By Bren O'Brien
Group 1 winning mare Azkadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}), who was at the centre of a controversial ownership dispute, has fetched $615,000 to an unknown buyer at a mixed Echuca horse auction on Thursday.
The mare won over $1.5 million in prizemoney including the 2016 G1 Queen Of The Turf S. is subject to a racing embargo by Racing Victoria after it was discovered that conman Peter Foster was involved in an arrangement to disguise her true ownership.
The subsequent Racing And Disciplinary Board (RADB) Inquiry found Ciaron Maher's former racing manager Ben Connolly deceived stewards over the ownership of Azkadellia, Mr Simples (Husson {Arg}), Loveable Rogue (Zizou) and Hart (NZ) (Battle Paint {USA}), who were also offered in Thursday's sale, as well as Little Bubulu (Lonhro), who has subsequently died.
Maher served a six-month suspension and was fined $75,000, whilst former racing manager Ben Connolly was disqualified until January 2020
Connolly was disqualified until January 2020, Maher served a six-month suspension and was fined $75,000, while the horses themselves were banned until their ownership bona fides were confirmed.
The status of Azkadellia, who had been last registered under Connolly's name in 2017, has not been known until she emerged in a catalogue for Andrew Wilson and Co's Echuca Sale.
The now 8-year-old mare was listed on behalf of her unnamed owners as Pen 142.
Racing Victoria released a statement when it became publicised through social media that the mare was up for sale.
"RV is not aware of any orders from a court or tribunal preventing Azkadellia, Mr Simples, Loveable Rogue and Hart from being offered for sale at a public auction," it said.
"RV is not aware of any orders from a court or tribunal preventing Azkadellia, Mr Simples, Loveable Rogue and Hart from being offered for sale at a public auction." - Racing Victoria statement
"It is RV’s understanding that the horses are for public sale and the expectation is that they will be purchased by private buyers if sold."
It re-iterated that none of the four horses would be allowed to race.
"In September 2016, RV Stewards determined that any nominations from these four horses would be rejected under AR50 (now replaced by AR55) until the bona fides of the ownership of the horses was determined," it read.
"The embargo on these four horses competing in races remains in place and will not be lifted by RV Stewards until such time as they are satisfied regarding the bona fides of the ownership.
"RV Stewards formed the view that until such time as they receive an order from a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction declaring the ownership of these horses, they would not be in a position to determine the bona fides of the ownership and therefore consider lifting the embargo."
Azkadellia winning the G1 Queen Of The Turf S.
Offered under Victoria's Livestock and Agistment Act, Azkadellia, who last raced when second in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara in Brisbane in June 2016, had a reserve placed on her of $300,000.
An unknown phone bidder secured her for $615,000 presumably for the purposes of breeding from her.
Azkadellia was bred by Craig Linton and sold to Connolly privately after she won her first start in New Zealand.
She is the fifth and last foal of the Centaine mare Raving (NZ), who also produced the stakes-placed Bavarian (NZ) (Al Akbar), as well as Hugo (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}), who raced as My Little Friend (NZ) in Hong Kong and won four races.
The auction company emphasised that there was no chance any of the four racehorses would end up being sold ‘to the dogger’, with Mr Simples sold for $1900, Loveable Rogue $1200 and Hart $2100.
The sale included 12 thoroughbreds as well as shetland ponies, quarter horses, welsh ponies, standardbreds and clydesdales.
