News

Sale Tops Off Extraordinary Weekend At Scone

20th May 2007

As the hammer fell on the final lot at yesterday's 2007 William Inglis & Son Scone Yearling Sale, the record results of the sale and the success of Friday's Scone Cup meeting, Australia's richest country race day, was indicative of the current buoyancy of the industry.

Despite a heavy track, a welcome result of much needed rain, a record turnover of over $3 million was achieved at the Scone Cup meeting on a track that was turned out in magnificent order, a credit to the Scone Race Club.

The $200,000 2007 William Inglis & Son Scone Challenge the richest race on the card, was taken out by the South Australian raider VISION OF FLIGHT (2006 Scone, $24,000) who sat on the leaders back before bounding away for a 2.8 length victory over MR WADAM (2006 Winter T'bred Sale, $30,000) and EL FINESSE (2006 Scone, $4,500) a further head away.

The interstate flavour continued at yesterday's sale with buyers from Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania signing off on numerous purchases that helped the clearance rate to nudge 90 per cent. International players from Macau, Singapore and New Zealand were in force, taking home in excess of ten lots.

Lot 210, an impressive Untouchable colt from the 19 strong draft of Southern Cross Breeders took honours for the day's top lot, knocked down to Randwick trainer Les Bridge for $71,000. Bridge purchased current stable star HOT DANISH from the same ring two years ago. Ironically Bridge outlasted Macau's Gary Moore who outbid him at this year's William Inglis & Son Classic Sale for the sale topper, a Street Cry colt that fetched $350,000.

A record gross of $2,736,000 was up 12% from last year, while an extremely healthy average of $15,907 also eclipsed the previous record mark set in 2004. Purchases are eligible to pay up for the $100,000 2008 William Inglis & Son Scone Challenge, a race that also carries a $20,000 BOBS Bonus for the 91% of the catalogue that were eligible.