Residual value in fillies.

[Chief Stipe]

Residual value in $10m Winx filly

www.racing.com

 

Regardless of what she does on the racetrack, it's not unreasonable to think that Winx's Pierro filly could comfortably recoup Debbie Kepitis' $10 million investment as a broodmare, Inglis' CEO of Bloodstock Sebastian Hutch believes.

While Kepitis hasn't made a habit of selling the stock she breeds, Hutch said the filly has obvious residual value should the passionate breeder and owner choose to sell any of her offspring in the future.

Hutch pointed to Widden Stud's pin-up broodmare Solar Charged as a case study for the value of an elite commercial mare.

Purchased by Widden Stud for $650,000 in 2014, the Smart Missile mare has produced 10 foals to date, including eight yearlings who have netted a combined $9.45m in sales revenue.

Oakleigh Plate winner Booker is another who has quickly shot to prominence, with her two publicly offered yearlings selling for a combined $5.5m.

"You only have to look at how lucrative the yearling market is," Hutch said.

"If the stock is of an appropriate quality and appeals to the right people, then there is going be significant demand for them if they were ever to appear for sale.

"If you go through the sales history of some of the elite commercial mares in this country over the last 10 years, you'd see mares that have bred stock of an eyewatering value and do it consistently year after year.

"There are just some mares that churn out valuable offspring.

"You look at Solar Charged, the mother of Sunlight - I haven't done the maths, but I know the last three foals have generated $3 million, $2.6 million and $850,000, which is $6.45 million across only three yearlings.

"It can be done."

Hutch said first and foremost, Kepitis' aim will be to chase racetrack success with the filly and, while she may never reach her mother's lofty benchmark, any victories or black-type success will enhance her appeal at stud.

He said the motivation for Winx's mating to Pierro was to produce a top-quality middle-distance racehorse, while Street Cry's success as a broodmare sire should enhance Kepitis' optimism that the filly can enjoy success on the track.

"This filly is bred to be a racehorse - it was about trying to identify a stallion that would complement her (Winx) physically and in terms of profile and Pierro looked like the obvious horse to breed a smart horse that could be effective over distances between 1600m and 2000m like her mother was," he said.

"He's made a brilliant start as a broodmare sire Pierro and then you've got Winx, who is by Street Cry, who is a one of the best broodmare sires around the world.

"She's got no Danehill in her pedigree, which means she can be bred to most of the major stallions here and, if it ever happened that Debbie was tempted to breed the horse internationally, a pedigree like that is going to be complementary to most major stallions around the world.

"It's exciting to think what a filly like that may achieve."