3 minute read
Some of Australia’s most expensive broodmares adorn the Moir Stakes honour roll.
Even if Imperatriz goes under as a hot favourite in Friday night's $750,000 Moir Stakes, the star sprinter would still be one of the most sought-after mares ever offered in Australia if owners Te Akau Racing put her through a sale ring.
A five-time Group 1 winner by Australia's champion stallion I Am Invincible, the five-year-old could give the $5 million Australian record price a nudge if offered for public auction given the current market.
A maiden Group 1 win at 1000m in the race that has produced some of Australia's most expensive broodmares would only add to Imperatriz's appeal.
Given she is already established as a Group 1 star, victory would be even more lucrative for the other mares engaged in the race, Asfoora (Flying Artie).
Last year's winner Coolangatta became the latest female Moir Stakes winner to change hands for big money when bought by Coolmore early last month.
The amount paid was not publicly disclosed, but as a two-time Group 1-winning daughter of Written Tycoon who also won a Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the price tag would have been at least $3.4 million.
That's not the first time a Moir Stakes winner has commanded that sort of money.
Virage De Fortune, the 2005 Moir heroine, realised a then-Australian record when Darley paid $3.4 million for the daughter of Anabaa in 2007.
Viddora, who like Imperatriz is a daughter of I Am Invincible, sold for $2.55m at Magic Millions the year after her 2018 Moir success, while two other winners have brought $1.8m.
Pippie (Written Tycoon), the 2020 winner, sold for that amount at the 2021 Chairman's Sale, a year after Samaready – whose win in 2013 came in a 1200m edition of the Moir – sold for the same amount.
That daughter of More Than Ready was sold in-foal to Snitzel, which meant the foal was going to a sibling to Magic Millions winner Exhilarates, and the colt turned out to be this year's Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.
Our Egyptian Raine (Desert Sun), the 2003 winner, sold for $900,000, while 2017 winner She Will Reign is the other to change hands privately with the daughter of Manhattan Rain sold to Japan's Northern Farm, where she has produced yearlings who have sold for up to AU$2.1m.
Moir Stakes-winning mares this century
2002 – SPINNING HILL: Retained by owners to breed.
2003 – OUR EGYPTIAN RAINE: Bought by Kieran Moore Bloodstock for $900,000.
2005 – VIRAGE DE FORTUNE: Realised a then-Australian-record $3.4m when sold to Darley in 2007.
2007 – MISS ANDRETTI: Retained by owners to breed.
2010/11 – BLACK CAVIAR: Retained by owners to breed.
2013 – SAMAREADY: Retained by owners Vinery Stud initially before being offered, in-foal with the horse who turn out to be Shinzo, at the 2020 Chairman's Sale, where Coolmore paid $1.8m.
2017 – SHE WILL REIGN: Sold to Japan's Northern Farm in 2018 for an undisclosed sum.
2018 – VIDDORA: Bought for $2.55m by Yulong at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
2020 – PIPPIE: Another who sold for $1.8m, to Cressfield, at Inglis Chairman's.
2022 – COOLANGATTA: Was last month bought by Coolmore for an undisclosed figure.
