Latest news with #DebbieKepitis
The Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Winx's first colt to be sold at Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2026
Could this be the most valuable thoroughbred yearling offered for sale anywhere in the world next year? This 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, who 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 $10 million – 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 $5 million. Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, became so emotionally attached to the mare's first foal she bid $10 million to buy her back. But Mrs Kepitis said she is trying to be more pragmatic about Winx's colt. 'You can only do one of those horses (Winx's filly) in your lifetime,'' Mrs Kepitiis 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.'' Mrs 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 United States where the acclaimed movie-documentary, 'A Horse Called Winx' will feature at the Prescott Film Festival in Arizona next month, said he has not ruled out buying back into the mare's colt when he is offered for sale at Easter. 'I would be interested to buy into the colt, depending on the circumstances,'' Tighe said. 'We get regular updates about the colt's progress and he's a nice type, he seems to be doing really well.'' Tighe would not be drawn on how much the colt could fetch at the Easter Yearling Sale but conceded the thrill of watching Winx's first foal (by Pierro) being sold at the Riverside complete last year was 'indescribable'. '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 an unflappable temperament. He's a special sort of horse. His presence at next year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is going to make for a captivating spectacle.''
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘It's not true': Winx owner Debbie Kepitis shoots down Crown Lodge rumours amid Godolphin restructure
Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv has revealed there are 'interested parties' wanting to secure some of their training and stabling facilities as the racing and breeding giant restructures its business in the wake of trainer James Cummings' departure to Hong Kong. There has been ongoing speculation about whether Godolphin would retain and continue to operate all three of their state-of-the-art stable complexes, Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm, Osborne Park near Agnes Banks and Carbine Lodge at Flemington. Racing's rumour mill was in overdrive on Wednesday and there was even a suggestion leading Sydney racing identity Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame wanted to buy Crown Lodge, which were built by her father Bob Ingham and his brother Jack in 1988 before they sold the stables to Godolphin in 2007. 'I've had a few phone calls about this but I can tell you it's not true,'' Mrs Kepitis told News Corp. 'This is not something we are going to do.'' But Makiv confirmed there has been interest from 'various parties' looking to acquire the Godolphin training facilities. 'There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,'' Makiv said. 'We will work out in time how to deal with them. They are great assets and there is interest from those parties looking to purchase or lease them. These are decisions we are still working through.'' The Crown Lodge stables and the Agnes Banks training facility were among the best of their kind and it is hoped they will not be lost to Sydney racing. CUMMINGS' SHOCK HONG KONG SWITCH Trainer @JamesCummings88 will withdraw his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train at @HKJC_Racing. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 10, 2025 • 'We're all devastated': Super stallion Snitzel dies Cummings' announcement on Wednesday that he wouldn't continue to train this year after his current tenure with Godolphin expires on July 31 poses challenges for Makiv and his management team as they prepare to spread their racehorses between a number of stables. But Makiv said Godolphin has already begun the process of recruiting trainers for next season. 'At the end of the day we are moving away from the employed in-house trainer,'' Makiv said. 'We were happy to support James going forward, he was going to get a number of the horses. 'But there is also going to be a number of other trainers that would be training a lot of the horses as well. In terms of our operation, it (Cummings leaving) won't impact on us too dramatically.'' Cummings was going to prepare Godolphin's Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns but Makiv said it was still to be determined who would be training that talented trio in the new season. WHAT A RACE! â�ï¸� Tom Kitten defeats Mr Brightside in a thrilling edition of All-Star Mile 7 😰 @godolphin @BMelham â€' (@Racing) March 8, 2025 'We are working through who our trainers will be and how it will look in the new season,'' Makiv said. 'We have little bit of time and there is plenty of well-credentialed trainers in Sydney and Melbourne to fill the void.'' Makiv said Godolphin enjoyed a very successful period with Cummings as trainer they could add to their Group 1 record with Golden Mile (Stradbroke Handicap) and Zebra Finch (JJ Atkins) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'We are delighted for James, Monica and their family, this is a great opportunity for him,'' Makiv said. 'Clearly, it (Hong Kong) is a wonderful jurisdiction to be involved in and for James, it is a feather in his cap. We congratulate him.''
Daily Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Winx's 2025 stallion revealed by owner Peter Tighe
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. • 'A bit of a freak': Wootton Bassett's incredible run continues Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season. Originally published as Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx 's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. 🇦🇰 He rewrote the record books. Now he’s back to do it again. #TooDarnHot returns to Kelvinside, NSW in 2025. Read more: — Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) April 8, 2025 Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season.
