As the focus switched from the selling of weanlings to broodmares, more that $5 million worth of breeding stock was traded last Tuesday, on Day Three of the Inglis Great Southern Sale. With a quality selection for all buyers to choose from, the lure of more classic international bloodlines proved the catalyst for Victoria’s Three Bridges Thoroughbreds and Paul Willetts to secure the day’s top lot.
Offered by South Australia’s Cornerstone Stud, well-bred mare Queen of the World (lot 886) – by champion European galloper Sea The Stars, in foal to leading French sire Siyouni – was the subject of some fierce bidding at Oaklands, eventually selling for $360,000.
“A few years ago we bought three mares in foal to Frankel and it has turned out very well,” said Three Bridges’ Toby Liston as he explained how the farm has placed a greater emphasis on international bloodlines of late.
“They were the first international mares we had bought and we have followed up the past couple of years with a couple of mares, it saves us going to England and she can foal here in Australia,’’ Liston said.
“We have been chasing international mares all year. Sea The Stars is going to be terrific as a broodmare sire and Siyouni is a champion in France, so she will suit us well.’’
A pair of Victorian mares in foal to in-demand stallion Zoustar ended the day as equal second-top lots. Yulong Investments went to $250,00 to secure Woodside Park Stud’s Peninsula Miss (lot 724), while Merricks Station also received $250,000 for their offering She Goes To Rio (lot 899), which was purchased by Bill Wong’s Hall of Fame Bloodstock.
Peninsula Miss will “most likely’’ be served by Yulong’s foundation stallion Grunt this season.
“We liked her when we inspected her a couple of days ago,’’ Yulong’s Luke Wilkinson said.
“She was a little over budget but she’ll most likely go to Grunt now, it’s suitable on the type Grunt is and the type the mare is but we will discuss it over the next week.”
Merricks Station’s Ben Cooper was thrilled with the price secured for She Goes To Rio.
“We bought She Goes To Rio last year and put her in foal to Zoustar and it’s been a really good trade result for the farm,’’ Cooper said.
“The supplementary session had really strong competition. We couldn’t be happier with the result in the end.”
Whilst three out of four broodmares from the Merricks Station were sold in the ring, a number of Victorian vendors managed 100% clearance rates, including Basinghall Farm, Oakford Thoroughbred Farm, Springmount, Two Bays Farm and Yarran Thoroughbreds.
The fourth and final day of the 2019 Great Southern Sale saw a mix of quality yearlings and racing stock offered. However it was the Henry Dwyer trained, Group 2 placed mare Swampland (lot 834) who stole the limelight. Capping off an outstanding four days of trade, she sold to Douglas Stutt for $125,000.
Broodmares in the sale enjoyed increases across all key indicators of average ($25,063, up 27%), median ($8000, up 45%) and gross ($5,107,250, up 15%)
The top of the market was again strong, with nine horses selling for $200,000 or more during the four days, up from five last year. Across the four days of selling, $17,698,550 was grossed, an increase of 11% from last year.
Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian credited the continuing high quality of the Victorian racing and breeding industries for the success of the sale.
“Big things are happening down here, the future is extremely bright and I want to thank the breeders and vendors especially for showing consistent and ongoing support for this sale,’’ Vivian said.
“We’ve had four fantastic days of trade, there was great presentation by our vendors and great support in the ring from buyers.
“It was a very fair market, exactly the sort of market you’d like to see at these sales with good solid competition.”
2019 MELBOURNE GREAT SOUTHERN SALE STATISTICS
(2018 in brackets)
Lots Sold: 644 (798)
Clearance Rate: 78% (82%)
Average Price: $27,482 ($19,897)
Top Price: $360,000 ($380,000)
Gross: $17,698,550 ($15,877,473) For all the results, or to view or make queries on any passed-in lots, CLICK HERE
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