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$3.4 Million Record Breaker

15th Apr 2007

The record price for a thoroughbred sold at public auction in Australian was shattered today when dual Group One winning Anabaa (USA) mare, Virage de Fortune was purchased by Darley Australia for an astonishing $3.4 million. At the final fall of the hammer in today’s first session 112 lots sold for a gross of $11,091,750 and average of $99,033.

In one of the most exciting bidding duels ever seen in the Newmarket Sale ring, competition came from all corners of the auditorium and, it would seem, all corners of the globe, before William Inglis & Son Director, Jonathan D’Arcy, via mobile, fired the final shot on behalf of Darley. It capped an amazing week for Darley Australia which also purchased 14 yearlings at last weeks Easter yearling Sale for a total of $14,290,000.

An excited Ollie Tait, General Manager of Darley Australia, said they had been prepared to pay the price because, “Virage de Fortune is a beautiful type, she was fast and has a wonderful pedigree”. Indeed, Darley eclipsed its own record Australasian price for a broodmare after paying $2,050,000 for the Danehill (USA) mare Mannington at the 2005 William Inglis & Son Australian Select Broodmare Sale.

“It was a great result and Virage de Fortune enhances a rapidly growing broodmare band which includes Mannington, Serenade Rose and Golden Slipper placegetter Pure Energy,” Tait added. “A decision on a mating will be made later, but she matches up very well with Elusive Quality (USA) and Bernardini (USA).”

Virage de Fortune, victorious in the MVRC Australia Stakes and QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes, both at the elite level, was purchased as a yearling by astute judge James Bester for $70,000. Keeping a share in this grand-daughter of Champion racemare Emancipation now seems like an extremely worthwhile gamble for the well known bloodstock agent.

Interestingly, Emancipation was sold at the 1995 William Inglis & Son Broodmare Sale for $180,000, Virage de Fortune’s dam, Virage, was sold at the 2000 William Inglis & Son Broodmare Sale for $200,000 and now, the grand-daughter and daughter respectively has sold for a record $3.4 million.

William Inglis Acting Managing Director, Jamie Inglis, agreed “it’s been an amazing week” and was looking forward to the next four days. “Bidding came fast and furious for the choice lots with breeders seeking to capitalise on a boom market. Importantly though, there were plenty of bargains to be had at the other end of the spectrum too with a number of well-pedigreed mares, in foal to commercial stallions, selling for $40,000 or under.”

The broodmare section certainly didn’t take long to get into full swing with bloodstock agent, Robert Roulston, upping the ante to $775,000 to secure Lot 292, the Group One MRC Oakleigh Plate heroine, Reactive. In foal to Group One VRC Lightning Stakes hero Fastnet Rock, Roultson pointed out that, “I purchased Reactive on behalf of a Victorian breeder who will send her to Redoute’s Choice this spring. She’s a neat, tidy mare, a good walker and I actually bid on her as a yearling”.

WEANLINGS’ FLYING FINALE

The Select Weanling Sale finished today on a high note, the final 51 offerings adding to an overall sales aggregate of $4,971,850 from 214 lots sold (86% clearance) at an average of $23,233.

Topping the final session was the classy Flying Spur filly (Lot 245), a three quarter sister to stakes placed 2YO Redoute’s Choice filly True Doubt, which was knocked down to New Zealand’s Soliloquy Lodge for $210,000. David Moore, speaking on behalf of the family-owned Soliloquy Lodge said, “this filly has a lovely walk and is really well balanced. Being by a Champion sire doesn’t hurt either! We were underbidders on an Encosta de Lago ($320,000) and the Redoute’s Choice ($245,000) yesterday, but I reckon this is the nicest type in the sale so we’re very happy.”

The Flying Spur filly concluded a tremendous sale for Riverslea Farm who also sold the Redoute’s Choice filly for $245,000 and a Hussonet filly for $95,000 yesterday.

The 2007 William Inglis & Son Select Australian Broodmare Sale continues tomorrow at Newmarket from 10.30am.

Tomorrow’s highlights include:

Lot 450 : Stakes winner, Rubitoff, in foal to Redoute’s Choice;

Lot 505 : Group One winner & Group producing mare Arborea, in foal to Danehill Dancer (IRE)

Lot 593 : Group Two winning Danehill (USA) mare Lady Marion, with an Encosta de Lago filly at foot and in foal to Zabeel. Danehill (USA), Encosta de Lago and Zabeel all in the one package!

Lot 637 : Procrastinate, dam of three stakes winners including Champion South African multiple group One winner Laisserfaire and also the $2 million yearling purchased by Darley Australia last Thursday.

Session 1

Top Lots