A significant event went by virtually unnoticed when Godolphin acquired a yearling colt at this week’s Magic Millions Sale on Australia’s Gold Coast.
What’s so special about that, many would ask, especially as he cost just A$280,000, a trifling, considering the famed racing outfit is not averse to spending ten times as much, if not more, on a single horse.
Flying Ice wins the 2015 Devon Air Stakes (Pic – Gold Circle)
However, this was an auspicious occasion, for as far as we know, it marked the first time Godolphin has purchased a yearling at auction out of a South African-bred and raced mare.
By Godolphin’s champion sprinter Blue Point, the handsome colt is the second foal out of Go Deputy mare Flying Ice, who incidentally, was the last stakes winner trained by the late Neil Bruss.
Barry Irwin (hamishNIVENPhotography)
She was acquired by Team Valor principal Barry Irwin following a South African career capped by victory in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet, which came at the expense of subsequent Gr1 winner Nightingale. She also won the Listed Devon Air Stakes as a juvenile and finished second in Scottsville’s Gr3 Oaks.
Irwin sent her to the States in 2017 and put her in foal to Noble Mission, a multiple, Gr1 winning own brother to the great Frankel.
This is where fate stepped in. As it so happened, South African bloodstock consultant Alistair Brown was on the lookout for a descendant of Flying Ice’s third dam Taineberry, this on behalf of Australian breeder Bill Hodder, who had in fact bred the daughter of Centaine.
She had been imported in the mid-nineties, and trained by Sunday birthday boy David Payne, she raced with distinction, winning six races in all, the highlight of which was the Gr2 Oaks at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Flying Ice is out of Taineberry’s grandaughter and Gr2 Fillies Guineas runner-up, Strawberry Ice, who just happens to be an own sister to Gr1 Cape Guineas hero Solo Traveller, Gr1 Garden Province victress Redberry Lane and to Skylar Lane, the dam of Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Good Traveller, all bred by Lammerskraal.
Alistair duly purchased Flying Ice from Irwin and the mare found herself en route to Australia.
Godolphin’s purchase is the mare’s second foal, the Noble Mission foal, a filly named Iceberry, is yet to race.
There’s a twist in the tail though. Hodder no longer owns Flying Ice; he sold her last year!
