Princess Coup to Sell at Magic Millions
Saturday, 9 May 2009

A court ruling in New Zealand on Friday has paved the way for the sale of Princess Coup, who will be sent to Australia next week to be prepared for the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by boutique Hunter Valley based consignors Willow Park Stud.

Withdrawn from the NZB Broodmare Sale earlier in the week following a well publicized dispute between owners Ray Coupland and John Bromley, Princess Coup will now be sold unreserved at the Gold Coast on the first day of the sale June 4.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to sell a mare of this quality and she will be arriving at the farm late next week,” said Glenn Burrows of Willow Park.

It will be the second trip to the Magic Millions National sale ring for the four-time Group One winner Princess Coup, who was sold there as a yearling in 2005 for $260,000 having been withdrawn from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Champion filly Samantha Miss is the yardstick for what a top class mare can make in the current economic downturn having been sold last month at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in Sydney for $3,850,000 and Princess Coup is not far off her in terms of credentials.

Both are great types by champion sires from good solid female families and both were top class on the track, Princess Coup winning a New Zealand Oaks by four and a half lengths, two Kelt Capital Stakes and a Stoney Bridge Stakes at 1600 metres, as well as placing in Australian Group Ones such as the Australian Cup and Caulfield Cup.

The real question that looms now is which parties will be interested in adding such a gem to their broodmare collection, the last high profile daughter of Encosta de Lago to come on the market being Alinghi, who was snapped up privately by Arrowfield Stud.

Multiple Group One winner Divine Madonna holds the record for a mare sold at Magic Millions having made $2.7 million at the National Sale last year when bought by Darley and Princess Coup might be some hope of giving that a nudge.