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MELBOURNE PREMIER CLOSED TODAY WITH RECORD RESULTS

4th Mar 2007

The Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale concluded today with record results for both the average and aggregate.

Encosta de Lago may have dominated the opening session of the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale with his $420,000 sale topper, but it was his son, Delago Brom, who stole the limelight today.

Delago Brom, whose oldest progeny are two-year-olds, is considered by many to be the heir apparent and he attracted an ‘Encosta' like sum for his colt from Clouding Over (Lot 418) which was knocked down for $270,000 to Nick Williams.

Luke Campbell, General Manger of racing operations and veterinary surgeon for the Lloyd Williams' stable, said the Delago Brom colt was magnificently conformed and very well presented by Glenwood.

“The colt is a real athlete. He'll go into the system and we'll look forward to eventually getting him into the stable,” Luke confirmed.

Lloyd Williams is also the owner of Incumbent, winner of the Inglis Premier at Caulfield on Saturday, and whose Royal Academy half brother (Lot 407) was purchased by South Africa's Form Bloodstock for $170,000 today.

Capping a resounding sale for global participation, Form Bloodstock's Jehan Malherbe explained that his trainer Dean Kannemeyer had steered two Royal Academys to Group One glory in South Africa last year and that the Incumbent half-brother was “a truly lovely type”.

“I have purchased yearlings previously at Easter, but this was my first trip to Melbourne and I've been highly impressed with the quality of bloodstock presented,” Jehan enthused.

Inglis Director, Peter Heagney, was understandably pleased with the Premier's progress: “By the close of today's session, we have sold 371 lots for an overall sales aggregate of $25,027,500.00 at an average of $67,459.57. Encouragingly, the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale has still realised an increase on last year's sale despite the number of Encosta de Lagos dropping from 32 entries in 2006 to just eight this time around.

“Furthermore, we have been buoyed by the interest from overseas with the South Africans being very active, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club has also weighed in with two, six figure purchases. It's a clear indication of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale's position on the international bloodstock calendar.”

In other sale highlights today, Paul Messara won a keen bidding duel to secure a Choisir colt (Lot 408) for $300,000, while Flying Spur continued his magnificent run with four of his yearlings selling for $100,000 plus, including $250,000 for the filly from Celtic Lass (Lot 401).

The third and final session of the 2007 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will commence at 11am tomorrow.

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