The lure of more classic international bloodlines was the catalyst for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and Paul Willetts to stretch their budget to secure the top lot on day 3 of the Great Southern Sale.
Offered by Cornerstone Stud, well-bred mare Queen of the World (lot 886, pictured) – by champion European galloper Sea The Stars, in foal to leading French sire Siyouni – was the subject of some fierce bidding at Oaklands, eventually selling for $360,000.
The broodmare was the highlight of another solid day of action, which saw more than $5m worth of breeding stock traded.
Cornerstone's Sam Hayes knew the Liston family of Three Bridges was interested in Queen of the World and was thrilled they were able to purchase the well-bred mare.
"I actually had dinner with Peter Liston last night and he said he liked the mare, I didn't realise how much he liked it,'' Hayes said.
"It's a great result. These mares are really hard to find and Siyouni is a stallion we have the utmost respect for.
"We're really happy for everyone and looking forward to this first foal by Siyouni hitting a premier sale in the next couple of years.''
Three Bridges' Toby Liston explained how the farm had placed a greater emphasis on international bloodlines in recent years.
"A few years ago we bought three mares in foal to Frankel and it has turned out very well. They were the first international mares we had bought and we have followed up the past couple of years with a couple of mares, it saves us going to England and she can foal here in Australia,'' Liston said.
"She was bought with Paul Willetts and we thought she was the mare of the sale.
"We have been chasing international mares all year. Sea The Stars is going to be terrific as a broodmare sire and Siyouni is a champion in France, so she will suit us well.''
A pair of Victorian mares in foal to in-demand stallion Zoustar ended the day as equal second-top lots.
Yulong Investments went to $250,00 to secure Peninsula Miss (lot 724), which was offered by Woodside Park Stud while Merricks Station also received $250,000 for their offering She Goes To Rio (lot 899), which was purchased by Bill Wong's Hall of Fame Bloodstock.
Peninsula Miss will "most likely'' be served by Yulong's foundation stallion Grunt this season.
"We liked her when we inspected her a couple of days ago,'' Yulong's Luke Wilkinson said.
"We love Zoustar, we've got some really nice weanlings on the farm and we're supporters and believers so it's good to get a mare in foal to him.
"She was a little over budget but she'll most likely go to Grunt now, it's suitable on the type Grunt is and the type the mare is but we will discuss it over the next week."
James Price of Woodside Park Stud said of the sale: "She was very well sought after throughout inspections.
"Being in foal to Zoustar she was always going to attract attention but the competition in the ring was pleasing to see.
"We've sold all our mares and weanlings that we have offered. It's been a great sale."
Merricks Station's Ben Cooper was thrilled with the price secured for She Goes To Rio.
"We bought She Goes Top Rio last year and put her in foal to Zoustar and it's been a really good trade result for the farm,'' Cooper said.
"Like any mare in foal to Zoustar, she was very popular and was busy during inspections.
"The supplementary session had really strong competition. We couldn't be happier with the result in the end."
The fourth and final day of the 2019 Great Southern Sale begins at Oaklands at 11am tomorrow where a mix of quality yearlings and racing stock will be offered.
Following significant work by the Inglis bloodstock team, the clearance rate for the select weanlings offered on the first two days of the sale is nearing 80%, with 22 weanlings selling for $100,000 or more.
To view the Great Southern Sale catalogue,CLICK HERE.
