Ridgmont to offer valuable three-in-one package to the market
In-foal Group 3-winning mare Shoko and her I Am Invincible colt at foot to be auctioned online
Ridgmont Farm will test the market with high-end million dollar mare Shoko (Sebring) in a valuable three-in-one package through a bespoke Inglis Digital auction.
The Hunter Valley operation, led by Andrew Dunemann, outlaid $1 million for Shoko, who was carrying a colt by top stallion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), at this year’s Chairman’s Sale.
Almost seven months later, and back in foal to arguably Australia’s most commercial stallion I Am Invincible, Dunemann and his business partners have decided to reoffer the eight-year-old Tesio Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) winning mare and her foal for sale.
A half-sister to the Group 2 and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Mimi Lebrock (Show A Heart) and Group 3 winner and Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2200m) placed Heavenly Thought (So You Think), Shoko is also from the same family as Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Barbaric (I Am Invincible) and the ATC Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) placed Diddles (Snitzel).
Diddles herself was a high-priced purchase by Boomer Bloodstock and Daandine Stud at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May, bringing $1 million in foal to Deep Field (Northern Meteor), resulting in an August-born colt.
“The family’s obviously in a very strong spot from a commercial perspective and the foal is an excellent maiden foal. I’ve actually seen the foal myself,” Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch said late yesterday.
“I saw him a few weeks ago. He’s a nice quality horse, a tidy shape, looks a good I Am Invincible colt and he looks a good combination of the mother and the sire.
“Obviously, I Am Invincible has gone on and produced what is unquestionably the most exciting colt of the spring (in Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs) and he has the potential to not only be the best three-year-old colt in Australia, but maybe the best sprinting three-year-old in the world.
“We might get to see evidence of that in the New Year at Royal Ascot if things go to plan for him and that’s obviously going to further enhance what is already an extraordinarily strong commercial appeal to the best progeny of I Am Invincible.”
Ridgmont Farm’s Andrew Dunemann said Shoko, who along with her colt is available for inspection, was owned by the stud’s partners as well as the Boutique Thoroughbreds syndicate.
“Boutique’s business plan since its inception has always been to sell a mare in foal every year. Since we’ve basically started that business, no one’s had to put money in or anything like that. It has been set up so that it regenerates itself and we see it as potentially a good opportunity to sell the mare this year,” Dunemann told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“At Ridgmont, when we started, we wanted to do things a little bit differently and that’s what we are doing with this mare.
“Getting a mare with an I Am Invincible colt at foot, on the back of Home Affairs, and back in foal to him, I don’t think that comes up very often.
“She’s a beautiful mare and there was plenty of interest in her at the Chairman’s Sale and we’ll put her on the market if someone is happy to pay the reserve. Hopefully they can take her and make a lot of money out of her.”
Debate between Dunemann and Inglis about the merits of selling Shoko and her colt now or waiting until next year’s Chairman’s Sale was had, but Hutch believes now is the right time to offer a mare of her quality.
“I think the feeling was that people’s comfort with digital and our digital platform, in particular, is such that there was plenty of evidence to say that people are prepared to spend significant amounts of money online,” he said.
“Given the circumstances, the stallion is hot, the mare’s done everything right and here’s an opportunity for people to get their hands on a very good mare and manage the foal as they see appropriate, so why wait?
“That was the attitude and there’s very little risk attached for the partners. She doesn’t leave Ridgmont and she is there for people to inspect in the comfort of her own home.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for Andrew and the partners at Ridgmont to advertise what they are doing with the team they have there.
“Hopefully it can be a win-win all round.”
Inglis sold Funstar (Adelaide) for $2.7 million earlier this year online while New Zealand Bloodstock’s Gavelhouse.com sold champion New Zealand mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) for a world record NZ$4.1 million in September.
“I think there is (money still available) for quality and this mare fits the bill, a three-in-one package. We’ve taken the risk with getting a nice foal on the ground, which is what we’ve got, and we’ve taken the risk of getting her back in foal and we’ve done that as well,” Dunemann said.
“I have asked a few respected agents that I trust what she’s worth and I totally agree with what they said.
“Whether they’re there to buy her, who knows, but we are not going to have an unreasonable reserve on her, that’s for sure.”
The Shoko Sale will go live from midday on Friday and be open for bidding at 10am this coming Tuesday, November 30, with the final countdown of bidding beginning at 4pm on Wednesday, December 1.