China Horse Club secured Holly’s Holiday, Casalu and Grammy Girl during Kentucky’s November sales, with Holly’s Holiday set to remain in the United States and Casalu and Grammy Girl purchased to join the broodmare band at The Chase.
Holly’s Holiday was purchased for US$500,000 at Fasig-Tipton. The daughter of Maxfield won the US$200,000 Valley of the Vapors Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April. Out of the Harlan’s Holiday mare Blast, she is a half-sister to Velocity, winner of the 2025 Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.
Holly’s Holiday
“She was a striking filly who stayed on my mind from the first time I saw her early in the inspection process until we were able to secure her. Her quality is undeniable, and I loved her size, scope and depth,” said CHC’s Michael Smith.
“She could run herself, and both her dam and her Grade 1-winning half-sister are in foal to North America’s most in-demand sire, Gun Runner. Her two-year-old sister, Dash, recently finished fourth in a Grade 3, so there is plenty happening in the family. A date with our leading freshman sire, Life Is Good, is likely in her first year.”
The purchases of Casalu and Grammy Girl follow encouraging signs from the young stock at The Chase out of American mares purchased in previous years, including Princess Grace.
“We have some really exciting stock coming through at The Chase out of American mares we purchased previously, so it was a goal of ours to come back and find a couple of high-quality mares to bring down,” Smith said.
Casalu was purchased for US$475,000 at Keeneland carrying her first foal by McKinzie. Trained by Bob Baffert, she won on debut at Del Mar before becoming a stakes winner at both two and three, taking the Blue Norther and Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita. She also finished runner-up in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar, alongside three Grade 3 placings.
Her quality had been recognised early. Donato Lanni purchased her for US$775,000 on behalf of Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman at the OBS Spring two-year-old sale.
“She’s an exceptional physical and showed plenty of ability on the track,” Smith said.
There is also a familiar connection in her pedigree. Her sire, Caracaro, is out of Peace Time, who occupies rare company as a broodmare with every runner a stakes performer. Her Australian progeny include Xtremetime, Miss Hellfire and China Horse Club’s own August Bloom.
“This is a wonderful family. Miss Hellfire sold for A$2 million at Magic Millions last year in foal to Extreme Choice, August Bloom had a beautiful first foal by Extreme Choice this season, and an I Am Invincible filly out of Peace Time sold at Easter for A$900,000 to our friends at Yarradale Stud,” Smith said.
“I have seen them all and purchased August Bloom as a yearling for CHC. Casalu is very much cut from the same silk.”
After foaling, Casalu is likely to visit Not This Time on Southern Hemisphere time in 2027 before travelling to Australia.
Grammy Girl, purchased for US$535,000, won seven races, including this year’s Grade 3 Distaff and Vagrancy Stakes at Aqueduct.
“I love this filly’s profile. She was tough, sound and as athletic a filly as I saw at the sale. She had a wonderful turn of foot when she raced, and I think that, combined with her physicality and quality, will really suit Australia,” Smith said.
The daughter of Mastery is out of the Songandaprayer mare Song Girl, a half-sister to American champion two-year-old colt Classic Empire. Extreme Choice is a likely mating for her when she arrives in Australia for the 2027 breeding season.