Sometimes in racing, the heart must take a backseat to the head. For Ryan Hill, that moment has come with London’s Image, the talented filly who helped launch his training career and now heads to auction at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in Sydney.
“I rang the person I always ring when I need advice (Neville Parnham) and had a chat to him about a few options,” Hill told Tabradio.
“All the smart people say if we sell her and pay the rest of our mortgage off, it builds the operation going forward, we own all the horses.
“It’s definitely a business decision, my heart tells me to keep her, she’s given us great thrills, no doubt about that.”
A daughter of Headwater, London’s Image raced 17 times for five wins and earned nearly $500,000. Her standout moment came when she scored a bold all-the-way win in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot last November at odds of $41.
She followed that up with another Listed win in the Breeders’ Classic (1200m) at Bunbury and placed in several key features including the Placid Ark Stakes, Lee Steere Stakes, and Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy.
Hill took her to Melbourne where she impressed again, finishing third in the Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley before tiring in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes over a testing 1600m.
“That night at the Valley, the atmosphere was just unbelievable,” Hill said.
“I know she ran third, but she’s given us great thrills, no doubt about that. The Burgess Queen will never be topped for me.”
London’s Image will be among 96 elite lots at the Chairman’s Sale, a catalogue that also includes the headline acts Bella Nipotina and Amelia’s Jewel.
The latter, a ten-time stakes winner and Group 1 Northerly Stakes champion, earned $4 million across 24 starts and will be offered by Segenhoe Stud.
“There will be mixed emotions and she’s given us a lot of fun, but I think it’s time she moved on to a good stallion,” said owner Peter Walsh.
“There’s been a lot of interest in her and she looks like a queen.”
Fans and punters looking to follow the progress of these mares post-sale can find the best markets and futures odds via our betting sites list.