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Amelia's Jewel and Bella Nipotina are set to renew their rivalry in a different arena when they headline the Inglis Chairman's Sale on 8 May at Riverside Stables complex in Warwick Farm.
The superstar mares, who collectively boast 21 victories and nearly US$18 million in prize money, will be the star attractions among nearly 90 fillies and mares going under the hammer, including 70 stakes performers or producers.
Their only previous meeting came in last year's US$3.3 million Quokka, where Amelia's Jewel finished second ahead of Bella Nipotina in fourth. However, the latter holds the edge in career accomplishments with four Group One victories to her name.
Peter O'Brien of Segenhoe Stud, who will oversee the sale of Amelia's Jewel on behalf of owner Peter Walsh, is bullish about her prospects of claiming top billing at the auction.
"Her racetrack performances were phenomenal," O'Brien told ANZ Bloodstock News. "She won group races in three different states and she finished first or second in 17 of her 24 starts. Her mother (Bumbasina) is already well on the way to becoming a blue hen, having produced a Group One winner and a stakes winner from her first two foals. But the key to Amelia's Jewel is her looks, because she's just absolutely beautiful."
Segenhoe will also present Queen Starlight, whose dam Fiera Vista was a stakes winner, and proven producer Fireworks to prospective buyers. While both mares possess exceptional pedigrees – with Fireworks having produced stakes winner Millane – it is Amelia's Jewel who will command centre stage when she enters the ring at approximately 8 p.m. local time.
Interestingly, Michael Christian, who bred Bella Nipotina and retains 50% ownership alongside his wife Siobhan and brother Brad, may find himself bidding to reclaim the star mare when she enters the sales ring at around 6 p.m.
Christian, who balances his role as proprietor of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm with duties as the AFL's Match Review Officer, harbours hopes of bringing the mare back to where her journey began in northern Victoria. However, he acknowledges the challenge posed by heavyweight operations like Yulong and Coolmore, not to mention international interests.
"She was incredibly tough and incredibly brave, which is what endeared her to so many people. She didn't win every race by any stretch, but if you backed her you knew she would give absolutely everything, which is the hallmark of great racehorses," Christian said.
"She's the only mare to have won an Everest and is second behind Winx in terms of prize money earned. So, they are two incredible feats. But she's a 7YO mare who's had 57 starts, so I don't know whether that might put some people off. It's difficult to assess mares of her quality because if some of the bigger players really like her, then she could make anything."
The Chairman's Sale represents a rare opportunity for the industry's elite to acquire breeding stock of exceptional quality, with these two outstanding mares certain to attract fierce competition from global bloodstock operations.