Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter (Aus) (Gold Standard {Aus}–Saxabelle {Aus}, by Saxon {Aus}) sold for A$1.35 million to Victoria's Highway Farm during a Magic Millions virtual auction hosted by auctioneer Clint Donovan on Thursday. Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong was buying as Highway Farm.
“It is a very nerve-wracking experience selling a horse around that level,” her original buyer and part owner Justin Warwick said. “I'm relieved that the process has been a success and I'm very happy to see where she is going and the opportunity she will have.”
Bred by Mt Hallowell Stud, the chestnut was an A$35,000 buy back before being sold to Warwick for A$50,000 out of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2021. Put into training with trainer Luke Fernie, the filly would take her debut on New Year's Day in 2022. Transferred to Peter and Paul Snowden for all barring her last start, a listed race win followed two starts later and she ran third in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic. Successful in the G2 Sires Produce S. that May, the filly added the G1 J.J. Atkins that June. As a 3-year-old the filly would also add the G2 Hot Danish S. and run third in the G1 Coolmore Classic, and was retired in the care of Annabel Neasham in September with a mark of 14-5-1-2 and $1,279,661 in earnings at four.
“She has taken all of us on such a wonderful ride,” Warwick added. “When you buy a horse you dream of what might be to come.
“This girl delivered on that dream. She gave us so much joy on the racetrack and we are excited about her prospects for the next stage of her journey.
“One chapter of the book has now finished but the best thing is, she will get looked after so well and be given a chance with the best stallions in the world. Breeding is not what us part owners do, but we can now sit back and hope that her offspring go well and we can say we played a part in that.”
Out of the winning mare Saxabelle, Sheeza Belter is also related to group winners Special Reward (Aus) (Demerit {Aus}) and Showy Chloe (Aus) (Alfred Nobel {Ire}).
The virtual auction was the first of its kind for Magic Millions, and the sales company's managing director Barry Bowditch said, “I believe moving forward this is the most genuine and transparent way to sell horses outside of a large auction.
“We are delighted with the way today's auction played out and we look forward, when the right opportunity arises, to doing more of these in the future.
“Thanks to Justin and the ownership group for entrusting us to offer Sheeza Belter. We're proud to have a delivered a great result.”
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