Milanova brings record A$5 million at Inglis

The eight-year-old mare MILANOVA (Danehill) was

expected to be the highlight of Sunday's session of the Inglis Australian

Breeding Stock Sale in Newmarket, and she didn't disappoint. The subject of

heavy competition from several breeding operations, the bay was finally hammered

down to Coolmore Australia for a Southern Hemisphere record A$5 million. She

eclipsed the previous mark of A$3.4 million, set by the broodmare prospect Virage de Fortune (Anabaa) at last year's Inglis Australian Easter

Broodmare Sale.

In foal to Encosta de Lago, Milanova was part of the

12-horse Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud reduction. A Group 3 winner and runner-up in

the Australasian Oaks (Aus-G1), she is a full sister to French highweight and

multiple Group 1 victor Holy Roman Emperor. Milanova's second dam is Fanfreluche (Northern Dancer),

who was honored as champion three-year-old filly and Canada's Horse of the Year

in 1970.

"Genuine good horses

like her that come on the market always attract genuine money," Coolmore

Australia's General Manager Michael Kirwan said. "She's got a world-class

pedigree, and Coolmore has enjoyed a lot of success with the family, with not

only Holy Roman Emperor, but Encosta De Lago, who will be champion sire this

year."

Tyreel Stud, owned by the late Jim Fleming, realized A$10,160,000 for the 12

mares sold, with an average of A$846,666.

"It's pretty incredible," said Fleming's son, Paul

Fleming, of the Milanova sale. "But, in fairness, she was always going to

top the sale -- everyone was looking at her and, with that kind of pedigree and

with those international bloodlines, she is a very valuable commodity.

"This was a great way to honor Dad."

Milanova was one of five broodmares

reaching seven figures Sunday. VALOURINA (Snippets), also from the Tyreel consignment, was knocked down to Neil Bowden Global Bloodstock for A$1.6

million. The 14-year-old stakes-winning mare is the dam Group 2 winner and

multiple Group 1-placed Timbourina (Timber Country) as well as Group 2 victress and

multiple Group 1-placed Media (Gilded Time).

Valourina sold in foal to Redoute's Choice.

There were three mares out of Sue Suduk's Risdon dispersal who brought more

than A$1 million. Philippa Duncan Bloodstock Pty. Ltd. was agent for the

consignment. Topping the offering was eight-year-old LUCIDA (Danehill),

who brought A$2 million from New South Wales based Freyer Bloodstock. The

stakes-winning mare, dam of yearling and weanling colts by Elusive Quality, is

not in foal this year.

"It's nice to see clients get good results, and the good mares sold really

well," Philippa Duncan said. "We're delighted that

Lucida is staying in Australia. She is a lovely mare, from a great family and a

really nice type."

Lucida is out of a full sister to Australian Derby (Aus-G1) hero

Don Eduardo (Zabeel) and from the family of 1996 Australian Horse of the Year Octagonal (Zabeel).

Risdon's Group 1

winner SHINDIG (Straight Strike), dam of Group 1 winner Shinzig (Danehill) and

multiple stakes hero Strada (Danehill), realized a final bid of A$1.6 million. Purchased by

William Inglis, as agent, the 15-year-old mare is in foal to Exceed and Excel. Inglis also signed the ticket for Lucida's dam,

Group 2 queen PERUZZI (Zabeel), who brought A$1.25 million. Out of a half to

Octagonal, the 15-year-old

mare produced Australasian Oaks (Aus-G1) and VRC Oaks (Aus-G1) runner-up Flora Danica (Danehill).

Peruzzi is in foal to Fusaichi Pegasus.

William Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was more than pleased with the

record-setting results at Sunday's session.

"We're very grateful to have been

entrusted with the sale of a mare of Milanova's quality," Webster said. "The

quality drafts of weanlings and mares supplied by vendors such as Coolmore, Tyreel and Risdon have been a great endorsement for this new sale, which has

been well received by both vendors and buyers.

"It's pleasing to

see that, in addition to the three-day Easter Broodmare sale, we can now offer

clients a three-day alternative later in the season to trade breeding stock

before the end of the financial year. There was strong competition for weanlings

and, in addition to the record price achieved by Milanova, another four mares

sold for more than A$1 million, which speaks volumes for the quality of this

sale."

For complete results, please visit www.inglis.com.au.