Australian racing fans have been blessed to have seen some brilliant mares in the past decade and on Tuesday one who sits behind only the best of them in terms of Group 1 wins will be offered for sale.
Tofane is one of the big-ticket items at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, which will be conducted on the Gold Coast from Tuesday to Thursday.
The daughter of Ocean Park and Baggy Green (Galileo) counts four Group 1 successes among her eight wins from 30 starts, which leaves her behind only Winx (25), Black Caviar (15) and Verry Elleegant (11) for elite-level victories by a mare since 2012.
The Stradbroke Handicap, All Aged Stakes, Orr Stakes and Tatt’s Tiara winner and $3.6m earner is the best-performed lot in a race fillies and mares catalogue that includes the likes of Lighthouse, Away Game, She’s Ideel, Rubisaki and Still A Star.
“They’re the blue chip investments, they’re the horses that the biggest farms in the world want to own,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
“They’re the best bit of art of the wall, or the best horse you can have in the paddock.”
The National Broodmare Sale has produced some of the most expensive sale ring purchases Australia has seen in recent years, headlined by three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar), who sold for $4.2 million in 2020.
Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) and Viddora (I Am Invincible) sold for $2.75m and $2.55m at the same sale, while Listen Here (Elusive Quality, $3.4m), Arcadia Queen (Pierro, $3.2m), Jameka (Moyboycharlie, $2.6m) and Melody Belle (Commands, $2.6m) have sold for more than $2.5m in since 2016.
Last year’s sale grossed a record overall figure of $142,773,000 at an average price of $229,539.
While much of the attention centres around the race fillies and mares, retired stars – some of them in-foal to the world’s best stallions – complement the sale on Wednesday and Thursday with Bowditch delighted with the depth of the catalogue across the three days.
“We’ve got a fantastic commercial selection from the first lot all the way through until the last lot on Tuesday and then following into the mares in-foal that suits every end of the market,” he said.
“It’s a very, very young catalogue and it’s a catalogue that’s been very well received since we released it.
“It’s a catalogue that has appeal across the board. It’s star-studded, it’s attracting internationals, domestic buyers are excited, we’re very excited and we can’t wait for Tuesday 10am when that first mare walks into the ring.”