News

BUYER CONFIDENCE SOARS AT MELBOURNE PREMIER

1st Mar 2008

Acknowledging the great run of success sales graduates have had over the past year, a huge crowd assembled for the Melbourne Premier Sale which commenced in stunning fashion at Oaklands Junction on Sunday. With the applause still echoing around the auditorium in appreciation of the ‘Living Legends’ Might And Power, Fields Of Omagh and Silent Witness, Victoria’s Deputy Premier The Hon. Rob Hulls addressed the capacity crowd with a welcoming speech before officially declaring the sale open.

And once the business end of the proceedings commenced it was a lively start and the momentum carried on throughout the session. At the conclusion of Session One, 140 lots had sold, grossing $12,558,000 – at an average of $89,700 – up 25 per cent on the corresponding session last year. The median weighed in at $70,000 – also a substantial increase on 2007 of 40%.

Gai Waterhouse set the standard early on when purchasing for lot 58 for $380,000 that she described as the ‘jewel of the sale’ in the shapely form of a bay colt by Exceed And Excel out of Oubladee, a winning half-sister to Bloodhorse Breeders’ Stakes winner, Zeya. “He is a truly lovely colt, we thought he was the jewel of the sale,” Waterhouse said later. “We liked him so much he has been bought on spec so anyone wanting to join the winning team at Tulloch Lodge should contact the office.”

The top price was matched later in the session when lot 147, a filly by Encosta de Lago out of the Group Three Mannerism Stakes winner, Royal Sash was knocked down to the leading buyer at the session Patinack Farm. The filly was consigned by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at Maldon.

Understandably the auctioneers are delighted with the results. “The substantial increase in median coupled with a clearance rate of 82.35% is a just reward for breeders who have supported this sale.” William Inglis & Son managing Director Mark Webster said. “There was competition at all levels of business and it was very pleasing to see buyers at the sale today from Japan, Hong Kong, Ireland, United Kingdom and Singapore in addition to Australia and New Zealand.”

The sale continues tomorrow at 11 am.