High-class performer Babylon Berlin was farewelled in style after she exceeded expectations during the opening session of the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
The multiple Group-winning daughter of All Too Hard was on Tuesday knocked down to Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for A$850,000.
Babylon Berlin was offered under the Bloodstock Resources Pty banner of breeder Scott Williams, who raced the mare with trainer Ben Foote and his partner Kim Rogers.
“It was more than what we thought she would make, we were probably a bit surprised but very happy with the result,” Foote said.
“Scott’s my neighbour and we sat in the office here and watched it and opened a bottle of champagne afterwards.”
Babylon Berlin posted 10 victories and 14 placings from her 35 starts for Foote, who latterly prepared her with son Ryan.
Out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare You Can’t Say That, she won two editions of the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m), the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) and the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
Babylon Berlin also claimed three Listed titles and was Group One placed in the Railway Stakes (1200m) on two occasions, the Telegraph and the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) for career earnings of nearly $800,000.
“It’s funny really, she earned more than she did on race day in one minute at the sale. She’s a lovely mare and I’m sure she’s going to make a good Mum,” Foote said.
“We turn over horses all the time and don’t have them all that long, but she was with me since she was a weanling.”
Meanwhile, Foote rated Charmer their leading weekend hope with the daughter of Charm Spirit to contest the Wanganui Chronicle Handicap (1200m).
“She’s probably our best chance at Wanganui, she’s one on the ballot but I’ll probably scratch the other one (Mr Fortrus) who’s drawn wide,” he said.
Twice stakes placed as a younger horse, Charmer was a last-start runner-up on her home synthetic track at Cambridge.
She will be accompanied south by Sacred Falls mare Flutterbelle, who starts in the Dave Hoskin Carriers Handicap (1340m).
“If the tracks in the slow range she’s definitely a chance, if it’s better than that then it may be a bit tough on her coming back from a heavy track,” Foote said.
Flutterbelle appreciated those conditions last time out at Hawera where she romped to her maiden success. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
