'There's No Ceiling' Eclipse Thoroughbred Team Has Big Hopes For Selenaia

It was hard not to love the performance Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) posted in the GIII Honeymoon S. at Santa Anita last weekend. 

One man who loved it more than most was Derek Iceton of Tara Stud in County Meath. Iceton bought the dam [Dettoria (GB) (Declaration Of War)] of the Grade I-bound performer for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2018. 

Dettoria is still based at Tara Stud and has a Space Blues (Ire) colt at foot. She is happily reported to be back in foal to the young Darley stallion by Iceton, who describes America as being a lucky place for him. 

That is largely down to the fact that Tara Stud graduate River Boyne (Ire) recorded his best days on a racecourse in America, notably when landing a Grade I at Santa Anita before returning home to embark on his stallion career, where he currently stands at the Meath outfit for €5,000. 

Iceton is hoping that there will be more Grade I riches to be enjoyed with Selenaia and explained what led him to roll the dice on Dettoria for what looks a bargain price now. 

He said, “I love buying mares off top breeders. Last year for example, I bought a lovely mare off Lady Bamford. They're the type of people I try and buy mares from because I know there will be a few half-sisters floating around the system.”

“Dettoria has a colt foal by Space Blues and, the foal was so good, I took the mare back to him. She's back in foal with Space Blues. It's something I never normally do but, because the foal was so nice, I went back. 

“Redpender Stud has the Earthlight (Ire) yearling [bought for 78,000gns as a foal] and they are more than happy with him. He was a lovely foal now to be honest. I think he's going to Book 1. The Golden Horn (GB) [bought for €50,000 as a yearling by Gerry Hogan] two-year-old filly  is going to Henry de Bromhead.”

He added, “I've been very lucky with America and very fortunate with Red Baron's Farm as well. I hope they will come back and buy a River Boyne off me this year. Interestingly, in the race that Selenaia won last week, I also sold the third Paris Secret (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) at the Goffs Open Yearling Sale for €8,000. It's strange that two fillies who were in the same field at one stage in their lives went on to finish first and third at Santa Anita.”

Selenaia carried the increasingly-recognisable colours of the Eclipse Thoroughbreds to victory for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Although the ownership group tends to shop relatively infrequently at the major yearling sales in Britain and Ireland, its strike-rate is something to behold, with Selenaia a 85,000gns purchase from Baroda Stud at Tattersalls Book 2 in 2021. 

The black, light blue and white colours of Eclipse is perhaps best known in Europe for being carried by Gavin Cromwell's Queen Mary winner Quick Suzy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) in 2021 and, according to Aron Wellman, the man behind the ownership vehicle, there could be more to shout about at the royal meeting next week. 

Reflecting on Selenaia, he said, “We've dabbled in the yearling market in Europe and fortunately we're starting to hit our stride. We bought one yearling at Tattersalls a couple of years ago with the goal of bringing her to America and thankfully Selenaia delivered. She showed brilliance in her training and it translated to the racetrack which is a pleasure to see. 

Midwestern Invader Selenaia Proves Much The Best As She Rallies For 3 ¼ Length Win In Grade III, $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes pic.twitter.com/6beTLDAvoi

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) June 11, 2023

“We're going to take a deep breath but, based on that performance and that she has now stretched out to nine furlongs, we'll take a look at some options at Saratoga with her and potentially look at going back to California to Del Mar. At this point, there's no ceiling to her and she's completely unexposed in this country.”

Wellman added, “We're really fortunate to be in the position we are in ahead of Royal Ascot. Last year, before we bought Selenaia, which was a one off, Amy Murphy in England did a really nice job with a filly called Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who has since become a stakes winner and Group-placed in the States for us. She took us to Ascot last year.

“This time, we went back and bought three yearlings, and two of the three have run. One is called Passionately (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) [cost 55,000gns from Baroda Stud at Book 2], who won very well at Wetherby and goes to the Albany and the other filly, Geologist (GB) (Territories {Ire}) [cost 35,000gns from Galloway Stud at the Somerville Sale], was just beaten on debut at Redcar. We're going to take a swing at the Queen Mary with her. Two of the three yearlings we purchased are Royal Ascot candidates.”