The burning question that has baffled Australian bloodstock experts and our entire racing and breeding industry for pretty much all of this year finally had an answer on Monday when the first foal of Winx stepped into the sale ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and the daughter of Pierro was later led out with a sale price of $10million lighting up the bid board.
Cool and calm throughout, despite the massive crowd and electric atmosphere, the dark bay took everything in and displayed the sort of professional resolve that served her mother so well in a career that spanned 37 wins from 43 starts.
Now the most expensive thoroughbred sold at auction in Australia, the filly was consigned by Coolmore as Lot 391 and was led through the ring by Paddy Sheehan, who runs the foaling unit at Coolmore Australia.
He was the man responsible for bringing her into the world and also her mother Winx, so there was no better man for the job.
Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her owners, the filly sparked worldwide interest and while the original intention of the ownership group was to sell to an outside party, one of those owners Debbie Kepitis, decided she and her family could not part with the first born foal of their much loved champion.
The filly was knocked down to Woppitt Bloodstock, which is the bloodstock enterprise established by Kepitis, who also bred and retained to race last Saturday’s Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Riff Rocket. Both Riff Rocket and the $10million filly carry the Woppitt Bloodstock brand!
"(We thought) if we could get her we would," Kepitis said in the post sale press conference.
"I am privileged to secure this filly on behalf of my family … she's Australian forever."
She will be trained by Chris Waller as was her mother and as for a name, Kepitis and her family will mull that one over.
“We call her Winny, a bit like Black Caviar being called Nellie, but she won’t race as that… a name is going to require more thought,” said Kepitis.
Chris Waller is thrilled the filly will remain right where she belongs.
The filly sets a new benchmark for her Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro that will never be matched and at Coolmore there will be expectation as we head towards the spring with Winx now back in foal to champion sire Snitzel.
