3 minute read

Daughter of Domesday snapped up for 13,000gns

After purchasing five lots at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale on Wednesday, including a Nathaniel (Galileo) that will head to Sydney trainer John O’Shea, Billy Jackson-Stops made his presence felt again at Park Paddocks on Thursday and there was more Australian flavour to his purchases as he went to 13,000gns for Australian Group 3 winner Divorces (Domesday). 

A winner of the Thousand Guineas Prelude (Gr 3, 1400m) in 2010, Divorces also finished third in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), but she has proved tricky to breed since her retirement. 

Her first foal - a colt named Divided (Shamardal) - died at two having never made it to a racecourse, while her second - Imperial Past (Dubawi) broke his maiden on debut at Yarmouth, but struggled with health issues, before being sent to Middle East and failed to win again. 

In 2019 she foaled a filly by Dark Angel (Acclamation) and she was offered in foal to Darley speedster Profitable (Invincible Spirit). 

Jackson-Stops said the plans with the mare are undecided, but she could end up in Australia. 

“Divorces was bought for a client and the options are all open with her,” said Jackson-Stops. 

“She is obviously in foal to Profitable and we will foal her down and possibly one for Night Of Thunder, Lope De Vega anything like that.  

“She could head back to Australia, but then she might also stay here - as I said it is really up in the air. 

“She was obviously a very good racehorse, but she has been very unfortunate with her breeding. She did produce one very nice Dubawi, who won first time out as a two-year-old. He had some health issues and ended up in the Middle East. 

“I really just want to try and get her breeding record a little straighter, because she is a really lovely mare and I want to give her a chance so the plan is to breed her to some pretty decent stallions.”

Divorces is out of Family Breakup (Octagonal), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Disputes (Manton), who in turn produced Kembla Grange Classic (Gr 3, 1600m) winner Asiago (Medaglia d’Oro). 

Family Breakup herself is out of Group 2 winner Royal Accord (Imperial Prince), who also produced Listed-winning pair Good Tradition (Canny Lad) and Mermaid’s Flannel (Woodman).