News

Premier Sale Growth

19th Feb 2007

The 2007 William Inglis & Son Premier Yearling Sale offers buyers the opportunity to purchase yearlings from a quality line up of over 630 yearlings which are eligible for the 2008 $500,000 Inglis Premier Race. The three day sale will commence on Sunday March 4 at Oaklands Junction, the day after the running of the 2007 Inglis Premier Race.

The overwhelming success of the sale in recent years has aided the Inglis Premier Sale in gaining vendor support from the leading thoroughbred nurseries throughout Australia. An extensive offering from Victorian studs is supplemented with excellent drafts from leading Hunter Valley operations as well as yearlings from both Queensland and South Australian farms. Inglis Director Peter Heagney feels that, “Breeders are now realising the Premier Sale is a very strong selling platform to market their yearlings,” thus outlining the growing support from both local and interstate vendors.

Champion filly Alinghi, arguably the most famous graduate of the Inglis Premier Sale, was purchased for $80,000 from the 2003 sale, while recent Group One Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh also joins the extensive Premier graduate honour board. Further highlights from one of Australia’s most progressive sales include Group One gallopers Hollow Bullet, Patezza, Rubitano, Above Deck, Valedictum and Lashed, to name but a few.

Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom, a winner of all his three starts in commanding fashion, was purchased from the sale in 2005 for $200,000. At this stage the Encosta de Lago gelding has been unextended to trounce his opposition, winning in the manner of a potential top-liner. Trainer Ricky Yiu, who early in his career trained Hong Kong Champion Fairy King Prawn, felt that at the same stages of their careers, Sacred Kingdom was showing as much, if not more promise than his previous champion.

2006 Inglis Premier Sale graduate Shrewd Rhythm -
leading Blue Diamond contender.

Taking a look at the results of the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, it firmly establishes the fact that the sale is capable of providing gallopers of the highest calibre. Recent Group Three MRC Blue Diamond Prelude winner Shrewd Rhythm, a $130,000 purchase from the draft of Limerick Lane Thoroughbreds is one of the leading contenders for this Saturday’s Group One MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, while last Sunday saw Val Royal (FR) filly Ehor record her second consecutive Listed win at only her third career start.

A major highlight of the 2007 Inglis Premier Sale catalogue is the expansive line up of 97 stallions that have progeny on offer. Included are the first offerings of 19 highly vaunted first season sires. With record entries received this year, the selection process allowed a catalogue to be put together that would offer both exceptional confirmation teamed with highly respected pedigrees, therefore resulting in what many consider to be one of the best catalogues assembled for Victoria’s leading thoroughbred sale.

“If the yearlings have pedigrees but aren’t nice types they can be hard to sell, but fortunately this year we have been able to be tighter on type because of the record number of entries,” said Inglis Director, Peter Heagney.

With the success of Inglis Premier Sale graduates on the track, it continues to underline the sales reputation an excellent source of quality bloodstock at reasonable prices. With a buying bench that includes local, interstate and international players it sees the Inglis Premier Sale as a progressive sale that continues to increase in strength and stature. Buyers including Lee Freedman, Graeme Rogerson, Slade Bloodstock, Bart Cummings, Vin Cox, Gary Portelli, Woodlands Stud, Paul Perry, etc, will continue to go to Melbourne in March with the intention of walking away with their next Group One winner.

Continual updates are recorded daily, with one of the most recent being for Lot 276. Offered by Lynden Park Stud as agent, the Golden Snake (USA) filly is a half-sister to Group One winner Apache Cat. Carrying the steadier of 61kg’s last start, the baldy faced Apache Cat scored a resounding win in the Listed Meneres BMW Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

Vendor Lynden Park has an affinity with the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale that goes back many years. At the 1999 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, a Lynden Park foaled, reared and sold Rubiton yearling was purchased for $50,000 by Heroic Management. Going on to race to dual Cox Plate success as Fields of Omagh, the gallant warhorse raced over numerous seasons netting connections in excess of $6.7million in stakes earnings.

Lynden Park as agent will offer Lot 485, a filly by Rubiton, the same sire as Fields of Omagh, from a full sister to the Group One winning sprinter You Remember, himself a graduate of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale when prepared by none other than Lynden Park.

With the opportunity to race for a share in $500,000 the following year in a race only open to a select group, why would you not have the 2007 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in your diary?

Catalogues for the 2007 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale can be obtained by contacting the Oaklands office on 03 9333 1422.