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Rosemont Stud’s goal of becoming a leading player in the sales ring, as well as on the racetrack, took another big-spending turn yesterday with principal Anthony Mithen and his brother-in-law Nigel Austin spending almost $10 million on ten mares to boost the quality of its broodmare band.
The most expensive of the haul was Gr.1 winner Bella Vella (Commands) who was knocked down to Rosemont Stud for $1.9 million to provide her connections with their biggest return to date and Mithen was more than happy to play his role in the tried horse fairytale. Rosemont Stud also paid $1.8 million for Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel), $1.35 million for Fiesta (I Am Invincible) and Bulabula (Shamardal), who is in foal to Epaulette (Commands), for $1.35 million. Austin and Mithen also paid $800,000 for Bulabula’s G.3-winning filly Aryaaf (Epaulette) during the Shadwell dispersal session.
Top of the tree for Rosemont’s haul, Bella Vella, was initially sold by Sir Owen Glenn through an Inglis Digital auction in April 2019 for just $22,500 to a syndicate involving trainer Will Clarken, his racing manager Lachie Weekley, follow South Australian trainer David Jolly and Rushton Park’s David and Kayley Johnson.
I was nearly out of bullets, but those competitive juices kicked in. When the auction started I said to Nige (Austin), 'the heart rate is starting to go; and at about $1.6 million, I said 'it’s really going now'. “It is a lot of money, but she is a quality product. She is by a quality broodmare influence in Commands.
Out of Forget The Weather (Stormy Atlantic), a half-sister to stakes winners Ever After (Kris S), Wedlock (Maria’s Mori) and Extrovert (Wild Again). Bella Vella was consigned by Randwick Bloodstock’s Brett and Rachel Howard, who also had a share in Bella Vella. She was catalogued as Lot 643.
It’s a really pleasing result and it’s an honour that we had her in our stable and we’re able to present her the way that we did.” Rushton Park’s Kayley Johnston was in tears after seeing Bella Vella sell and she is already making plans to visit Rosemont Stud to give the mare a pat while inspecting the farm’s stallion roster. Belle shines on Magic day at the Gold Coast | 12 | Wednesday May 26, 2021