Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ growth in the Australian market
over the past six years has been spectacular, and now they have settled into their new property near Blandford in the Hunter Valley.
Moving in and upgrading the facilities has taken time, and their 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft will be the first yearlings to have been born and raised on their current property.
“The most exciting thing for us for 2023 across all sales is that these are first yearlings that have been born and raised on our Hunter Valley farm,” said Jo Griffin. “Our neighbours such as Goodwood Farm, and Berkeley Park Stud have a fantastic reputation for winners and stakes winners and we look forward to joining them in the future as we build our own broodmare band and offer client stock born and raised on this beautiful
300 acre property.”
In 2023, Lime Country Thoroughbreds will offer twenty yearlings at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, with a range of sires from proven sires to exciting first season sires.
First Season Sires
A half-brother to Gr3 winner Moss Trip, by Gr1 winner Royal Meeting, is Lot 94, and this colt’s dam is a half-sister to group winner Triple Elegance from the family of fan favourite Kermadec.
Castelvecchio was a Gr1 winner at two and three, and his first crop colt, Lot 646, is out of winning mare O’Reilly’s Angel, who is a three-quarter sister to dual Gr1 winning Classic filly Final Destination, while Gr1 winner Tyzone and Irish Fling are also in this family. O’Reilly’s Angel’s first foal is a winner.
Cosmic Force’s filly, Lot 456, is the first foal of winning Snitzel mare Got Your Six, and her second dam is a full sister to Gr1 winner El Brujo.
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Lime Country have a pair of fillies by Champion 2YO Microphone on offer in 2023; Lot 388 is the first foal of El Estoora, a High Chaparral full sister to Gr2 winner Forever Loved, a three-quarter sister to Gr3 winner Mongolian Marshal, and a half-sister to Gr3 winner Zephyron; with all being out of listed winner Diamond Like, from the Eight Carat family. Lot 474 is the second foal of I Am Invincible mare Hidden Talent, who is a half-sister to Listed winning two year-old Madeenaty.
Up and Coming Sires
The Autumn Sun’s oldest crop have just turned two, and he is represented in the Lime Country draft by a yearling colt, Lot 453, who is a half-brother to three winners including eight race city winner Macewen. This colt’s dam is a half-sister to Gr2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner and Gr1 placed Antonio Lombardo and Gr3 winner Master of Arts.
Second season sire Showtime’s colt, Lot 627 is a half-brother to Gr3 placed Sans Doute who has had only three starts this season as a three year-old. This colt’s dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Given, who is the granddam of Gr1 winner Ugo Foscolo.
Hellbent’s oldest crop have just turned three, and with multiple group placed youngsters, he is poised to take off as a sire. His filly, Lot 673, is the third foal of winning Not A Single Doubt mare Planet’s Princess, who is a half-sister to the promising 2022 Gr2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Boogie Dancer, and to Gr3 winner Miss Exfactor. Merchant Navy won the Gr1 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee as a late three year-old, and his yearling colt, Lot 148, is out of Listed winner That’s How I Roll who is a half-sister to Obruchev, and is a daughter of Listed winner Chatter Chatter.
Proven Sires
Lime Country Thoroughbreds sold Gr3 Gloaming Stakes winner Head of State (American Pharoah) from his first crop, and now they present his full brother, Lot 367, who is also a half-brother to Gr2 Hobartville Stakes winner Man From Uncle. This is the family of Gr1 winners Shania Dane, Scintillation, and Summer Passage.
Bred for speed, Capitalist colt, Lot 300, is the third foal of winning mare Californiasurprise, whose three year-old had his first start just recently. This colt’s second dam is speedy group winning two year-old Camporella.
Dundeel colt, Lot 449, is a three-quarter brother to group placed winner Home Made (High Chaparral), with both being out of Listed winner Gliding, who is a half-sister to Gr1 winner Eremein, and Gr3 winner Peace Force, dam of Nobel who is stakes placed this season.
Extreme Choice produces stakes winners at an extraordinary percentage, and his filly, Lot 541, is the second foal of five race winner Lady No More from a strong winning family that traces back to Hong Kong champion Able Choice and Gr1 winner Mrs Onassis.
Lime Country has a colt and a filly by proven Gr1 sire Ocean Park, with the filly, Lot 110, being a half-sister to Listed winner Deep Image, and this yearling’s second dam is Gr1 winner Stella Cadente (dam of Brilliant Bisc and two other stakes horses). The colt, Lot 30, is the second foal of Listed winner, of five races, Sacred Rhythm (Pentire) from a strong local family.
Bella Nipotina is flying the flag for Pride of Dubai at the moment, and his yearling filly, Lot 231, is the second foal of stakes placed winner Al Naifa (Redoute’s Choice). Her second dam is group winner Court, dam of Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly in Australia, English who was a dual Gr1 winner.
With two Gr1 winners in his first crop, Tarzino looks very exciting, and his filly, Lot 620, is out of winning mare Moravany, who has been a great producer with four winners of 16 races to date. Moravany is a half-sister to Sandown Guineas-Gr2 winner Tatra.
Shalaa’s filly, Lot 144, has a speed pedigree, being the first foal of a dual 1200m winner, who is a daughter of Gr1 winning sprinter Recurring, making this filly’s dam a half-sister to stakes horses Time After Time and Coming Back.
Star Turn has already left Gr1 winning filly Startantes and his colt, Lot 119, is the second foal of a So You Think half-sister to stakes horses Sunday Rose, Divine Moon, and Moonboat, from the family of Canny Lad.
Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver has left nine stakes winners from his first few crops (oldest are five) and his filly, Lot 527, is the first foal of La Casade, a half-sister to Listed winner Cyber Attack and Gr2 Roman Consul Stakes placed On The Lead, from the family of Gr1 winner Humidor.
Jo and Greg Griffin look forward to parading the first draft from their Blandford base in Barn D, 53-61, 67-77.