News

Easter Comes Early For Thoroughbred Enthusiasts

9th Dec 2008

To coincide with the release of the highly informative 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale Preview magazine, TVN will host a special Thoroughbreds program tonight at 6.30pm (EDST) showcasing the 2009 Inglis Yearling Sale series, featuring the highly anticipated Sydney Classic, Melbourne Premier and Australian Easter Yearling Sales.

In keeping with Inglis and TVN’s commitment to providing clients and interested racegoers with increased sales coverage, the special will run for 60 minutes and showcase some of the highlight lots at each of the three 2009 sales.

Caroline Searcy, Tara Madgwick and Inglis Bloodstock Director Jonathan D’Arcy will provide an overview of each sale, broken up into a 30 minute feature on Easter, 15 minutes for Premier and 10 minutes for Classic.

After airing tonight, the program will then be replayed on TVN through December and January and can also be viewed on Inglis’ latest innovation, Inglis TV (http://www.inglis.tv/).

The Australian Easter Yearling Sale has again been a leader in Group 1 racing during 2008, boasting 12 individual G1 winning graduates this year.

Next year’s sale features yearlings by 63 sires, with Australia’s Champion Sires from the past three seasons - Encosta De Lago (74), Flying Spur (57) and Redoute’s Choice (77) – the most represented.

The quality of the catalogue is highlighted by the fact 152 of the yearlings are out of stakes winning mares, including 57 Group 1 winners; and 104 are half, three-quarter, or full relations to stakes winners, including 53 G1 winners.

Champion mares with progeny include Makybe Diva, Sunline and Private Steer, whose dams are also each represented with Easter progeny.

Other highlight lots include half or full relations to the likes of Redoute’s Choice, Samantha Miss, Takeover Target, Silent Witness, Dance Hero, Absolute Champion, Laisserfaire, Cesario, Alinghi, Gold Edition, Al Maher, Virage De Fortune and Lim’s Objective.

The catalogue also boasts progeny from recent racetrack stars like Shamekha, Hasna, Hollow Bullet, Regimental Gal, Special Harmony, Our Egyptian Raine, River Dove and Polar Success.

The Melbourne Premier Sale has enjoyed a stellar 18 months with graduates Sacred Kingdom and Weekend Hussler rated among the best horses in the world at the present time.

G1 Turnbull Stakes winner Littorio flew the flag during the spring, as did highly promising two-year-old Rostova.

Buyers have progeny of 107 stallions to choose from, with Elvstroem (55) the most represented. Fellow Victorian based sires God’s Own (31), Reset (28) and Bel Esprit (22) are also strongly featured.

Fastnet Rock (26), Snitzel (25) and Flying Spur (22) also figure prominently. Rostova’s sire Testa Rossa has 19 entrants, while buyers have 18 Hussonets to choose from in their search for the next Weekend Hussler.

Among the Premier highlights is a Redoute’s Choice-Celtic Reign three-quarter in blood brother to Musket, from a half-sister to Makybe Diva.

The catalogue boasts 19 siblings to Group 1 winners including Apache Cat, Regal Roller, Grand Journey, Rinky Dink, Sudurka, Riva San and Carnegie Express. There’s also half or full relations to the likes of multiple G1 placed Turffontein, G2 winner De Lago Mist and fellow stakes winners Royal Sash, Maloose and Wildly.

The Sydney Classic Sale has enjoyed a stellar year, highlighted by the Group 1 winners Typhoon Zed, Triple Honour, Tell A Tale and spring star Whobegotyou, not to mention the dual stakes winning filly Our Joan Of Arc, who was secured for just $15,000 this year.

Classic Sale flagbearer Choisir, who cost just $55,000 in 2001, is one of the rising talents in the sire ranks and has 14 yearlings catalogued. Among his 2008-09 stakes winners is $25,000 Classic graduate Sara’s Choice.

Prolific sires of winners Beautiful Crown and Commands – both who have had Classic graduates win the rich $1million Golden Rose – are represented by 11 yearlings each.

Tale Of The Cat (8), Street Cry (6), Zeditave (4) and Honours List (1) – the sires of this year’s Classic Sale Group 1 winners - are also represented.

Other proven sires with multiple entries include Magic Albert (18), Catbird (15), Arena (15), Royal Academy (13), Canny Lad (11), Mossman (11), Secret Savings (10), Hussonet (7), Rock Of Gibraltar (6) and Anabaa (5).

Australia’s Champion Sire of 2006-07 Flying Spur is represented by four yearlings.

Of the freshmen, 22 new faces are represented, headed by Snippetson (17), Benicio (14), Oratorio (14), Bradbury’s Luck (11) and Foreplay (11), who all have double figure drafts set for the Newmarket Sale.

Classic will also have half siblings to the likes of G1 winners Calaway Gal and Pillaging, along with fellow stakes winners Imana, Rodeo Springs, Anwaar, Golden Fox, My Lady’s Chamber, Smooth Baritone (Japan G3 winner), Hairy, Ain’t Seen Nothin, The Free Stater, Keen Commander and Courvoisier to name a few.

The Classic catalogue is now available and can also be viewed online.