Bruce Sherwin
Trish Dunell
New Zealand-bred mare Shamrocker was a headline-maker during her racing career and she's now playing a starring role as a broodmare.
A dual Group One winner by O'Reilly, her yearling colt by champion sire Deep Impact sold for 170 million yen (about $NZ2.3 million) during Monday's JRHA Select Sale in Saporro, Japan.
Shamrocker was raced by Raffles Racing, whose manager Bruce Sherwin was at the auction and he was impressed by her youngster.
"He is a lovely colt with a lot of similarities to his mum Shamrocker, and also Rock Diva (Shamrocker's half- sister raced by Raffles). He is an attractive individual, well-conformed, an excellent walk and an attitude to match."
The Group One winner Rock Diva is also likely to head to the breeding barn this spring.
"She has had any number of little setbacks since her last to first Auckland Cup win in 2015," Sherwin said.
"We felt her best is still to come, but it is becoming a case of balancing up the risk of racing her, given what she is already achieved, against her value."
She will be covered by Waikato Stud's champion sire Savabeel.
Shamrocker created history on the racetrack by completing the Australian Guineas-Australian Derby double on her way to being crowned Australian champion filly of her year.
At the end of her career she was purchased by Japanese breeding powerhouse Northern Farm.
Her first foal, a weanling filly also by champion sire Deep Impact, sold for 92million yen (about $NZ1.2 million) in 2014 to the bid of Qatar Bloodstock.
Shamrocker is represented further in the JHRA Select Sale on Tuesday with a weanling colt by Orfevre also being offered by Northern Farm.
Also selling is Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred's first foal, a weanling colt by the brilliant Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint winner Lord Kanaloa.
A dual Group One winner by O'Reilly, her yearling colt by champion sire Deep Impact sold for 170 million yen (about $NZ2.3 million) during Monday's JRHA Select Sale in Saporro, Japan.
Shamrocker was raced by Raffles Racing, whose manager Bruce Sherwin was at the auction and he was impressed by her youngster.
"He is a lovely colt with a lot of similarities to his mum Shamrocker, and also Rock Diva (Shamrocker's half- sister raced by Raffles). He is an attractive individual, well-conformed, an excellent walk and an attitude to match."
The Group One winner Rock Diva is also likely to head to the breeding barn this spring.
"She has had any number of little setbacks since her last to first Auckland Cup win in 2015," Sherwin said.
"We felt her best is still to come, but it is becoming a case of balancing up the risk of racing her, given what she is already achieved, against her value."
She will be covered by Waikato Stud's champion sire Savabeel.
Shamrocker created history on the racetrack by completing the Australian Guineas-Australian Derby double on her way to being crowned Australian champion filly of her year.
At the end of her career she was purchased by Japanese breeding powerhouse Northern Farm.
Her first foal, a weanling filly also by champion sire Deep Impact, sold for 92million yen (about $NZ1.2 million) in 2014 to the bid of Qatar Bloodstock.
Shamrocker is represented further in the JHRA Select Sale on Tuesday with a weanling colt by Orfevre also being offered by Northern Farm.
Also selling is Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred's first foal, a weanling colt by the brilliant Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint winner Lord Kanaloa.