Yulong Investments bought the highest-rated mare retired off the track and sold at public auction in Australia this year – Tofane ($3.1m) – and has replaced her with the mare who will soon become the highest-rated female racehorse in the country.
BBA’s Michael Donohue paid 5.4 million guineas – which equates to around AU$10 million – on behalf of Yulong for four-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free at the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale in England.
The four-year-old will come to Australia with a peak Timeform rating of 123, thanks to her win in the July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket, a race in which Aussie sprinter Artorius finished third.
The highest rating returned by a mare in Australia this year is Montefilia’s 122, which was achieved when dethroning Verry Elleegant in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in March.
Alcohol Free is unlikely to meet the David Payne-trained mare in Australia and while her class is undeniable, Racing And Sports head of handicapping said Australian racing will present a different challenge for the daughter of No Nay Never.
“Alcohol Free will be an interesting experiment in Australia,” Blencowe said.
“She has bagged four Group Ones from six furlongs to a mile and the best of those efforts sees her rated higher than any filly or mare currently racing in Australia, but between those peaks she has thrown up her share of plain runs.
“She has had a tendency to race keenly which might be some concern in Australia where the pace can often drop out of races.
“There are no races in Australia where she was look out of place for talent but can she take that talent out of her place?”
Alcohol Free’s second highest-rating performance, obtained in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1609m) at Goodwood last year, is equal to that of Montefilia, while she also went 120 to win the Coronation Stakes (1603m) at Royal Ascot last year.
Her other Group 1 win came in the Cheveley Park Stakes (1207m) as a two-year-old when she rated 112.
Behind Montefilia, the next highest-rated mare in training in Australia is Marabi, who went 121 to win the Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
Three other mares have gone 120 in Australia in 2022; Duais (Tancred Stakes), Bella Nipotina (Manikato Stakes) and In Secret (Coolmore Stud Stakes).
