$1million for So You Think Mare Banana Queen

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 9

A homebred for Arcella Thoroughbreds, talented So You Think mare Banana Queen has been a favourite of the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable working through her grades over the past three seasons before winning the Group III Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle last year to cap her appeal as a broodmare prospect.

Banana Queen sold for $1million - image Steve Hart

She attracted keen competition at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale before being secured by Nick Wakim’s Hilldene Farm for $1million and is set to race on in the short term at least following her good first up fifth in the Group III Hawkesbury Crown last Saturday.

Banana Queen has the overall record of five wins and four placings from 19 starts with prizemoney just shy of $400,000.

Advertisement

She is a  three-quarter sister to Group III placed Vanuatu and is the best of six winners from six foals to race from unraced Fastnet Rock mare Tropicana Lady, a full sister to Group I winner Irish Lights, the dam of Group II winner Omei Sword, stakes-winners Lipizzaner and Just steel, who ran in last week’s Kentucky Derby.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with last week’s three 2YO debutants coming into the top 10.
Cambridge Stud Looking Forwards to 2026 with Sword of State
Young Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has landed another timely winning blow across the Tasman.
2025 Breednet Favourite Foal Winner
Firstly we’d like to thank everyone for taking an interest in our foal gallery and supporting their favourites, but there can only be one 2025 Favourite Foal and Vinery Stud’s first season sire Hawaii Five Oh has gained a jump on his rivals in producing his first winner!
$1.2million for Mare in Foal to Frankel
There are four mares to be offered at Magic Millions National in foal to Juddmonte Farm’s champion sire Frankel and the first of them Grande Dame (GB) sold for $1.2million to James Bester Bloodstock/Morning Rise Stud.
Tara Talks Racing - The Christmas Episode
A quickie to end the year and wish our listeners a very happy Christmas as we pick apart the Magic Millions contenders that have jumped out of the woodwork in the past week, who do we like heading into the Christmas break?    
Apulia Unleashes Devastating Perth Cup Trial
Lightly raced five year old entire Apulia produced one of the best Perth Cup trials seen in years when he produced a finish Bernborough himself would have admired to take the weight for age G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot.
Widden Produce the Magic Winners
The beauty of buying a Magic Millions yearling is their eligibility for a rich program of races scheduled around the country and no farm has a better record for producing the winners of these races than Widden Stud with Unit Five the latest name added to the list.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 21
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
J-Mac Headed to Bac to NZ for G1 Ride
No-one knows better than Lance O’Sullivan what it takes to win the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), which is as good a recommendation as any around the engagement of James McDonald for Tomodachi in the Trentham Group One sprint.
Sires With Winners - Monday December 22
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.