Hermitage Thoroughbreds wasted no time adding another headline lot to its portfolio, paying $1.6 million for a Snitzel filly only hours after star mare Lady Shenandoah returned to the public eye.

Perhaps buoyed by what unfolded at Randwick earlier in the morning, the New South Wales operation set a new benchmark for the highest-priced filly sold at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The Arrowfield Stud-consigned filly, a daughter of Snitzel out of the War Emblem mare Madame Andree, was knocked down to Hermitage at approximately 11.30am local time on Thursday.

The timing was notable, coming shortly after Hermitage’s banner mare Lady Shenandoah, trained by Chris Waller, stretched her legs in her first trial of the preparation.

Lady Shenandoah settled second and coasted through the line into fourth, beaten just under three lengths, despite never being asked for a serious effort, and racing manager Shannon Clarke was pleased with what she saw.

“She looked ready to explode this morning in her trial,” Clarke said.

“She’s come back bigger and stronger and it’s a very exciting autumn hopefully.

“She was very unlucky (in spring). She never disgraced herself in any run that she had, just a few things went wrong in those four starts, but it didn’t knock her confidence.”

The trial was won by Enriched, with Manaal and Golden Slipper fancy Incognito filling the minor placings, while Golden Rose winner Beiwacht finished immediately behind his stablemate.

Hermitage also holds a share in unbeaten star Autumn Glow, who was given an easy time of things when finishing a two-length fifth in her first trial back, won by Shangri La Boy and also featuring Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic and import Sir Delius.

Via Sistina and Aeliana were two other Waller-trained stars on display, separated by less than a head when trailing the field home in the final 850m trial of the morning.

While it will be some time before Hermitage sees its $1.6 million filly at the racetrack, Clarke said there were similarities between her and Lady Shenandoah.

“She was our top pick for the sale,” Clarke said.

“Obviously we’ve had a lot of luck with a Snitzel filly recently and that’s probably guided us into this filly today.

“They’re both very athletic fillies. They just have an athletic physique, they showed that early on at their parades; nice leg on them (and) are good movers.”

Interest around elite-level racing continues to grow across major Australian betting sites as autumn targets begin to take shape.

The only higher-priced lots sold at the time were the two $2 million colts that changed hands on the opening days of the sale.

The post Watch 📺 Hermitage pay up for another Snitzel filly at Magic Millions first appeared on Just Horse Racing.