Electric Charge - dam of Group winning juvenile Libertad - sells for $360,000
Electric Charge (Charge Forward), dam of unbeaten Group-winning juvenile colt, Libertad (Russian Revolution) topped the latest Inglis Digital sale when bought for $360,000 on Wednesday by Trilogy.
Trained by Annabel Neasham and part-owned by Trilogy, Libertad has raced twice to date, breaking his maiden on debut by two lengths on 22 March before claiming the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on 1 April.
The sale itself grossed over $5.6 million and Electric Charge was one of two lots to sell for $300,000 or more.
The sale topper was offered by Rheinwood Pastoral in foal to young stallion Prague (Redoute's Choice) and she was the subject of a protracted bidding duel, which saw four individual bidders at $280,000 or above, before Trilogy won the battle.
"It was lovely, wasn't it. Fantastic, the bidding just kept going and going and going,'' Rheinwood's Ray Willis said.
"She's a nice mare and I was very, very happy with the price.
"I've sold online before but nothing at that level, it's great, and I think long term, so many horses will be sold online. I find it so easy as a buyer and a seller.
"We're thrilled for Trilogy to have secured her, she has been a tremendous mare for us and we wish them every success in the future with her.''
Rheinwood will offer a draft of eight at next week's Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside, including lot 278, a colt who is out of a half sister to Libertad.
Trilogy's Sean Dingwall confirmed they would foal down the mare at their Blue Gum Farm before sending her back to Russian Revolution (Snitzel).
"We've got a huge amount of time for Libertad and [Trilogy's] Jason [Stenning] is adamant he wants to breed some more of him,'' Dingwall said.
"He was going to buy her no matter what."
The second-top lot was Redoute's Choice (Danehill) mare Lunalove, who was bought by Yulong for $305,000.
Offered by Newgate Farm, on behalf of clients Greg and Donna Kolivos of Lightning Thoroughbreds, Lunalove was sold in foal to Pierro (Lonhro).
"It's fantastic, a great result for great clients of the farm,'' Newgate's Jim Carey said.
"She is a beautifully bred mare and the Pierro/Redoute's Choice cross has been very successful."
Yulong's Sam Fairgray said Lunalove would next visit their own stallion Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa).
"We thought she'd be a lovely mare to add to the collection, the Redoute's Choice factor is always strong, she's a nice type out of a High Chaparral mare so there's nice blood there in the family and we think she'll be a great match for Tagaloa,'' Fairgray said.
Yulong also purchased the third-top lot Zouluminous (Zoustar) – offered by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock – for $245,000 and the fourth-top lot, Written Tycoon (Iglesia) mare Written Dash (in foal to Bivouac and offered by Tyreel Stud) for $205,000.
Zouluminous is out of the Melbourne metro-winning Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Luminous Harmony, a sister to stakes-winning mare Neena Rock, the dam of current juvenile star Veight (Grunt).
She will be served by Grunt (O'Reilly) this season, who stands at Yulong.
"She's from the same family as Veight obviously so she'll go to Grunt for sure, it just makes sense,'' Fairgray said.
"We'll try and breed a close relation to what will hopefully be a Group1 Caulfield Guineas winner later in the year.
"Grunt has had a really strong start and we want to keep supporting him with quality mares like this.''
Mills added: "She's a really nice mare who's made a really nice price, she's a good sort and was a fairly obvious one I thought for Yulong, given Veight's presence on the page and him being by Grunt, so it's another example that timing can be everything in this game."
