Alex Solis II's United States-based Solis Bloodstock spent $1.26 million to acquire the two highest-priced horses at the super select session of the Inglis Easter broodmare sale in Australia April 16, including Australian group III winner One World for the top price of Aust$720,000 ($746,721 in U.S. funds).
The session-topping mare, a 12-year-old by Danehill, was offered in foal to Darley's Central Kentucky sire Lonhro, Australia's leading sire in 2011. Consigned by Coolmore Stud, agent, she is the dam of 2011 Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Prelude Stakes (Aus-III) winner One Last Dance.
One World, who is out of the unraced Artichoke mare Prawn Cocktail, is a full sister to Australian group II winner, Langoustine. Her grandam is world-record equaling sprinter Crimson Saint, dam of prominent sire Royal Academy; multiple graded stakes winner Terlingua, the dam of grade I winner and elite sire Storm Cat; and multiple graded stakes winner and sire Pancho Villa.
With 27 fewer horses cataloged for the Easter broodmare sale's opening day at the Newmarket sales complex in Sydney, compared with last year, the session saw a 39.7% downturn from day one in 2012. Inglis reported 125 horses as sold for total receipts of Aust$10,882,000 ($11,286,001 in U.S. funds), down 39.7% from last year's corresponding session when 133 horses sold.
"Noting we had fewer top-class fillies off the track than last year, the young mares and proven producers that vendors brought here today did sell well at improved clearance rate of 70% to a strong local, interstate, and international buying bench," Inglis managing director Mark Webster said.
The average price of Aust$87,056 ($90,288 U.S.) marked a 35.8% decline from 2012, and median was off 33.3% at Aust$45,000 ($46,671 U.S.)
Solis Bloodstock went to the day's second-highest price of Aust$540,000 ($560,156 U.S.) to secure Irish stakes-placed Diamond Necklace, an Unbridled's Song half sister to European champion and sire Shamardal. She was offered in foal to Darley's Australian sire Commands, currently third on that nation's general sire list.
The 9-year-old mare was consigned by Tyreel Stud, which along with BBA (Ireland) bought her in foal to Giant's Causeway for $1.3 million at the 2008 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. She out of the Machiavellian mare Helinski, a full sister to 2002 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner and sire Street Cry.
British bloodstock agent David Redvers bought the group III-winning Flying Spur mare Rosa's Spur from Michael Pitt's dispersal sale, Arrowfield Stud, agent, for $460,000 ($476,974 U.S.).
The 10-year-old mare, dam of listed winner Member's Joy, was offered in foal to More Than Ready , a leading sire in two hemispheres who earlier this year was relocated from Vinery Kentucky to stand the Northern Hemisphere season at WinStar Farm in Versailles.
The Easter broodmare sale continues with the second session April 17.
