G1 winner Icebath – the best broodmare prospect to go to public auction in Australia in 2023 – will be offered at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in early May.
Icebath’s determination and consistency at the top level over many seasons has led to her being not only one of the most popular mares in training, but also one of the best credentialled.
On the track she has been one of the best money spinners of recent years for her connections – she was purchased for $100,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and to date has won $5,219,915.
Icebath, who was deemed good enough to contest G1 Golden Slipper lead-ups as a 2YO and is a winner from 1150m to 1600m, has defeated a staggering 48 individual G1 winners to date.
Her crowning glory came during last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival when she won the G1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington, defeating the likes of Yearning, La Crique, Excelida, Atishu, Kissonallforcheeks, Belle Plaisir, Kiku, My Whisper, Elusive Express, Palaisipan and Daisies amongst others.
Icebath is also five-time G1 placed in races like the Doncaster Mile (twice), George Main Stakes, Queen of the Turf and Cantala Stakes, as well as finishing second, beaten just 0.1 lengths in the $7.5m Golden Eagle.
On top of her G1 success, Icebath was also the winner of the inaugural $2m The Invitation, a race reserved for the best fillies and mares in Australia and New Zealand, where she beat the likes of Forbidden Love, Entriviere, Vangelic, Madam Rouge, Sweet Deal, Nudge and Startantes over 1400m on a Good 3 track at Randwick.
She showed she was in for another successful autumn campaign when resuming last weekend, finishing an encouraging fourth, just 1.3 lengths behind Cox Plate champion Anamoe and has races like the G1 Doncaster Mile on her agenda.
Icebath is a product of a pedigree carefully cultivated in New Zealand by champion breeders Waikato Stud.
By four-time G1 winner Sacred Falls out of blue hen mare Fabulist, Icebath is a full-sister to high-class Hong Kong sprinter Courier Wonder, a G3 winner and G1 placed, as well as being a three-quarter sister to Stakes winner Nowyousee (O’Reilly) and black-type filly Just Fabulous (O’Reilly).
Icebath joins fellow G1-winning mare Graceful Girl, G1 producer Celebrity Miss and three-time G1 placed mare Swats That in what is shaping as the strongest catalogue ever assembled for the Chairman’s Sale, which also includes mares in foal to the likes of American sire sensation Gun Runner and Champion European sire Frankel, as well as the likes of Extreme Choice, Home Affairs, Stay Inside etc.
Icebath’s managing owner David McGrath – also an ATC Director - said owning the star mare had been “the ultimate racing dream’’.
“She is such a competitor and has a rare determination and closing speed which few horses possess,’’ McGrath said.
"Since her 2YO years right through to 2023, Icebath has raced at the highest level and shown so much heart in her races. She's one of the most loved and consistent Group 1 horses in Australia.
"Icebath's longevity is down to the way [trainer] Brad Widdup and his team have cared for the mare.
“She has always been sent to the spelling paddock off a peak performance and looked after so well throughout her career."
Co-owner David Basheer added: “She has a heart as big as the Hawkesbury river, her courage, longevity and character is amazing. She will never know how much we love her.
“She has raced the best for so long and consistently brushed aside poor luck to compete at the highest level.
“We look forward to her putting her great ability and desire into her progeny in the years to come.”
Inglis’ NSW Bloodstock Manager Chris Russell described Icebath as “the complete package’’.
“We’ve offered some elite mares at the Chairman’s Sale in recent years and Icebath is right up there with the best of them,’’ Russell said.
“She’s accomplished on the track with a G1 win and more than $5m in prizemoney, she’s very well bred and she’s a very pretty mare. A lot of mares tick one or two of those boxes but Icebath really ticks all three, which is rare.
“It’s a genuine honour to be entrusted to offer a mare of Icebath’s quality and I think it’s testament to the regard this sale is now held in the market that the connections of the best broodmare prospect to go to public auction in Australia this year have chosen the Chairman’s to sell her through.
“We’re extremely grateful to David and John McGrath, Simon and David Basheer and Tass Roufos for their loyalty and we can’t wait for the Chairman’s Sale to offer Icebath and so many other outstanding mares to the market at Riverside in early May.’’
Places in the 2023 Chairman’s Sale are again limited, so interested parties are encouraged to contact a member of the Inglis Bloodstock team to discuss your options.
To submit an entry CLICK HERE.
The Chairman’s Sale will be held at Riverside Stables in Sydney on the evening of Thursday May 4 and forms part of the Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series which also includes the Australian Weanling Sale and Australian Broodmare Sale in May, followed by the Great Southern Weanling Sale and Great Southern Broodmare Sale at Oaklands in June.
