Coolmore Stud paid an Australasian record for a Thoroughbred at public auction with the purchase of Milanova on Sunday at the select session of the Inglis Australian breeding stock sale.

Coolmore paid $4,805,012 ($5-million Australian) for the bay Danehill mare, an Australian Group 3 winner and full sister to the operation’s Group 1 winner Holy Roman Emperor, who was retired to stud last year. Milanova, who is in foal to Coolmore stallion Encosta de Lago, was offered as part of the Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud reduction sale.

Milanova is the dam of two foals, including a weanling More Than Ready filly, bought on behalf of Coolmore for $596,248 ($625,000 Australian) to top last week’s Inglis Australian select weanling sale. She has a yearling Dehere colt.

The price for Milanova is a substantial increase from the previous record of $3.4-million Australian that Darley Australia paid for the multiple Group 1-winning Anabaa filly Virage De Fortune at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter broodmare sale.
 
Michael Kirwan, general manager of Coolmore Australia, said Milanova will likely be bred to Australian champion Haradasun, who will begin stud duties at Coolmore when the Southern Hemisphere season begins.

“Genuine good horses like her that come on the market always attract genuine money,” Kirwan said.

“She’s got a world-class pedigree and Coolmore has enjoyed a lot of success with the family, with not only Holy Roman Emperor, but Encosta de Lago, who will be champion sire this year.”

Milanova was one of five mares to sell for more than $1-million Australian on Sunday.

The sale company reported 118 horses of 142 offered as sold for total receipts of $ 20,559,591 ($21,393,900 Australian). Average price was $174,233 ($181,304 Australian) and the median was $18,259 ($19,000 Australian). The buy-back rate was 16.9%.

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was pleased with the broodmare sale, which was held in conjunction with its weanling sessions.

“There was strong competition for weanlings and, in addition to the record price achieved by Milanova, another four mares sold for more than $1-million [Australian], which speaks volumes for the quality of this sale,” Webster said.

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