Widden Sell Million Dollar Mares at Inglis Chairman’s

A $2.4million earning Group I winning sprinter by Hellbent, Benedetta always loomed as one of the prime offerings at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale this year and she duly hit the target when selling for $1.9million.

Consigned in the Widden Stud draft as a racing and breeding proposition she was secured by Yulong Investments and will be retired to stud this spring.

“She’s obviously one of the better mares that’s raced over the past 24 months, and we already own a little share in her, so it’s great to be able to get the remainder of her, and she’ll join the Yulong broodmare band this spring,” said Sam Fairgray of Yulong Stud.

“With our new acquisition up in the Hunter Valley and standing stallions there, it’s likely that she’ll head up to Segenhoe and we’ll let her down and get her ready for the breeding season.

“When we go around and look at these mares, we obviously look at the physical and their performance, and we try and think which stallions would be suitable for them and jot down a couple that they’re likely to go to.

“With this mare, I’m sure Devil Night would love to see in his first year at stud.”

Benedetta was originally purchased by Eales Racing Syndications for $75,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the Mill Park draft and proved a fabulous investment for her ownership group.

Widden also sold Group II winning mare Philia for $1.4million.

A perfect mix of race performance and peerless pedigree saw the Group II BRC Doomben Roses winner Philia secured by Japanese based Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm.

Trained by David Vandyke, Philia won close to $400,000 on the track and is a half-sister by All Too Hard to triple Group I winner Duais and Group III winner Baccarat Baby being from blue hen Meerlust, who traces back to legendary matriarch Fanfreluche.

Philia was foaled and raised at Widden for her owners the Irwin and Harris families and is sadly the last filly from Meerlust, who passed away last year.