 Hot Dipped – Glenesk Thoroughbreds as gent for Bell View Park
“2YO Stakes winner. Tick. 3YO Stakes winner. Tick. Won from 1100m to 2100m. Tick. 57.1% winning strike rate (8 from 14). Tick. 1st Dam, 3rd Dam and 4th Dam all Stakes winners. Tick. By a leading sire. Tick. No Danehill in pedigree. Tick. Family has worked well with Danzig sire line (GSW’s Warning, Ascorbic, Tickle My, Damselfly, I’ll Have A Bit). Tick. Due to foal early to hot first season sire. Tick. Good sort. Tick. That is a lot of boxes ticked!’’ - Brett Howard, Glenesk Thoroughbreds