Yulong Pay $1.55 million for Semana

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 8

The first million dollar mare at Inglis Chairman’s came as somewhat of a surprise given Semana has never won a Group I and has not won any race since February 2024, but the good looking daughter of Winning Rupert sold for $1.55million to Walnut Farm aka Yulong.

Semana has a big ownership group that have had a massive pay day! - image Steve Hart

A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase as a yearling from Newgate Farm for James Bester Bloodstock/Vantage Thoroughbreds, Semana has been trained throughout her career by Ciaron Maher and was offered in his draft for her large group of owners.

She started off winning a maiden at Muswellbrook in November 2022 and has worked through her grades at a steady pace before striking career best form to finish second in the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic and Tatts Tiara.

Semana holds entries for upcoming races in Brisbane so still has a chance to enhance her race record.

Advertisement

"She'll stay in work and stay with Ciaron and he'll map out a plan which will likely involve Queensland Carnival and all going well, she may race on or otherwise she could go to stud in the spring," said Sam Faigray for Yulong.

"Obviously there's a couple of nice Group 1 races up there in Brisbane. There's the Tatt’s Tiara, Stradbroke sort of thing, but Ciaron will just get her home and tuck her into bed tonight and then tomorrow morning he'll map out a plan and see where she's best placed."

Semana is a half-sister to stakes-winner Gala Queen and her sire Winning Rupert stands in WA and covered 20 mares last spring at a fee of $8,800.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Verona Rose Wins G2 Guy Walter - G1 Next
The $300,000 Group II ATC Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday attracted a strong field with Castelvecchio mare Verona Rose taking the prize over Group I winner Manaal.
Observer Takes Second G1 With Australian Guineas Victory
Just 20 minutes after trainer Ciaron Maher won the G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) with Tempted, he added the G1 VRC Australian Guineas (1600m) with 3yo Ghaiyyath (IRE) colt Observer in what was surely a brilliant 20 minutes for breeder/owners Godolphin.
Campione D'Italia Leads Home G2 Skyline Stakes Quinella For Waller
Well-fancied on debut when finishing down the track in the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate, 2yo Snitzel colt Campione D'Italia started at outsider odds in the G2 ATC Skyline Stakes (1200m), but proved too strong, holding off stablemate Central Europe (Frankel) to secure a start in the G1 ATC Golden Slipper.
Deserving G1 as Tempted Secures Surround Stakes
Having always shown serious ability, Ciaron Maher’s 3yo Street Boss filly Tempted secured her first elite level victory, winning the $750,000 G1 ATC Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Stakes Double Ghibellines - Cluedo Lane Wins G3
Underrated miler Cluedo Lane provided trainer Joseph Waldron with his biggest victory since returning from a stint in Australia last year as he ran a quality field ragged over the concluding stages of the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) at Wingatui.
Cream Rises in $1million Inglis Sprint
The $1million VRC Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday for Inglis graduates featured a highly competitive field of 15, but cream rose to the top when victory went to top class So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling.
Capitalist Sprinter Wins G3 Liverpool City Cup
Well-travelled Capitalist gelding King of Roseau is a quiet achiever for the Peter Snowden stable and has now won races in three states in the past 12 months capturing the $250,000 Group III ATC Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday.
G2 Blamey Stakes Goes To Birdman
Improving second up from a spell, Chris Waller’s 5yo Free Eagle gelding Birdman (IRE) highlighted his G1 ATC Australian Cup (2000m) prospects with an impressive victory in Saturday’s $300,000 G2 VRC Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 28
Here is the full list of 108 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Perfect Ten As Autumn Glow Wins Verry Elleegant Stakes
While we may be running out of superlatives to describe Autumn Glow, it’s now simply a matter of letting her performances on the track speak for themselves, and once again the daughter of The Autumn Sun was stunning, leading home a stable quinella in the $1m G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) to remain unbeaten.