$10million for Winx First Foal

Tara Madgwick - Monday April 8

The burning question that has baffled Australian bloodstock experts and our entire racing and breeding industry for pretty much all of this year finally had an answer on Monday when the first foal of Winx stepped into the sale ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and the daughter of Pierro was later led out with a sale price of $10million lighting up the bid board.

Advertisement

The Pierro filly from Winx enters the auditorium - image Steve Hart

Cool and calm throughout, despite the massive crowd and electric atmosphere, the dark bay took everything in and displayed the sort of professional resolve that served her mother so well in a career that spanned 37 wins from 43 starts.

The $10million filly!

Now the most expensive thoroughbred sold at auction in Australia, the filly was consigned by Coolmore as Lot 391 and was led through the ring by Paddy Sheehan, who runs the foaling unit at Coolmore Australia.

He was the man responsible for bringing her into the world and also her mother Winx, so there was no better man for the job.

 

Foaled and raised at Coolmore for her owners, the filly sparked worldwide interest and while the original intention of the ownership group was to sell to an outside party, one of those owners Debbie Kepitis, decided she and her family could not part with the first born foal of their much loved champion.

It's been an emotional day for Debbie Kepitis and her family!

The filly was knocked down to Woppitt Bloodstock, which is the bloodstock enterprise established by Kepitis, who also bred and retained to race last Saturday’s Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Riff Rocket. Both Riff Rocket and the $10million filly carry the Woppitt Bloodstock brand!

"(We thought) if we could get her we would," Kepitis said in the post sale press conference.

"I am privileged to secure this filly on behalf of my family … she's Australian forever."

She will be trained by Chris Waller as was her mother and as for a name, Kepitis and her family will mull that one over.

“We call her Winny, a bit like Black Caviar being called Nellie, but she won’t race as that… a name is going to require more thought,” said Kepitis.

Chris Waller is thrilled the filly will remain right where she belongs.

The filly sets a new benchmark for her Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro that will never be matched and at Coolmore there will be expectation as we head towards the spring with Winx now back in foal to champion sire Snitzel.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
Colt from Aussie Glamour Girl Mosheen Tops JRHA Select Sale - Yearlings
The first day of the 2025 JRHA Select Sale featuring yearlings was held at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido on Monday and the horse that topped the session is a colt from four time Australian Group I winning mare Mosheen.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
G1 Placed Lavalier Tops Inglis Digital for Godolphin
The fourth most successful Inglis Digital auction in history tonight concluded with 15 lots realising $100,000 or more, leading to a gross in excess of $7m.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.