News

RECORD BREAKING MELBOURNE PREMIER SALE

3rd Mar 2008

Part One of the Melbourne Premier Sale came to a record-breaking conclusion on Tuesday with a jaw-dropping 56 per cent increase in sale gross of over $39 million. New records were established for average and median, all topped off with a new sale-record top-price of $750,000 and a stunning clearance rate of 83.7 per cent.

In total, 439 lots sold at an aggregate of $39,308,500 – a 56 per cent advance on 2007. The average of $84,353 is up 25.7 per cent on 2007 and the real proof of the depth of this sale is evident in a $65,000 median – up 30 per cent.

“These results are not only a ringing endorsement of the Melbourne Premier Sale as a source of high quality winners but of Melbourne as a place to sell horses,” said William Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster. “Our vendors are to be commended on the quality of yearlings they presented and they have been rewarded with a record sale.”

Darley Australia General Manager Ollie Tait bettered the previous sale record when he went to $750,000 for a son of Exceed And Excel offered by Peter Liston’s Three Bridges Thoroughbreds. Darley continued their ongoing support of the Premier Sale when going to $325,000 for lot 597, an Exceed And Excel colt out of Lost Valley, a winning half-sister to Australasian Oaks heroine Rinky Dink, offered by Monterey Stud, Romsey.

The leading buyer at the sale was Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm who accounted for 24 lots at a total spend of $3,635,000 at an average of $151,458. His most expensive purchase was lot 147, an Encosta de Lago filly out of Group Three winner Royal Sash at $380,000 – consigned like the sale-topper by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at Maldon.

Three Bridges ended the sale as the leading vendor by average, their eight lots sold averaging $191,500. Established Victorian nurseries Yallambee, Fulmen Park and Swettenham Stud were the top-three vendors by gross with combined receipts in excess of $7.3 million. Buyers Paul Perry and Darley Australia rounded out the top three purchasers, both spending in excess of $1 million each.

The leading sire by gross was Blue Gum Farm’s Elvstroem, whose 41 lots sold grossed $4,105,500 at an average of $100,134 while the leading sire by average was their former resident, now Coolmore NSW based Encosta de Lago whose six lots averaged $241,667. The leading first-season by average was Darley Australia’s Shamardal whose five yearlings sold averaged $114,000.

“The level of pre-sale interest has been matched by some frenetic action in the ring at all levels and it is particularly pleasing to have seen so many new faces at Oaklands Junction this week.” said Mark Webster. Buyers over the three days have come from Hong Kong, Ireland. Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa in addition to a strong local buying bench that included purchasers from all states of Australia. “Figures don’t lie,” said Webster. “With new records in all major categories and an 83.5 per cent clearance rate on a Part One Session that was expanded to include an additional 98 lots on last year the Premier Sale has been a stunning success.

“It’s now time to focus on Part Two which begins on Thursday at 1 pm with some attractive pedigrees on offer.”

Full results available at www.inglis.com.au