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Group 2 winner goes for $750,000
Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm said before the start of the Inglis Chairman’s Sale his ideal result would be to walk away with Group 2 winner Samara Dancer (Hinchinbrook) and Group 3 scorer Lubiton (Snitzel) and he and Seamus Mills pulled off that best laid plan when they purchased both mares on Friday.
The pair had to go to $750,000 to secure Samara Dancer, who won the 2016 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) (Gr 2, 1100m), while Tesio Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Lubiton realised $620,000 and Christian said the pair will likely both be covered by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) this spring.
“We sat down at the start of the day and our best combination was to buy Lubiton and Samara Dancer,” said Christian. “To buy them at the prices we could, we were absolutely rapt because we valued them at a much higher price than what we were able to get them for.”
Catalogued as Lot 8 and offered by Widden Stud in foal to their resident stallion Trapeze Artist (Snitzel), Samara Dancer has produced two foals to date - both by I Am Invincible. Her yearling colt by the Yarraman Stud sire was passed in at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale after failing to make his $750,000 reserve.
The daughter of Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock) was purchased by Widden Stud and David Lucas for $825,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale from the Sledmere Stud draft. She is out of Singspiel (In The Wings) mare Ennerdale, making her is a half-sister to Eclair Big Bang (Savabeel), who took out the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (Gr 3, 1400m) in 2013 and stakes-placed pair Black Sail (Savabeel) and Dancer’s Kin (Ocean Park).
Ennerdale herself is out of French Group 2 winner Whitehaven (Top Ville), who also produced French Listed winner Copeland (Generous). The mare’s third dam is multiple Grade 1 winner White Star Line (Northern Dancer).
"Physically, she had the real wow factor,” said Christian. “She's a magnificent looking mare, She's a Group 2 two-year-old winner, which I think is critical. She is from a great family.
“Trapeze Artist certainly is the best of the first season crop and I think his progeny will sell really well. We will put her back in foal to I Am Invincible and think that she is a young mare that over the next mares will be a fantastic broodmare for us.”
Lubiton is out of unraced Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare Rose Stellata, who is herself out of Group 1 winner Camino Rose (Sea Road) - the grandam of Group 3 winner Twitchy Frank (Choisir).
The daughter of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) was offered by Yarraman Park in foal to their sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit). The mare was catalogued as Lot 48.
“She's a two-time stakes winner and in foal to the best stallion in the land,” said Christian. “We hope to send her back to I Am Invincible this spring. We are really excited to be able to get quality broodmares onto the farm.”
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock bought another two mares, spending $270,000 on Listed winner Hot Dipped (Written Tycoon) in foal to Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) and $230,000 on Group 3 winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom), who was also offered in foal to Widden Stud resident Trapeze Artist.
