Son of Winx could have a $20 million price tag
Debbie Kepitis, the part-owner of Winx who paid a record $10 million for the legendary mare's first live foal, a filly, says the champion's first son is 'a very handsome boy. Just wait until you see him'.
That chance will come for suitors at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale next year after the Winx ownership's decision to put the Snitzel colt up for auction.
Now the big question: what will he go for?
Logically, you would think he will go for more than his half-sister, maybe even double, especially given the death of Snitzel this month. But there are no sure things in racing.
Snitzel was a four-time champion sire of Australia which produced 23 individual group 1 winners, including two-time Everest conqueror Redzel and Golden Slipper victors Marhoona, Shinzo and Estijaab.
His death makes his son with Winx - Australia's greatest performer on the track - unique and should only heighten the desire to secure the colt next Easter.
After losing her first foal, to I Am Invincible, Winx gave birth to a Pierro filly in 2023. Kepitis, who already owned a third of the yearling, outbid American John Stewart to secure her at the 2024 Inglis Easter Sale, paying a world record price of $10 million for a filly. Named Quinceañera, she is under the care of Winx's trainer, Chris Waller, but she is yet to even trial. Winx's next pairing, announced this month, will be with Too Darn Hot.
The record sale price smashed expectations, and the former benchmark for a filly in Australia - $2.7 million.
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The Australian
2 hours ago
- The Australian
To racehorse buyers, this nod is as good as a Winx
You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback. You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Could this be the most valuable thoroughbred yearling offered for sale anywhere in the world next year? The little colt with the white blaze just happens to be the second foal born from the all-time great racemare, Winx. His father was Snitzel, the four-time champion Australian sire that sadly passed away earlier this month, which only makes this colt even more valuable when he enters the sale ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next year. Winx's first foal was sold at the Inglis Easter Sale last year for $10m – a world record for a yearling filly. It is estimated Winx's colt by Snitzel will at least challenge the Australian record sale price for a yearling colt of $5m. Winx at the Cox Plate in a scene from the documentary movie A Horse Called Winx. Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, became so emotionally attached to the mare's first foal she bid $10m to buy her back, but she said she was trying to be more pragmatic about Winx's colt. 'You can only do one of those horses (Winx's filly) in your lifetime,'' Ms Kepitis said. 'It was hard to part with the filly, but I have to be realistic with the second foal. 'He's gorgeous. He's cheeky and he has thrown a lot to Snitzel, which is exciting given he was such a good producer.'' Ms Kepitis said Winx's ownership group, which includes Peter and Patty Tighe, and Elizabeth and Rick Treweeke, agreed to offer the Snitzel colt for sale. 'It's not easy to part with these amazing animals but we can't keep everything,'' she said. 'We appreciate this colt and hopefully he can go on and shine for our beautiful mare.'' Peter Tighe, who has travelled to the US where the acclaimed movie-documentary A Horse Called Winx will feature at the Prescott Film Festival in Arizona in July, said he had not ruled out buying back into the mare's colt when he was offered for sale at Easter. 'I would be interested to buy into the colt, depending on the circumstances,'' he said. 'We get regular updates about the colt's progress and he's a nice type, he seems to be doing really well.'' Mr Tighe would not be drawn on how much the colt could fetch at the 2026 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, but conceded the thrill of watching Winx's first foal (by Pierro) sold at the Riverside complete last year was 'indescribable'. Hugh Bowman rides Winx in the Cox Plate, which she won four times from 2015 to 2018. 'It absolutely blew our minds. The team at Inglis did an incredible job and we think the Snitzel colt will get the attention of investors from right around the world in 2026,'' Mr Tighe said. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch said it was humbling to be given the chance to offer Winx's latest foal for sale at Riverside Stables in Sydney next autumn. 'To have the first male offspring of the mighty Winx coming to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is an absolute thrill and something we're hugely grateful to the ownership group for,'' Hutch said. 'I have been lucky enough to see this colt a number of times through his development. He has always looked like a good horse and I think he is going to present as a very good yearling at the sale. 'He's a handsome colt with great movement and unflappable temperament. He's a special sort of horse. His presence at next year's sale is going to make for a captivating spectacle.'' Winx's first foal, Quinceanera, is a rising three-year-old filly who has just returned to pre-training but won't make her debut until next season.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
South Korean duo survive playoff for first titles in US
Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
South Korean duo survive playoff for first titles in US
Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.
