January 4, 2019 — Exchange Rate mare Foreign Affair birthed her first foal last night at Audley Farm in Berryville, Virginia, and it was a historic event—for her and for her little filly’s sire. It was champion Justify’s first foal of record as well. Audley Farm made the announcement on Facebook today with a second announcement by Coolmore on Twitter.
Foreign Affair, was purchased by Audley Farm in foal to Justify at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed 2019 sale for $385,000. The 6-year-old mare is a half sister to So Perfect (Scat Daddy), a two-time Group 3 winner in Europe and four times Grade 1 placed with earnings of over half a million dollars.
Justify was sold at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $500,000 to a newly formed partnership between WinStar Farm (60% ownership), China Horse Club (25%) and SF Racing (15%). The colt was undefeated in six career starts including the Kentucky Derby, a very sloppy Preakness and a wire-to-wire win over Gronkowski by 1-3/4 lengths in the Belmont.
The son of Scat Daddy (Johannesburg), Justify’s breeding rights were sold to Coolmore in September 2018 for a reported $60 million. Scat Daddy also stood at Coolmore from 2008-2015. (Four of Scat Daddy’s offsprings–Justify, Mendelssohn, Combatant and Flameaway–ran in the 2018 Kentucky Derby.)
Justify arrived at Ashford Stud on September 17, 2018 and had almost 100 mares in his first book for a fee of $150,000. He traveled to Coolmore Australia in August 2019. Justify will return to North America for the 2020 breeding season and stand again for $150,000.
Historical note: The first Triple Crown winner, Sir Barton (Star Shoot), stood stud at Audley Farm from 1921-1932. In December 2008, a statue of Sir Barton was unveiled in front of Audley Farm’s stallion barn. The statue, by American sculptor Jan Woods, was a gift from Erich von Baumbach, Jr., whose family has had an association with the farm for thirty years.
Photo: Audley Farm Angus Facebook/Coolmore
