Australia, 4 June 2009

Four-time Group One winner sells for $3 million as National Broodmare Sale opens

Champion racemare Princess Coup sold for an all time Magic Millions record price of $3 million during today's first session of the National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.

New South Wales based bloodstock agent Tony Bott held the bid when auctioneer Julian Blaxland dropped the gavel with history being made. Bott outbid a New Zealand based group to buy the four time group one winner and earner of over $4 million.

"She went for more than I thought," Bott said. "I thought we might be able to get her for $2 to $2.5 million. But mares like her only come up ever couple of years and we were keen to buy her. Earlier in the year I was underbidder on Samantha Miss to John Singleton. It's nice to be able to buy one of these great mares."

Bott described Princess Coup as an outstanding prospect who would be a great addition to his client's broodmare band.

"She was a champion racehorse and she is a smashing individual. She will make a great broodmare. Whether she is a value buy - I guess time will tell," he summed up.

Bott said no decision had been made as yet as to which stallion would be chosen for Princess Coup this season.

"That will be a decision for my client - but obviously stallions like Redoute's Choice and More Than Ready could be options," Bott summed up.

Bidding for Princess Coup kicked off at $500,000 with Blaxland announcing the mare was "on the market."

Seconds later bidding had passed the magical million dollar barrier and after a few minutes her priced had crept up to her final sale price of $3 million.

Princess Coup was consigned by Willow Park Stud as agent and catalogued in the supplementary as lot number 1466.

It was a homecoming of sorts for the South Australian bred mare who was purchased as a yearling at the National Sale four years ago. On that occasion the daughter of Encosta de Lago mare $260,000 and was purchased for John Bromley and Ray Coupland by kiwi agent David Ellis.

Outstanding race filly Hips Don't Lie sold for $770,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and will head to stud to be covered by Henrythenavigator this spring.

A daughter of Stravinsky and a triple stakes winner, headlined by victory in the Group Two Reisling Stakes, Hips Don't Lie was knocked down to prominent New South Wales based bloodstock agent Colm Santry.

"She's the filly of the sale," Santry said. "And I'm delighted to be able to purchase her for clients. She was a perfect yearling and was an outstanding two-year-old," he added.

Session one statistics

Lots Sold: 168
Session Aggregate: $10,250,500
Average Price: $61,015
Top Price: $3,000,000
Lots Withdrawn: 50
Lots Passed: 50
Lots Catalogued: 268

TOP SELLERS

$3,000,000 - Princess Coup (has not been to stud)
Vendor: Willow Park Stud (As Agent) / Buyer: E Thoroughbred Pty Ltd )NSW)

$770,000 - Hips Don't Lie (has not been to stud)
Coolmore Stud (As Agent) / Colm Santry Bloodstock (NSW)

$450,000 - Taimana (served by Redoute's Choice)
Widden Stud (As Agent) / Raffles Farm (NZ)

$450,000 - Marveen (has not been to stud)
Coolmore Stud (As Agent) / Steve Brem (NSW)

$300,000 - Russeting (has not been to stud)
Bangaroo Farm / DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd (NSW)

$250,000 - Translate (has not been to stud)
Widden Stud (As Agent) / N Bowden Bloodstock (NSW)

$250,000 - Foil (served by Fastnet Rock)
Coolmore Stud (As Agent) / Raffles Farm (NZ)

$240,000 - Reggie (has not been to stud)
Yarraman Park Stud (As Agent) / FW Mitchell (Vic)