Peters Investments sold two millionaires among four mares that averaged $659,000 at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday evening at Riverside Stables.

The quartet were consigned by Holbrook Thoroughbreds (as agent) as were another 12 lots at the Australian Broodmare Sale on Friday.  “I knew I had to reduce my numbers,” Bob Peters said.  “It was getting too high so I decided to sell every dry mare so that people would realise it’s not really a cull.”

Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) winner Graceful Girl (Nicconi) sold for $1.1 million to Widden Stud at the Chairman’s Sale.  “She came from last to win her Group 1 and went to Melbourne but things didn’t work out,” Peters said.  “She was a particularly difficult one to part with because we never saw the best of her.”

NZ-bred Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man) was also knocked down for $1.1 million to Chatsworth Farm in Victoria.  “She was brilliant winning the (G1) Railway Stakes and she also ran down Zaaki in the (G2) Blamey Stakes at Flemington.

“Time has shown it was a spectacular effort to give Zaaki over a length and a beating.  I think she has the credentials to make a special broodmare.”

Inspirational Girl defeats Zaaki in the G2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington

Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready) sold to Coolmore Stud for $325,000.  Her dam is Adelaide Group 1 winner Miss Margaret (Marscay) and she’s the dam of Melbourne Group 1 winner Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice).

“Good horses keep coming out of this family.  I’m moving on my non-problematic, non-pregnant mares from the 2022 season and Celebrity Miss fits that category.”

Pure Devotion (So You Think) won the 2021 Apprentices Cup (2200m) at Ascot and was narrowly beaten when runner-up earlier that year in the G3 WA Oaks and LR Natasha Stakes.  She was purchased by Dorrington Farm’s Robert Crabtree for $110,000.

“I’ve had some luck breeding from mares with stamina – there are plenty of fast stallions available to complement them.  Her sister (Fine Romance) has good ability and it’s a pedigree that’s been good to us.”

Western Australian buyers at the Chairman’s Sale included Two Fillies Stud owner Nino Tufilli with $340,000 for USA-bred mare Mrs Orb (Orb).  She won 7 races to Listed level at Aqueduct and Pimlico and is carrying a first-crop foal by G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Stay Inside (Not A Single Doubt).

Simon Miller purchased How’s the Serenity (Magnus) for $260,000.  He prepared her to win the LR Summer Scorcher and LR Miss Andretti Stakes for a syndicate of racing media men at Ascot in January.

At the Australian Broodmare Sale on Friday, the dozen lots catalogued by Peters Investments was topped by Tavistock mare Candyland at $440,000.  She is a sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther and was purchased by Perth agent John Chalmers acting for a group of new investors looking to breed commercially.

Next best among WA buyers was Lynward Park Stud with $90,000 for G2 ATC Furious Stakes winner Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor).  She was sold with a first-crop PPT to G1 MVRC Moir Stakes winner Wild Ruler (Snitzel).

Troy van Heemst recouped some of that outlay when Lynward Park-bred graduate Fear The Wind (Fiorente) won again at Ascot on Saturday.  Troy and his brother Chad kept a share when they sold her for $50,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions.