News

Buoyant start to Melbourne Premier

27th Feb 2012

A rainy Melbourne day failed to dampen buyers demand for quality yearlings on Day One of the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, with over $10million traded out at Oaklands.

78% of the 179 yearlings offered today found new homes for $10,201,500 at an average of $73,392.

In a clear indication of the increased depth of pedigree and type catalogued in this year’s Premier Sale today’s median was up 30% to $65,000 compared to the opening day twelve months ago.

Kia-Ora Stud sold South African Horse of the Year Igugu from Premier three years ago and the Scone based operation had the honour of selling today’s top priced lot (pictured), Lot 200 a filly by Fastnet Rock from Scenario to Gary Mudgway & John McArdle for $300,000.

Mudgway was involved in the purchase of Group One winning Fastnet Rock three-year-old Mosheen with Troy Corstens from Inglis’ Easter Sale in 2010 and today’s top lot reminded him a lot of last year’s VRC Oaks winner. Today’s filly will be syndicated to race with John McArdle.

The top priced colt today was sold by Pinker Pinker’s vendor Millford Thoroughbreds, Lot 33 a colt by Fastnet Rock from Litowinda to Anthony Cummings for $250,000.

“We’ve accumulated a vast local, interstate and international buying bench for the sale and it great to see our vendors being rewarded for bringing quality yearlings to the sale”, said Inglis Melbourne Director Peter Heagney.

Peter Moody, who purchased Black Caviar from Premier for $210,000 in 2008, leads the strong buyers list for this year’s sale so far having purchased five lots for a total of $500,000.

Fellow trainers Anthony Cummings, David Hayes, Jason Warren and Robbie Griffiths also purchased three or more yearlings each today.

Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore buyers were also active at Oaklands, as were numerous individuals from South Africa including Mike de Kock who purchased an Encosta de Lago colt from Tyreel Stud for leading South African owner Marcus Jooste.

“Melbourne Premier has a proven record of producing world class racehorses that perform to the highest levels all over the globe and as we saw again today athletic yearlings are highly sought after”, Heagney said.

“Defying the trend of recent sales it is very satisfying to see the average and median up on last year’s figures, especially with the knowledge that there are plenty of attractive horses still to be offered in the coming three days” Heagney added.

Horses passed in during today’s session are all still available for sale via the Inglis Make-An-Offer service.

Photos of today’s top priced lots will be made available on Inglis’ Facebook page InglisBloodstock

The sale continues from 11am tomorrow and runs through Wednesday and Thursday, with Online Bidding again available for those buyers unable to attend the Oaklands complex. The online catalogue is available at www.inglis.com.au