News

Frankel filly sets new benchmarks as records tumble at Great Southern

8th Jun 2023

She was the centre of attention in the lead-up and Burnewang North’s Frankel x Vedema filly didn’t disappoint, setting multiple new benchmarks on a record-breaking Day 1 of the Great Southern Sale at Oaklands.

Billed pre-sale by Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price as “arguably the best weanling filly to be offered anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere this year’’, Burnewang’s star attraction proved to be exactly that, selling to Mitchell Bloodstock for a season-high $825,000.

The price was not only the highest for a weanling filly anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere this year, it’s also the most ever paid at the Great Southern Sale.

The filly (pictured) also becomes the most expensive weanling ever sold through any Inglis sale, eclipsing the former record of $625,000 which was set in 2008 by a More Than Ready x Milanova filly and equalled at last month’s Australian Weanling Sale by a Capitalist x Speedboat colt.

Burnewang’s Cathy Hains described today’s result as “something special’’.

“Myself and the team are absolutely delighted. She was a really gorgeous filly and we got a great result. It was really something special,’’ Hains said.

“It’s old fashioned to say that the proof of the pudding is always in the eating so we kept our expectations under control and certainly what happened in the ring today exceeded our expectations. We had what we believed was a realistic reserve well below what she achieved.

“It’s a huge moment for all of us. There were certainly a lot of nerves and enthusiasm and excitement when she got through the ring.

“She was received very well all week. She’s a total professional, paraded well and often all week and got the right kind of attention accordingly.

“I’d like to thank all the team at Burnewang and also thank Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman, who were integral in us purchasing Vedema privately overseas and we then put her in foal Southern Hemisphere time, and this is the result.’’

The Frankel filly was part of a huge day for Burnewang North, who sold three of the top four lots overall and ended Day 1 as leading vendor grossing $1,560,000 from six sold.

James Mitchell of Mitchell Bloodstock – who purchased the top lot on behalf of Stephen Spiteri – added: “She’s a beautiful filly from a fantastic farm and Stephen loved her from the minute he saw her.

“I thought we were done about two or three times but he stuck to his guns and had that one last bid.

“On the world stage, as auctioneer Jonathan D’Arcy said while he was selling the filly, the price stacks up. She’s got huge residual value, she’s got her whole racing career ahead of her and if she’s true to type, she should be a pretty handy racehorse.

“I thought we’d be paying between five and six hundred [thousand dollars] for her but Stephen was making the calls at the end of the day and we’re thrilled to have bought her.’’

Today’s second-top lot was a Zoustar x Donelle filly of Grenville Stud, which sold to Blackridge Farm for $280,000.

The filly was one of two weanlings Grenville brought to the Great Southern Sale, the other being a So You Think colt which earlier in the day realised $160,000.

Grenville Stud’s Bart McCulloch described it as “an amazing result’’.

“We just felt coming here and bringing two horses across that were going to stand out, by Zoustar and So You Think, was the right strategy and we were overwhelmed with the results,’’ McCulloch said.

“The Zoustar was a very popular filly, she was the only Zoustar here in the catalogue so we knew she was going to be well received, she had plenty of inspections and second looks.

“It was quite a battle from $200,000 onwards with either side of the ring exchanging blows, we just sat back and enjoyed it.

“This result means a lot to us. I was a bit surprised at $280,000 because I was smiling there at $160,000 because we thought that was OK money for her and we were happy with that, so to keep going to $280,000 was phenomenal really.’’

Day 1 ended with an average of $41,436 and gross of $5,801,000.

Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price was far from surprised with buyers’ thirst for high-quality weanlings today.

“We’d predicted ahead of the sale that the demand at the top of the market would be extremely strong and I think it’s fair to say that’s how the day played out,’’ Price said.

“The $825,000 for Burnewang North with their Frankel filly was astounding, I don’t think anybody realistically saw that price coming and it’s a further example that if you bring quality to the Great Southern Sale, you will be rewarded handsomely.

“There was plenty of spirited bidding throughout the day and there was a great variety of buyers participating, both at Oaklands and online. The clearance rate improved progressively through the day and will continue to do so as we work with vendors and buyers to get more weanlings sold.

“There are many more quality opportunities tomorrow, firstly with the remaining weanlings and then the broodmares. It’s the final day of the Southern Hemisphere sales season on the eastern seaboard for live auctions, there’s no tomorrow after this, now is the time to get involved.’’

To make an offer on a passed in lot from today’s auction, please contact Inglis’ Will Stott on 0408 126 952.

The second and final day of the Great Southern Sale will commence at Oaklands at 10am tomorrow, Friday June 9, with 133 remaining weanlings catalogued before the 47 catalogued broodmares take centre stage.

Among the broodmare offerings are mares in foal to the likes of So You Think, Russian Revolution, Toronado, Wootton Bassett, Pierro, Nicconi, Hellbent, Wild Ruler, Trapeze Artist, Harry Angel and European sire sensation Blue Point.

They will be joined by quality mares off the track including Stakes placed Queen Adele and G3 placed Veranskova, among others.

If you are unable to attend Oaklands but wish to participate in the sale, Inglis’ online bidding platform will again be available, or you can contact a member of the Inglis bloodstock team.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.