News

PREMIER SALE SET FOR RECORD FIGURES

2nd Mar 2008

The momentum from yesterday’s opening session of the Premier Sale carried on where it left off when selling commenced on Monday. The very first lot into the ring, a good looking colt by More Than Ready (USA), sold to Apollo Ng from Hong Kong who continued the influence of Hong Kong buyers at the sale following on from Ricky Yiu and the Hong Kong Jockey Club that have already purchased this week.

With two days completed the sale is set to register record figures across the board testimony to the quality of the catalogue that has drawn buyers from across Australia and from overseas to Oaklands Junction this week.

The day’s top lot and leader of the sale so far is lot 318, a filly by Encosta de Lago out of Almighty Sister, the dam already of the Listed winner Mighty Raja. Consigned by Sean Buckley’s Ultra Thoroughbreds at Kilmore, the filly was keenly sought but it was Melbourne-based agent Paul Guy that proved strongest, signing the ticket at $490,000.

“She’s been bought for a group of existing clients,” Guy explained. “She’s the most expensive yearling I’ve ever bought.” Guy confirmed that the filly will be trained in Sydney by Chris Waller. “She’s an outstanding sort, by a proven Group One sire and with really good residual.” Guy was also active throughout the day, buying a very attractive daughter of Elvstroem out of Blue Gum Girl consigned by Blue Gum Farm for $130,000 as well as a filly by Elusive Quality at $72,000 for a South African owner.

Again a feature of the sale was the depth of the buying bench that included both domestic and international purchasers. Patinack Farm again show as the leading purchaser but the sale is far from a one person affair. Buyers today included Tristarc Bloodstock who signed for five lots including a colt and a filly from the first crop of Elvstroem Last year’s leading buyer Anthony Cummings was again active, taking home four from today’s session including a Redoute’s Choice filly and a Encosta de Lago colt while Darley Australia were a welcome presence on the buyers list, signing for Lot 218, a colt by their boom first season sire Exceed And Excel.

An indication of the depth of the sale came late on when Mick Price outlasted Gerald Ryan at $300,000 after a spirited bidding duel for lot 405, a handsome son of first-season sire Al Maher consigned by Swettenham Stud.

Despite the strength of the sale Ballarat trainer Terry Kelly did his homework and found five lots all below the median. Others to return to the scene of previous triumphs included Denise Martin, who found the unbeaten Bank Robber at Oaklands Junction two years ago and paid $125,000 for another colt by Dash For Cash while Kevin Dagg found another filly by Danehill Dancer, the sire of Arapaho Miss, for $25,000, just a bid more than he paid for the Victoria Oaks winner in 2006.

So far, 311 lots have sold for an aggregate of $26,406,000. The average of $85,000 is up 26% from last year’s sale while the median is held at $70,000, a 40% increase.

Selling continues tomorrow from 11am.

“The continued strength of the trade today has been a real feature of the sale and the clearance rate of 81.4% attests to that,” said William Inglis Director Peter Heagney. “The depth of buying bench shows that if the right horses are in the catalogue that people will come to Melbourne and the breeders have to be commended on the standard of presentation this year.”