Lime Country Thoroughbreds continue to raise its sights each season and 2022 will mark their first Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft from their new Hunter Valley property. With the combination of the horsemanship of the Griffin family and the new location, buyers can expect big things from the horses coming off this farm. “The new farm has stunning scenery across 284 acres, with excellent river frontage,” said Jo Griffin. “We felt like we’d found the ideal place for us, and the farm has the bonus of being surrounded by other farms that produce top-quality racehorses. Greg and I are blessed to have some very astute business people amongst our client base who have been tremendously supportive of our move to this new property and of Lime Country’s business model.”
With a large draft of eighteen yearlings spread across seventeen different high class stallions, buyers will easily find a horse to suit their needs.
Gr.3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes winner Broadband (Sebring) has had the best start to her broodmare career with Gr3 Gimcrack placed filly Drisana, and Drisana’s half-brother by Deep Field, Lot 435, is bound to grab buyers’ attention with such a strong update to his pedigree. Throw in close relative Anamoe, Yourdeel, and Grand Armee, and this colt is a must inspect. “He’s the ideal Classic colt, masculine, big, strong and built to go. It’s a two year-old family, the mare could produce anything going forward and the family has some of the hottest most current stock in the country running around.”
Dundeel is kicking all the goals as a stallion, and his filly, Lot 546, comes highly rated as the third foal of winning mare Eyes of Love (Tavistock), who is a daughter of group winner Lovetrista, from the family of Gr1 winner Tristalove, Viking Ruler, and the famed Eight Carat family.
American Pharoah has begun his Southern Hemisphere stud career with the likes of Lime Country’s Gr3 winner Head of State, and they will offer a filly, Lot 520, who is the first foal of winning mare Downloads (Fastnet Rock) who also ran fourth in the Gr3 Blue Diamond Preview at two.
This is the family of Flying Spur, Tulip, It’sarayday, and Sacred Eye.
A Flying Artie colt bred on a similar cross to Gr1 Blue Diamond winner Artorius (Flying Artie from Redoute’s Choice mare) is Lot 70, whose winning dam is out of a Redoute’s Choice mare. This is the family of Gr1 Blue Diamond winner True Jewels, so there is plenty of precocious omens about this colt. “His sire has certainly left his stamp on this lad, he’s a very similar type at the age as the Flying Artie colt and multiple winner Artero that we sold at this sale two years ago.”
So You Think’s filly, Lot 113, is the second foal of city winner Nicconi Leggera (Nicconi), who is a half-sister to the group placed dam of Gr3 winner Irukandji (Dundeel) from the family of Danzero. “The dam won $237,000 at distances from 900 to 1050m and this out of her filly looks super athletic. She is an exceptional type, good length, bone, muscle and quality. We sent the mare back to So You Think off the quality of this filly.”
Time Test (Dubawi) has had a stunning start with his first crop in the Northern Hemisphere already producing four stakes winners, and his second crop filly, Lot 96, is a half-sister to three multiple race winners, and is out of a half-sister to Gr2 Sandown Guineas winner Tatra.
Proven sire All Too Hard’s colt, Lot 34, is a full brother to recent winner Beep Test, and both are out of a city winning daughter of Gr3 winner Sky Love, who is herself a half-sister to Gr1 winner Sky Cuddle. “Very typical of sire, he’s a big, relaxed, loose moving colt, who covers the ground with ease.”
Shalaa had the best start to his stud career with group winning two year-old Shaquero, and his colt, Lot 5, is the first foal of winning Fastnet Rock mare Lacazette, who is a full sister to Gr2 winner Tuscan Queen.
Wootton Bassett’s Gr1 winning son Almanzor’s stud career in the Northern Hemisphere has started well, and his second crop colt, Lot 139, is the third foal of city winner Perfect Offering (Dubawi), who is a half-sister to Listed winner My Country. “We offered this colt’s half-brother last year at the same sale and he was very well received. This colt is another quality individual out of the mare and sure to catch the eye as a type.”
Sire of Gr1 winning filly Montefilia, Kermadec has a yearling filly, Lot 349, in the Lime Country draft who is the second foal of a So You Think daughter of group winner Shania Dane, and who is closely related to stakes winner Northwest Passage (So You Think). “Lovely loose, scopey filly who looks like she’s bred – a nice 1600m type of filly to go forward with.”
A Pride of Dubai colt, Lot 422, is out of a young winning Snitzel mare from the family of recent Gr1 winners King’s Legacy and Oohood. This is also the family of Not a Single Doubt. A colt by Pariah, Lot 3, is out of an Encosta de Lago half-sister to group winners Bring Me Roses and Face Value and the stakes placed dam of Gr3 winner Diamond Earth. Merchant Navy’s colt, Lot 29, is the first foal of dual winning mare Lonely Heart, from the family of Quatronic and Suzy Grey.
Two fillies by Waikato Stud’s first season sire and group winner Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) bring a lot of quality with Lot 257 being a half-sister to Listed winner Luen Yat Everwin, and stakes placed winners Celtic Fantasy and Icebomb; while Lot 374 is out of a half-sister to Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Hiyaam, and the dam of group winners Dark Princess and Exquisite Jewel, all from the Eight Carat family.
From the first crop of dual Gr1 winner Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) comes Lot 309, a colt who is the first foal of his winning dam, herself a daughter of Gr3 winner Bashful (O’Reilly). Also with first crop yearlings is triple Gr1 winner US Navy Flag, whose colt, Lot 292, is a half-brother to Gr2 winner Kabayan, and their dam is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Prized Icon and two other stakes winners. Like US Navy Flag, Harry Angel also won the Gr1 July Cup, and his first crop yearling filly, Lot 149, is the second foal of a winning Commands mare from the family of Gr1 winner Campanologist.
Buyers can take confidence from Lime Country’s focus on producing quality racehorses and should easily be able to find a nice galloper or two to take home from their 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
