The curtain came down on the race career of Precious Gem after finishing unplaced in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Winner of the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide for trainer Henry Dwyer, Precious Gem was purchased by The China Horse Club for $825,000 at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare sale on the Gold Coast.
In a testament to her resilience and undoubted ability the daughter of Econsul started 65 times with 13 wins and 16 placings while banking $660,400. (photo Grant Courtney)
Precious Gem's unraced dam Gem Of Gems is a daughter of Pentre Celebre out of the Kaapstad mare Gem's Box a half-sister to Group 1 winner Alynda herself the dam of four stakes winners.
It's the hugely productive family descending from Sovereign Edition's sister Royal News.
Precious Gem has a date with Golden Slipper hero Vancouver (Medaglia d'Oro) and she may not be the lone China Horse Club purchase to visit high-profile Coolmore's newcomer.
The leading purchaser on the Gold Coast, China Horse Club outlaid $10 million on 14 lots that included the $3.4 million sales topper Listen Here who was purchased with Bruce Perry on behalf of Cressfield.
A further $1 million was outlaid on four lots at the Inglis Easter broodmare sale in addition to a $580,000 purchase with Coolmore for the Encosta de Lago mare Haiku.
