South African champion race mare sells for R14 million at Aussie auction
‘Under Your Spell,’ winner of the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, shines on the international stage with multi-million rand sale to top Australian buyers.
South Africa.- South Africa’s racing scene has produced yet another global headline-maker. ‘Under Your Spell,’ one of the country’s top racehorses and winner of the prestigious World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, was sold for a staggering AUS$1.2 million (R14 million) at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in Australia.
The high-profile sale to the Growing Empire Syndicate underscores the rising demand for South African bloodlines in elite race-breeding circles. Catalogued as Lot 18, the star mare came with a glittering track record and the added allure of being in foal to one of Australia’s top sires, ‘I am Invincible’.
Trained by Sean Terry, ‘Under Your Spell’ left an unforgettable mark on local turf. At just two years old, she stormed to victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, Gr3 Protea Stakes and Listed Ruffian Stakes. She followed this up with a powerful win in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, before claiming the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes as a four-year-old.
Now, the South African-bred powerhouse is set to write a new chapter in Australia.
“Elite South African race mares have made quite an impact in Australia, notably for producing current superstar 3YO filly Autumn Glow,” noted leading bloodstock site breednet.com.au.
Indeed, ‘Under Your Spell’ joins a growing list of mares from South Africa whose influence stretches across hemispheres. Gr1 Allan Robertson winner ‘Chocolicious’ is now a granddam of group winners in Australia, while fellow Kahal-sired mare ‘Noble Heir’ produced Gr3 winner ‘Crown Witness’.
And the legacy doesn’t stop there. Triple Gr1 champion ‘Via Africa’ has already produced Australian stars ‘In the Congo’ and ‘Autumn Glow,’ while mares like ‘Rock Opera’, ‘Alexandra Rose’ and legendary broodmare ‘Ethane’ have laid genetic foundations for elite international success stories – including none other than U.S. Triple Crown winner ‘Justify’.
With ‘Under Your Spell’ heading to top Australian breeding barns, the South African racing story continues to make waves across the globe.
From Scottsville to Sydney, South African mares are proving that class knows no borders.
