Outstanding mare Estriella and the G1 winner Royal Merchant are the latest elite entries confirmed for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
Estriella (I Am Invincible) earned a WFA Performance Rating of 102.3 by The Ratings Bureau when winning the Listed Sunlight Classic at Flemington, making her the highest rated 3YO filly of the 2023/24 season, higher than the likes of Espiona, Amelia’s Jewel, Zougotcha, Sunshine In Paris etc at the equivalent stage.
She is a three-time Stakes winner of the G2 Caulfield Sprint, G3 Kevin Hayes Stakes and Listed Sunlight Classic.
Overall Estriella – a $750,000 Easter yearling - is a five-time winner with earnings of $1,381,490.
She is being offered in the Ciaron Maher Bloodstock draft at the Chairman’s Sale as a racing and breeding prospect.
Maher’s Head of Bloodstock Will Bourne described Estriella (pictured) as “electric’’.
“The speed Estriella possesses is extremely rare and one of her most emphatic traits,’’ Bourne said.
“The data she records within training and on the racetrack is of G1 standard and while she hasn’t won at the elite level yet, I have every confidence that a G1 win is absolutely within reach for Estriella this season or beyond.
“You look at a mare like Bella Nipotina, she didn’t reach her peak until she was six, seven and eight years old and with Estriella headed to the G1 The Galaxy in a couple of weeks, there’s every chance she can win a G1 herself as soon as that and then train on to become an elite race mare and stunning broodmare.
“She was a gorgeous Easter yearling, deep girth and she was that big, strong, imposing Vinnie filly that everyone dreams of having, on the bigger side like Loving Gaby.’’
Royal Merchant is also being offered as a racing and breeding prospect.
Royal Merchant won the 2023 G1 Goodwood Handicap in emphatic fashion, defeating the likes of Kementari, Savatoxl, Another Award, Zapateo, Lofty Strike, Seradess, Front Page etc.
She is a winner of five races – including the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes - and more than $800,000 in prizemoney so far and finished 2nd in a barrier trial a fortnight ago, implying she is set for another big autumn preparation.
“Royal Merchant is such a strong mare, a really good type that buyers will fall in love with,’’ Bourne said.
“Her 2023 autumn preparation was unbelievable, culminating in her G1 Goodwood win and then she drew wide in the Stradbroke and things just didn’t go to plan.
“She’s come back in great order, her trial the other week was very encouraging and she has so much to offer both as a racing prospect and then eventually a broodmare.’’
As well as the G1 placed mare Semana – which was announced last week – Estriella and Royal Merchant will be joined in the Ciaron Maher Bloodstock draft by the likes of Futatsu - a half sister to dual Derby winner and Australian Guineas hero Hitotsu - the G3 Northen Hemisphere winner Honey Girl and Sausedge, the dam of this season’s dual G2 placed 2YO Wiltshire Square, in foal to sire-of-the-moment Wootton Bassett.
“All these race fillies have been very good for the stable, the team has done an amazing job with all of them and I have no doubt whatsoever they’re going to make quality broodmares,’’ Bourne added.
“The Chairman’s Sale is going to be a phenomenal evening yet again and we’re excited to have such a strong draft under the Ciaron Maher Bloodstock banner.’’
The Maher-offered mares join the likes of hugely talented performers Mumbai Muse, Dancing Alone, Enbihaar (dam of top-class filly Too Darn Lizzie), Grinzinger Belle, She Dances etc as confirmed early entries into the Chairman’s Sale.
Chairman’s entries must close soon so to enter, contact a member of the Inglis bloodstock team or CLICK HERE.
The Chairman’s Sale will be held at Riverside on the evening of Thursday May 8.
