Bella Nipotina became the equal third-most expensive mare ever sold in the Southern Hemisphere when realising A$4,2m (ZAR 49 million) on a record-breaking evening at the Chairman’s Sale.
The Ciaron Maher-offered 7YO – the reigning Gr1 Everest winner – was sold to her breeder and part owner Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, who bought out his fellow owners in the mighty mare.
Bella Nipotina wins the Doomben 10 000 (Pic – Inglis)
Bella Nipotina was one of many incredible results on an extraordinary evening of Chairman’s action where:
*The sale averaged a Southern Hemisphere mares sale record of A$706,883, eclipsing last year’s record average by 18%, with a clearance rate of an outstanding 87%
*The current gross of A$54,430,000 is a Chairman’s Sale record, over A$9.5m higher than the previous record set in 2023.
Lot 35 – Bella Nipotina (Pic – Inglis)
*Bella Nipotina topped Thursday night’s sale at A$4.2m in what was a Chairman’s Sale record individual price, seeing her join Sunlight as the third-most expensive mare to ever sell in the Southern Hemisphere behind Imperatriz and another Inglis graduate Milanova
*Coolmore ended the night as leading buyer, taking home three mares Amelia’s Jewel (A$3.8m), Tiz Invincible (A$2.8m) and Estriella (A2.8m) for a total spend of A$9.4m on a night where the buyer sheet included participants from China, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and all around Australia
*Ciaron Maher Racing was a standout leading vendor, selling all eight lots offered for A$12,775,000
*A total of 14 mares realised seven figures – a record number of seven-figure results at Chairman’s – Bella Nipotina (A$4.2m), Amelia’s Jewel (A$3.8m), Tiz Invincible (A$2.8m), Estriella (A$2.8m), Too Darn Lizzie (A$2.4m), I Am Me ($2m), Mumbai Muse (A$1.8m), Enbihaar (A$1.6m), Semana (A$1.55m), Makarena (A$1.5m), Grinzinger Belle (A$1.45m), Coco Sun(A$1.2m), Under Your Spell (A$1.2m) and Eagle Nest (A$1m).
The top lot was the mighty mare Bella Nipotina, who will return back to where it all began at Longwood Thoroughbred Farm in Victoria after its proprietor – and the mare’s breeder – Michael Christian purchased her for A$4.2m.
Christian, his wife Siobhan and his brother Brad owned 50% of the mare and tonight bought out her other owners as she enters the breeding phase of her career.
“It’s been an incredible journey that she’s taken us on and it’s a great thrill to be able to bring her home where it all started. It’s fantastic, I’m feeling elated,’’ an emotional Christian said.
“It’s very exciting for my family, they’ll be elated. Siobhan isn’t here because of exactly this, the emotion of the whole night. She’s been Siobhan’s baby in a way and the thought of her not coming home was something that she decided she didn’t want to put herself through.
“It’s a big thrill and we did what we needed to do. At the end of the day it’s a lot of money but we owned half of her and now we own 100% of her. It’s a big commitment but hopefully over the next 10 or 12 years we’ll be repaid financially but also with the joy that we’re going to get watching her progeny. To not get her and see her go elsewhere would have been heartbreaking.’’
Vendor and trainer Ciaron Maher added: “It’s so fantastic. It’s so fitting that Bella can go back to Longwood where it all started for her.
“The night’s unbelievable here, it’s such a big end to her career with all the glitz and glamour and everything else that goes with the Chairman’s Sale. It’s been a fantastic evening and such a fitting way for Bella to end her racing career.’’
Tonight’s second-top lot was the West Australian wonder mare Amelia’s Jewel, offered by Segenhoe on behalf of her owners Peter and Annie Walsh.
She sold to Coolmore as the final lot of the night for $3.8m.
“We always wanted to sell her here and tonight absolutely exemplified why this sale is the best sale for mares,’’ Segenhoe’s Peter O’Brien said.
“The catalogue was so strong and then the types were so strong to match, all the right buyers were here and you could just feel it. I was sitting there with Peter Walsh’s daughter (Sammi) and you could feel the energy of the room. And seeing what prices these horses made, we had three horses in and all three exceeded expectations. It’s just been incredible.
“I had Sammi and Sharon, Walshy’s bloodstock manager here because Walshy is in China but I’ve spoken to him and he said he could fill an empty glass full of Annie’s tears. Tears of happiness.’’
Tom Magnier (Pic – Supplied)
Coolmore’s Tom Magnier confirmed Amelia’s Jewel would travel to America to be covered by Justify on Southern Hemisphere time later this year.
“We’ll get her an airplane ticket and send her to Justify in America now,’’ Magnier said.
“She’s such a quality mare, she’s a household name and we’re lucky to be able to call her our own now.
“Chairman’s is such a great night, full credit to Inglis, they’ve done a great job again.
“It’s a very well done night, there’s a great atmosphere, everybody’s here, everybody’s in good form, everybody’s dressed up, we’re all in the room making a great atmosphere and it’s something that’s getting bigger and better every year. We’ve got some very good mares out of this sale so it gives us the appetite to come back.’’
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was astounded by just how successful tonight’s sale was.
“This sale is about celebrating the careers of elite fillies and mares and having their merit recognised in a commercial environment, while also creating an occasion that allows for special memories to be made,” Hutch said.
“It’s hard to imagine how the night could have worked out much better than it did tonight – there was an incredible buzz in the auditorium and the sale was full of energy, which in turn captivated the audience of buyers and other attendees.
“We were afforded an incredible opportunity with the support that we were given for the sale with quality stock, but the results have been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our team has worked incredibly hard in building up this sale and the fruits of their efforts are very much in evidence tonight, whether it is the bloodstock department in their work canvassing vendors and buyers, or the marketing department in everything they do to ensure that the sale itself is a special occasion.
“It’s just been such a fun night, not only as a horse sale but as an event and I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t excited by what we might be able to achieve with the sale in 12 months time!
“We now focus on tomorrow, the Australian Broodmare Sale will wrap up a great week of action here at Riverside and there are more quality buying opportunities on offer.’’
To enquire about a passed in lot from tonight’s sale, contact Sinead Flannery on 0416 243 696.
The Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series continues Friday at Riverside with the Australian Broodmare Sale from 11am, for which 105 mares have been catalogued.
The Australian Broodmare Sale is synonymous with value, with the dams of recent Gr1 winners such as Stefi Magnetica, Southport Tycoon, Zougotcha, Veight, Kimochi, Another Prophet etc all sourced from the sale.
Inglis Breeding Stock, Tried and Digital Sales have produced the dams of 66 Australian Gr1 winners since 2018 including Home Affairs, Stay Inside, Giga Kick, Kimochi, Knight’s Choice, Hayasugi, Veight, Shinzo, Imperatriz etc.
Tomorrow’s renewal of the Australian Broodmare Sale will see mares offered in foal to stallions including the likes of Alabama Express, Bivouac, Cylinder, Dundeel, Farnan, Harry Angel, Hellbent, Home Affairs, In the Congo, Maurice, Ole Kirk, Shinzo, So You Think, Tassort, Toronado, Zousain etc.
To view the Australian Broodmare Sale catalogue CLICK HERE.
2025 CHAIRMAN’S SALE STATS (2024 stats in brackets)
- Offered: 89 (83)
- Sold: 77 (56)
- Clearance: 87% (67%)
- Average: A$706,883 (A$622,946)
- Median: A$400,000 (A$410,000)
- Gross: A$54,430,000 (A$34,885,000)
