Montefilia and Icebath join Yulong's impressive broodmare band

Yulong Investments has continued its pursuit of top-class broodmares by acquiring Group 1 winners Montefilia and Icebath at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.

The breeding giant paid $3.4 million for Montefilia, a four-time Group 1 winner by Kermadec, shortly after securing Icebath, the Group 1-winning daughter of Sacred Falls, for $2.3 million.

In addition, Yulong added Pierro mare Novarro, the sister to its recent stallion acquisition Pierata, to its impressive broodmare band.

Of Montefilia, Yulong’s Sam Fairgray hinted that the mare could continue racing in the spring before retiring to the breeding shed.

“She’s got a lot of quality and is a lovely mover,” Fairgray told Inglis.

“We’re not sure what we’ll do with her just yet, although she may race on in the spring with races like the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup all possible.”

Meanwhile, Coolmore and Colm Santry Bloodstock paid a sale-record $3.6 million for Nimalee, the highest-priced mare of the night.

The daughter of So You Think won last year’s Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes when trained by Matthew Smith.

Stayer Tralee Rose, a multiple Stakes-winning daughter of Tavistock, was sold for $450,000 as a racing and breeding prospect, while Paul Lofitis’ Lofty Thoroughbreds paid $625,000 for Dubawi mare Opulent in foal to Frankel.