The 2025 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale (November 4 – 11) is looming large on the horizon offering Australian breeders a wealth of opportunity to update and enhance their broodmare bands.
US bloodlines bring a real diversity to Australian pedigrees and with a catalogue in excess of 3000 lots there is a lot to take in, but the proof of investing in quality mares from North America is there for all to see.
One of the highest priced yearlings by champion Australian sire Snitzel this year was a colt from imported stakes-winner Fashion Faux Pas (USA) that sold for $1.7million at Magic Millions to Tom Magnier.
He is the second foal of Fashion Faux Pas, who was sourced from Keeneland November in 2020 for US$310,000 and she was sold again earlier this year fetching $1.15million through Inglis Digital.
Also selling for $1.7million at Magic Millions this year was a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Battleofwinterfell (USA) that was snapped up by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock.
He is the second foal of stakes-placed Battleofwinterfell, who was purchased from Keeneland for US$110,000 in 2021.
Stakes-winning mare Coco as in Chanel (USA) is another quality mare to taste success with a million-dollar yearling when her colt by Extreme Choice sold for $1.2million at Inglis Easter in 2024 to Rosemont Stud / Suman Hedge Bloodstock.
Coco as in Chanel was well bought from Keeneland November in 2018 for US$150,000.
Stakes-placed Mrs Ramona G (USA) is another import to achieve sale ring success with her Extreme Choice colt selling at Magic Millions this year for $925,000 to China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock & Partners.
Mrs Ramona G was a savvy purchase from Keeneland November in 2019 for just US$50,000.
Stakes-winning Street Boss mare Lady Edith is at the very start of her stud career and was sold at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale this year for $900,000 in foal to Too Darn Hot in her first season at stud.
She was bought from Keeneland November in 2023 for US$240,000 and has produced a filly foal for her new owners this spring.
One of Australia’s leading breeders is Emirates Park and they outlaid US$500,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale for juvenile stakes-winner Red Lodge (USA), whose first foal bred in Australia was a colt by Snitzel.
Sent by Emirates Park to the Magic Millions in 2022, the handsome bay colt sold to Tom Magnier for $1.1million and her next foal, a filly by Tassort, was retained to race.
That filly is Manaal, who won the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes at two before adding further Group wins at three and four to her impressive resume that reads six wins from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $1.9million.
Click here for the full catalogue and prepare to be dazzled!
Young mares that have not been to stud are plentiful and include mares by leading US sires such as Candy Ride, Constitution, Curlin, Gun Runner, Into Mischief, Justify, Not This Time, Nyquist, Twirling Candy, Uncle Mo, etc.
Also making obvious appeal are a couple of mares by champion European sires Kingman and Kodiac.
Lot 1151 by Kingman is Clever Ways (USA), an unraced half-sister to stakes-winner Seismic Wave and also to the dam of progressive stayer Valiant King.
The Chris Waller trained 6YO has struck top form winning the G3 VRC The Bart Cummings and running a bold third in the Group I MRC Caulfield Cup with the G1 Melbourne Cup his next port of call.
Lot 805 by Kodiac is Hamwood Flier (IRE), who won a stakes races in the US and was G2 placed, but more importantly has a connection to Australia as her dam Fonda is a half-sister to Portrait of Lady, who found her way to Australia for Godolphin and has left G1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha and G3 winner Cameo among her seven winners.
Broodmares catalogued are in foal to 156 stallions including: American Pharoah, Bolt d’Oro, Candy Ride (ARG), City of Light, Constitution, Curlin, Flightline, Good Magic, Gun Runner, Hard Spun, Into Mischief, Justify, Liam’s Map, Life Is Good, Maclean’s Music, Maxfield, Medaglia d’Oro, McKinzie, Munnings, Not This Time, Nyquist, Omaha Beach, Practical Joke, Quality Road, Street Sense, Tapit, Twirling Candy, Vekoma and War Front.
