Nimalee – a dominant winner of last year’s G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes against some of the best fillies and mares in training – is the latest headline act confirmed for the Chairman’s Sale.
Just days after fellow G1 winner and earner of more than $5m Icebath was locked in for the sale, Nimalee joins what is shaping as an extraordinary Chairman’s catalogue which already includes the G1 winner Graceful Girl, G1 producer Celebrity Miss, three-time G1 placed mare Swats That plus 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.
During a stellar career that netted eight wins and eight minor placings from 27 starts for $1,751,930 in earnings, the Matthew Smith trainee defeated the likes of Icebath, Lighthouse, Tofane, Sierra Sue, Forbidden Love, Colette, Startantes, Profondo, Converge, Sheeza Belter, Entriviere, Amarelinha, Private Eye, Fangirl, Quantum Mechanic, Vangelic, Promise of Success, Sweet Deal, Annavisto, Rich Hips, Greysful Glamour, Odeum, Espiona, Electric Girl, Jamaea, Madam Rouge etc.
In all, Nimalee (pictured) won from 1400m-1800m on everything from Good tracks to Heavy and finished in the first four on 21 of her 27 starts.
Her G1 came over the famous Randwick mile on Day 2 of The Championships last year when easily accounting for many of the headline fillies and mares in training at that time including Annavisto, Icebath, Yonce, Lighthouse, Fangirl, Colette and others.
Nimalee was raced by Lester and Margaret Durney of Letmar Investments, who used the services of Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett Howard to buy her for $270,000 at the 2018 Premier Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Millford Thoroughbreds.
Howard and his wife Rachael will offer Nimalee at the Chairman’s Sale in their Glenesk Thoroughbreds draft.
Bred at Bruce Neill’s renowned Cressfield nursery, Nimalee is by champion stallion So You Think out of Dezign, a daughter of Zabeel and star mare Elegant Fashion.
“There’s so many options to different stallions with her which is a big bonus for whoever purchases her,’’ Howard said.
“She’s a lovely type, a good sized mare, well balanced with a great attitude and temperament. I’d be more than happy to have her in my broodmare band.
“The day she won the Queen of the Turf she absolutely caned them and it was a proper field, she left some very good fillies and mares in her wake.
“I genuinely believe she had more Group 1 wins in her too, it’s just unfortunate she had to be retired because her best was ahead of her, I have no doubt about that.
“She really is one of the elite mares that will be offered for sale off the track in 2023.’’
Lester Durney added: “She was such a talented mare and took Margaret and I and our whole family on such an exceptional ride.
“She’s a very special mare to us and while you never want to part ways with them, it’s time for the next phase of her life as a broodmare so somebody is going to take home a true star from the Chairman’s Sale.’’
Inglis Senior Bloodstock Consultant Harry Bailey welcomed the addition of Nimalee to the Chairman’s catalogue, noting she is one of the best-bred mares in Australia.
“She’s a beautiful mare and it’s an awesome international pedigree,’’ Bailey said.
“Nimalee has Highclere, one of the greatest producers of all time, as her fourth dam and is one of over 90 Stakes winners descended from her, 14 of whom are G1 winners including the likes of Baeed and Deep Impact.
“Breeding is a puzzle, but whoever is lucky enough to end up with Nimalee is going to have a massive advantage in terms of their ability to produce high-class horses from her, given the family already has a pre-disposition for doing so.’’
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.
