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Maastricht, dam of star juvenile filly Loving Gaby, was the star of the 2019 Chairman’s Sale held in Sydney on May 3 when she became one of the most expensive mares sold at auction in Australia.

Coolmore won the bidding battle for the grey mare at $2,250,000 for the grey mare in foal to I Am Invincible.

She was offered by owners Alan Bell and Ananda Krishnan through the Newgate Consignment.

Coolmore flexed their muscle to end the night as leading buyer after also purchasing the second top lot Srikandi in foal to American Pharoah for $2 million.

Both Maastricht and Srikandi will be served by Coolmore’s US Triple Crown-winning stallion Justify in his fist Australian season this spring.

The paire represent the standard of mare Coolmore wants to send to Justify according to Tom Magnier.

“There’s a lot of the best breeders in Australia sending their mares to Justify this year and I guess we want to join them,’’ Magnier said.

“We want to go out and find the best mares for Justify. It’s pretty exciting having him.”

Loving Gaby is the first foal from Maastricht, by Mastercraftsman, she has a filly foal by Sebring and she’s back in foal to I Am Invincible.

Dual G1 winner Srikandi was offered by Kitchwin Hills.

The sale saw four mares make $1 million or more and another seven sell for $500,000 or more.

The sale realised $22.265 million from 51 lots sold at an average of $436,569, a record for mare sale in the southern hemisphere.

A Trapeze Artist breeding right for the 2019 season was sold to aid crippled jockey Tye Angland for $105,000 while a share in G1 winner and sire Russian Revolution was purchased by Steve Morley Bloodstock and Glenlogan Park for $510,000.

The late Date Tan Nam Cin’s top class filly Norzita, in foal to Snitzel, was the night’s third-top lot, selling to Arrowfield Stud for $1.7 million.

“She is the last of Dato’s high-profile fillies off the track who have been sold off at auction and gone into other hands,’’ said Duncan Ramage, bloodstock manager for the estate of the late owner and bereder.

Bert Vieira ended the night as equal-leading buyer by lots purchased alongside Aquis Farm with five lots.

CHAIRMAN’S SALE STATISTICS

Lots sold: 51

Clearance Rate: 86%

Average Price: $436,569

Median Price: $280,000

Top Price: $2,250,000

Gross: $22,265,000