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Priceless. It’s the only word that can describe the filly foal by the revered champion Japanese sire Deep Impact born at Segenhoe Stud in the NSW Hunter Valley on Tuesday.
What makes the filly so special is that she is a half-sister to Australia’s greatest mare Winx with her immense value multiplied by the death earlier this year of Deep Impact, thus limiting the future influence he can impart on Australian racing and breeding.
Just what price the filly may command in the sale ring will never be known as her proud breeder John Camilleri – having sold Winx as a yearling for $230,000 in 2011 - has no intention of letting go of this latest female member of such an illustrious family.
The greatest of all time, @winx_horse has a little sister. Born at 11am this morning, by champion sire Deep Impact out of Vegas Showgirl. Congratulations to breeders, John & Deb Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds @dcamill2 #raisingathletes pic.twitter.com/mN7WD6rkwQ
— Segenhoe Group (@SegenhoeGroup) September 3, 2019
Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds secured Winx's dam Vegas Showgirl, a Listed winner of seven races by Al Akbar, for $455,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Winx, by Street Cry, ended her amazing career in April with 37 wins from 43 starts and world record earnings of $26,451,174.
The only other foal to race from Vegas Showgirl has been the G3 winner El Divino (Snitzel) but to come are her 3YO filly Courcheval (Snitzel) and 2YO filly Covent Garden (Exceed And Excel), both retained by Camilleri.
Segenhoe Stud's Peter O'Brien said Winx's latest half-sister arrived without fuss at 10.50am with nervous farm staff keeping watch on Vegas Showgirl.
"We've got a great foaling team here at the farm. As expected, there was no drama with Vegas Showgirl and she foaled in her usual no-nonsense style," O'Brien reported.
"Every foal that Vegas Showgirl has had she has the foal within 10 minutes. She's the most straight forward foaling mare I've ever seen."
O'Brien said the foal was on her feet in near record time, similar to Winx when she was born.
The filly foal is a huge result for Camilleri after he took the risk to send such a valuable mare as Vegas Showgirl to Japan for her mating with Deep Impact.
Vegas Showgirl is now booked to be served by I Am Invincible this spring.
Vegas Showgirl was one of three mares Camilleri sent to Deep Impact in 2018. The others due to foal this spring are the dual G3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute's Choice) and the stakes winner Peron (Husson).
Deep Impact, who stood at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, was euthanised on July 30 after suffering a cervical fracture.
He won 12 of his 14 starts including seven G1 races and was Japan's Horse of the Year twice in 2005 and 2006 before starting his stud career.
A son of the great Sunday Silence, he has been Japan's champion sire 12 times.
