The
benefit of purchasing Godolphin mares when they are offered at public auction
was highlighted on Thursday when the half-sister to Group I Tatts Tiara
contender Pohutukawa fetched $425,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling
Sale.
Consigned by Rothwell Park, the bay filly by Teofilo (IRE) from Lumina was purchased
by Edinburgh Park and is the fourth foal of her dam, who was bought carrying
this filly by Lacoste Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
last year for $180,000.
A well-bred daughter of champion sire Redoute's Choice, Lumina is a sibling to
Group winners Chinchilla Rose, Ferocity and Leone Chiara, the dam of Champion
Two and Three Year Old Colt and Group I sire Star Witness, so looked well worth
her purchase price.
At the time of the sale last year, classy three year-old filly Puhutukawa was
not on the page and only won her first race in June 2018.
Since then the daughter of Medaglia D'Oro (USA) has put together the tidy
record of four wins from nine starts earning over $300,000 with highlight wins
in the Group III Kembla Classic and the Listed VRC Jim Beam Stakes at
Flemington.
She is entered for the Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm on
Saturday with James Cummings looking to progress from there to the Group I
Tatts Tiara (1400m) on June 22 for which she is $4 favourite.
"She has got the best form in that race and I think that will stack up (on
Saturday)," Cummings told Racenet.
"She is going really well.
"The short answer is yes, we are (heading towards the Tatts Tiara).
"The Queensland Guineas is right around the corner from the Fred Best, but she
has freshened up beautifully since the Vinery.
"She will be perfectly suited on Saturday."
Lumina is back in the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale again this year after
missing to Deep Field and will be offered by Rothwell Park as Lot 1340.
Godolphin will offer 37 mares at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale next week, click
here to see the draft.