Fillies might trail the colts in the sale ring at purchase time, but on the racetrack they more than hold their own in terms of the prizemoney they can win.
Four of the top six prizemoney earners of all time in Australia are mares.
Top 10 Australian/New Zealand earners (source Wikipedia)
The Top 50 colts sold in Australia / New Zealand in 2016 ranged in price from $2.3million down to $520,000 and included 13 that sold for seven figures.
The Top 50 fillies sold in Australia / New Zealand in 2016 ranged in price from $1.4 million to $400,000 and included three that fetched seven figures.
A good colt is apparently worth more than a good filly at purchase time, but are they worth the money?
They are if they race well enough to warrant a stud career, but the reality is that the majority of high profile colts that have been secured for stud duties in recent years don't come from the top price bracket.
Yes, I can hear you saying what about All Too Hard, Foxwedge and Wandjina and yes they are glowing examples of expensive colts that have done the business, but there is a far longer list of expensive colts that have not.
Capitalist, Extreme Choice, Flying Artie and Winning Rupert will all retire to Newgate Farm this spring and could have been bought collectively as yearlings for $382,500.
Australia's leading first season sire Pierro was bought as a yearling for $230,000
and Australia's leading second crop sire So You Think was bought for $110,000,
while Golden Slipper winner Vancouver currently covering his first book of US
mares for Coolmore in Kentucky was bought for $185,000.With outstanding prizemoney, a vibrant racing scene and first class breeding industry there has never been a better time to invest in Australian thoroughbreds and the reality is that you don't need millions to compete and succeed.
The Golden Slipper trifecta – She Will Reign ($20,000), Frolic ($100,000) and Tulip ($400,000) – were bought for a combined total of $520,000 and on Saturday won a combined total of $2,949,500!
