Yulong’s thirst for top class mares shows no sign of stopping, with the breeding giant behind the multi-million dollar purchase of Group 1 winners Montefilia and Icebath at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.
The Victorian-based stud paid $3.4 million for Montefilia, the four-time Group 1 winner by Kermadec shortly after securing Icebath, the Group 1-winning daughter of Sacred Falls, for $2.3 million.
Yulong also added Pierro mare Novarro, the sister to its recent stallion acquisition Pierata, to a star-studded broodmare band that includes Away Game, Tofane and Melody Belle.
Of Montefilia, Yulong’s Sam Fairgray hinted that the five-year-old, who has been trained by David Payne, could race on in the spring before commencing the next phase of her career.
“She’s got a lot of quality and is a lovely mover,” Fairgray told Inglis.
“We’re not sure what we’ll do with her just yet, although she may race on in the spring with races like the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup all possible.”
The highest-priced mare of the night was Nimalee, who set a sale-record when she was knocked down to Coolmore and Colm Santry Bloodstock for $3.6 million.
The daughter of So You Think won last year’s Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) when trained by Matthew Smith.
Popular stayer Tralee Rose, a multiple Stakes-winning daughter of Tavistock that was offered as a racing and breeding prospect, was bought for $450,000 by Paul Lofitis’ Lofty Thoroughbreds, who also paid $625,000 for Dubawi mare Opulent in foal to Frankel.
