Vin Cox would have loved a dollar for every time he was asked who Imperatriz would visit at her maiden season at stud.
The Yulong general manager joked he might have been able to pay for the 10-time Group 1 winner, who Yulong bought for $6.6 million at the Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale in May this year.
That was $1.6m more than had previous been paid for a mare off the track south of the equator, so Cox understood the interest and confirmed at Yulong’s annual stallion parade on Thursday morning that the six-year-old would be visiting their young gun stallion Pierata.
“The question was asked with obvious reason; she’s the highest-priced mare ever sold in this part of the world, a high-profile mare, 10 times a Group 1 winner, so who’s she going to go to?” he said.
“But it wasn’t actually all that hard a decision. Pierata is a horse that’s done an amazing job, he’s got Group 1-performed colts, we think he’s very much on an upward trajectory, we own most of the horse and we want to invest in our horses and hopefully secure their future.”
Pierata will stand for $66,000 this year, having enjoyed a stellar first season on the track via the likes of Coleman, Tobeornottobe, Fearless and Red Sea.
The son of Pierro will also be waiting for three-time Group 1 winner Duais when she makes her first trip into the breeding barn, having been bought for an undisclosed sum late last year.
Pierata was one of two young Yulong stallions who enjoyed stellar seasons with their first crop last season, accompanied by Alabama Express, and that son of Redoute’s Choice – who will stand for $55,000 this year – counts Hungry Heart among his suitors this year.
Espiona and Prowess, who Yulong paid big money for in the past month, will visit two-time Golden Slipper-winning sire Written Tycoon in their first seasons at stud.
