Clinton McDonald teamed with loyal backer Dominic Rominelli to set a new mark for the most expensive filly to the midway point of Day 2 at this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Cranbourne trainer paid $475,000 for a daughter of Snitzel from the Hinchinbrook mare Amelia’s La Bout.
That was $45,000 more than the previous most expensive filly, a daughter of Zoustar and Sebring Dream who went through late on Day 1.
It was more than McDonald expected to pay, but he was happy to go beyond budget with Rominelli by his side in the Oaklands Junction auditorium.
“We were probably out of gas at $400,000, but I really wanted her, so we went to $475,000,” he said.
“Dom’s been with me a long time and we’ve had a lot of luck in buying these fillies.
“We bought Diamond Effort (Mossman) for $130,000 and I think we sold her for $840,000 or $850,000, something like that, so we’ve been very fortunate.”
Offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Western Australian breeder Peter Walsh, the bay filly is from a mare who won on debut at Ascot as a two-year-old before suffering a career-ending injury at her second start.
“I got some information that she was pretty good but she broke down at her second start, so she didn’t reach her full potential obviously and this filly looked a real athlete,” McDonald said.
“We hope to be there in the autumn with this filly. We’ll give her every opportunity.”
The Snitzel filly is Amelia’s La Bout’s second foal following a colt by Shalaa known as China Spirit who is an unraced two-year-old.
