Celebrity babies: who are the star mares in foal to?

Cover image courtesy of Bowness Stud

Last Wednesday, The Thoroughbred Report previewed some of the star mares due to foal this season in our feature, “Who will shine this spring.” On Monday, we take a deeper dive into the subject and look at other star mares and who they are in foal to.

Diamonds in foal to Yulong sires

As readers and fans are aware, Yulong has made significant investments in its broodmare band and in supporting its stallions. Yulong’s paddocks are full of former stars and proven producers.

Last time, we mentioned Snapdancer (Choisir), who is in foal to the Yulong-based Diatonic (Jpn), alongside Isotope (Deep Field), Forbidden Love (All Too Hard), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), and Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), who are all carrying to another Yulong-based stallion, Alabama Express.

Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who commanded $2.6 million from the Written Tycoon Syndicate at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, is another star mare bred to Yulong-based stallions. The 14-time Group 1 winner welcomed her first foal by Written Tycoon in 2022. She then missed to the Champion Sire but was covered by Diatonic (Jpn) last spring.

Four-time Group 1 winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was also purchased by the Written Tycoon Syndicate for $3.1 million at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. To date, Tofane is the dam of one foal, a colt by the Champion Sire Written Tycoon. She was not served in 2023. Tofane’s dam, Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}), was purchased for NZ$1.75 million by Yulong from the Gavelhouse Plus Valachi Downs Dispersal and was served by Written Tycoon last spring.

In 2022, the Written Tycoon Syndicate also signed over $4 million for Away Game (Snitzel). The R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and multiple Group 1-placegetter foaled a filly by Written Tycoon and returned to him last spring.

Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a victress of the G1 Railway H., was purchased by Yulong from a Gavelhouse Plus auction for NZ$900,000. The daughter of Tavistock (NZ) hasn’t had the best of luck in her new career and is yet to produce a foal. She slipped to Written Tycoon in her first season and then missed to Pierata and Alabama Express last spring.

Justify popular for the Coolmore girls

Coolmore is home to a star-studded broodmare band. Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Sunlight (Zoustar) was purchased by Tom Magnier for $4.2 million at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

Sunlight’s first foal, Dawn Service (Justify {USA}), was purchased for $1.4 million by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Dawn Service recently debuted with a placed effort.

Her second foal, a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), was purchased for $1.4 million by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Last spring, Sunlight foaled a filly by Home Affairs and was then returned to Justify (USA) in October.

Avantage, a Champion daughter of the now retired Fastnet Rock, was purchased for $4.1 million from Gavelhouse Plus. A 16-time winner, including nine elite-level victories, she has produced two foals. The first, a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB), sold for $2.1 million to David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has been named Avantaggi.

Avantage’s second foal is a filly by I Am Invincible, and she has returned to the Champion Yarraman Stud-based stallion.

Star filly Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic as a juvenile and later added the G1 Moir S. and G1 Lightning S. before being retired prematurely, was sold privately to Coolmore. The daughter of Written Tycoon was served by the North American Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) last spring.

Invincibella (I Am Invincible) was purchased for $1.3 million by Tom Magnier at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. She was sent to Justify (USA) in her first season, resulting in the filly Mergelia. Her second foal, a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), has been named Barking Mad. Invincibella also foaled a filly by Snitzel before being served by Justify (USA).

Star mares sent to North America

Invincibella was exported to North America this May, presumably to be served by Justify (USA), who is not shuttling to the Southern Hemisphere this season. Another mare, Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter, was purchased for $2 million by Tom Magnier from the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and has also been exported to North America.

Champagne Cuddles was served by Justify last spring, and her first foal is a colt by the son of Scat Daddy (USA) named French Empire. She has since had fillies by Wootton Bassett (GB) and Home Affairs.

Multiple Group 1 winner Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) is also in North America. She has one foal to date, a colt by Home Affairs, and missed to I Am Invincible and Justify last spring.

No 2023 foal for Arcadia Queen

Triple Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro) was purchased by Arrowfield Stud for $3.2 million at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. The daughter of Pierro foaled a colt by I Am Invincible in 2022 and returned to the Champion sire, producing another colt.

Last spring, Arcadia Queen was served by the Arrowfield-based Dundeel (NZ) but missed, so will not produce a foal for the 2023 season. Another triple Group 1 winner, Shoals (Fastnet Rock), saw her first foal, Isthmus (I Am Invincible), win twice. Her colt by Written Tycoon, named Chelsea, remains unraced.

Shoals has since foaled fillies by I Am Invincible and Arrowfield's Maurice (Jpn) and returned to 'Vinnie' last spring. Her dam, The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}), foaled a colt by Maurice in 2022 and was not served in 2023. The Australian Stud Book lists her as imported to Great Britain.

Stay With Me, a Group 1-winning daughter of Street Cry (Ire) and the Champion Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice), has produced several foals, including the dual Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible).

She foaled a colt by Dundeel (NZ) and returned to the stallion last spring. The G1 Spring Champion S. winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) has had three foals to date, her first two foals: II Tevere and Ella Hazel, are both by Dundeel (NZ).

Maid Of Heaven then foaled a filly by Darley's Palace Pier (GB) and was served by I Am Invincible last spring.

Darley bluebloods

Godolphin’s star mare Alizee (Sepoy) won 10 races on the track, including three Group 1 events. Since retiring to stud, Alizee has produced two foals. Her first foal, Visual (I Am Invincible), recently impressed, winning a trial at Warwick Farm in July. Alizee’s second foal, a rising 2-year-old by Street Boss (USA) has been named Diabat.

Last spring, Alizee returned to Street Boss but missed, and was sent to Great Britain and served by Darley's Kingpin Dubawi (Ire) in November.

Colette (Hallowed Crown), another fanatastic mare on the track for Godolphin. She was a dual Group 1 winner and won the Golden Eagle. The daughter of Hallowed Crown welcomed her first foal, a colt by Dubawi, last spring and was subsequently served by Exceed And Excel, who has been retired this year.

Anamato (Redoute's Choice) won the G1 Schweppes Oaks as a 3-year-old but will famously be remembered as the dam of Godolphin's Champion Anamoe, a son of Street Boss, who is now based at Darley, Kelvinside.

The daughter of Redoute's Choice has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Blue Point (Ire) named Blue Willow. Anamato returned to Street Boss (USA) in 2022, producing a full brother to Anamoe last September. She was served by Street Boss last spring but missed.