Femminile will step out in Yulong’s colours for this Saturday’s $1 million Queensland Derby after being purchased for $1.5 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on Tuesday.
The Group 1-winning daughter of Dundeel will continue her career under the guidance of trainer Phillip Stokes, who oversaw her impressive win in the South Australian Derby on May 3. Yulong’s chief operating officer Sam Fairgray believes the price could prove a bargain if Femminile can strike again this weekend.
“She’ll stay with Phillip for Saturday and go around in the Yulong colours,” Fairgray said. “Mr Zhang saw her and liked her and thought she had upside. He thought if she happened to win on Saturday, we’ve got a bit of a discount off the price.
“Who knows, as a four-year-old she might get over a bit of ground and end up being a Caulfield Cup horse.”
Femminile is currently a $9.50 chance for the Queensland Derby, with Statuario, who she defeated in the SA Derby, leading markets at new online bookmakers.
She was one of 14 mares to reach or exceed the $1 million mark during Tuesday’s race fillies and mares session. Fellow OTI Racing star Lady Laguna was among the day’s biggest draws, fetching $2.5 million when purchased by James Harron.
The standout sale came via Zougotcha, who went to Tom Magnier for $5.25 million, making her the second highest-priced mare sold in Australian auction history. Magnier also snapped up Climbing Star for $2.1 million, while Chris Waller-trained Atishu was secured by Yulong for $2.7 million.
Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida was another high-profile buyer, picking up Revolutionary Miss for $1.6 million among other purchases.
Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Day 1 – Top Lots:
- $5,250,000 – Zougotcha (Tom Magnier)
- $2,700,000 – Atishu (Yulong)
- $2,500,000 – Lady Laguna (James Harron)
- $2,100,000 – Climbing Star (Tom Magnier)
- $1,600,000 – Revolutionary Miss (Katsumi Yoshida)
- $1,500,000 – Femminile (Yulong)
- $1,350,000 – Moesha (Tom Magnier)
- $1,350,000 – Skirt The Law (Widden/Double R Thoroughbreds)
- $1,200,000 – Written In Code (Watership Down/McKeever Bloodstock)
- $1,100,000 – Alsephina (Katsumi Yoshida)
- $1,000,000 – Socks Nation (Katsumi Yoshida)
- $1,000,000 – Amazonian Lass (Nocab Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds)
- $1,000,000 – Kuroyanagi (Dean Hawthorne)
- $1,000,000 – See You In Heaven (Yulong)