News

2006 Breeze Up Day

25th Oct 2006

A massive crowd was in attendance today for the 2006 William Inglis & Son 2 & 3YO Breeze Up sessions. Starting at 11am, each lot worked on the newly constructed purpose built track at Oaklands Junction where their final furlong (200m) was timed.

Lot 32 a bay colt by multiple Gr. 1 winner Testa Rossa offered on behalf of Bay Meadows Thoroughbreds as agent, scorched over the track to stop the clock at an astonishing time of 10.18 seconds. The colt from Rancho Ruler mare Rockellen, comes from the family of triple Gr. 1 winning speedster Spartacus and the Hong Kong trained sprinter Billet Express, a victor over Silent Witness in this year’s Sha Tin Champions Sprint Prize (1200m).

Sure to be one of the stand out lots when he parades through the sale ring this Sunday, the colt’s time was only slightly better than that of Lot 132. One of only twenty 3YO’s on offer, the already named Happy Bax clocked a just as impressive time of 10.24 seconds. Presented by Macquarie Stud, the Strategic gelding is from the well known family of Gr. 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate winner and now Arrowfield Stud based, Snitzel.

Whilst down in numbers from previous years, the quality presented at the breeze up session today appears to have surpassed that of previous years. With 33% of horses breezing up in a time of 11.00 seconds or less, compared to last year’s figure of 15%.

“Vendors should all be congratulated on presenting such quality drafts, with all horses trialing extremely well on the newly constructed track at Oaklands today. Fast times were the order of the day, with many horses making times superior to previous breeze up sessions. As evident by the construction of the track, William Inglis & Son is dedicated to the ongoing success of the Breeze Up sale concept in Australia,” said Reg Inglis, Managing Director.

Whilst the concept of the Breeze Up sale is still in its infancy in Australia, in America of the 20 horses that made up this year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, 11 of them were sold through 2YOs In Training sales. Clearly appreciated by the buyers as a source of exceptional quality, three of last years Eclipse Award winners; Lost In The Fog, Afleet Alex and Stevie Wonderboy were all graduates of 2YOs in Training sales of their respective year.

Video footage of all horses breezing up will be available from the Melbourne office from tomorrow morning, and will also be available online at www.inglis.com.au. The sale starts at 12 mid-day on Sunday 29th and will be attended by eager buyers if today’s attendance is anything to go by.