By Michael Cox
The completion of Book 2 brought the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to a close at Oaklands on Wednesday, with the average and median down on 12 months ago.
Book 2: At A Glance
>> Book 2 average was $35,795, slightly down on last year, while the median also fell to $27,000
>> Gross sales in Book 2 reached $5.584m, just $100,000 shy of what was achieved in 2018
>> The equal top lots reached $135,000, while there was one lot of $115,000 in Wednesday's final session
>> Clearance rate was 68% but is expected to rise significantly in the coming day
>> Toronado (Ire) was the leading sire on aggregate in Book 2 with 12 sold for a total of $676,000
Stockwell claims top lot after big week
After selling the top lot on the final day, a Denman colt for $115,000, Stockwell Thoroughbreds' stud master Brodie Becker was feeling good about the direction of the sale and the Victorian breeding industry as a whole.
Becker said the top lot, part of solid overall results for Book 2, and moves to improve the standard of sires in the state, were creating a buzz around Victoria.
“It is going onwards and upward," said Becker a day after it was announced Stockwell would stand Al Maher next breeding season. "We are always looking for the right stallion and where it is heading now we are trying to bring proven sires back to Victoria. You can see with (Swettenham Stud’s) Adam Sangster getting Akeed Mofeed (GB) we are trying to pick up the stallion market and get something proven down here."
“It is going onwards and upward." - Stockwell Thoroughbreds' Brodie Becker
“We hope that it all pays off. It is never an easy deal but we think Al Maher is going to be suited down here and it is exciting being under the Stockwell (banner).”
Aquis links up again
It was Aquis Farm, where Al Maher was standing previously, that won out with bids over the phone for Lot 720, who is out of Domesday mare Red Magnum.
"He’s an outstanding colt who we thought would not have been out of place in Book 1," said Aquis chief executive Shane McGrath. "He was very well presented, had clean X-Rays, clean scope and clean vet and I can’t wait to see him in six months with a saddle on his back.’’
"He’s an outstanding colt who we thought would not have been out of place in Book 1." - Aquis CEO, Shane McGrath
Becker said it was clear from the amount of times the colt had paraded that he would be a hit, despite being relegated to Book 2
Lot 720 Denman x Red Magnum
“It just shows that P2 (Book 2) is really strong and I am really happy with the way the whole sale has gone," Becker said. “We worked out pretty early that we had some nice horses, this one in particular, as he has been busy from day one. Every day he has been out just as many times as the Premier 1 horses and that is reflected with the price.”
"Every day he has been out just as many times as the Premier 1 horses and that is reflected with the price.” - Brodie Becker
“We have averaged $105,000 in Premier 1 over four horses and we are doing pretty well in P2,” he added. “This is a genuine sale, it doesn’t matter what day you put it on if you have got the right stock. Inglis has done a great job in getting the buyers here. If you have got the right horse then people have got the right money for it.
“I think (the sale) has been pretty strong.”
The top two lots of Book 2 went for $135,000 in the Tuesday session, with Paradise Lodge buying a Toranado (Ire) colt, Lot 568, from the draft of Vincent and Field Bloodstock and Gundaroo Stud purchasing a Better Than Ready filly (Lot 577) from Yarramalong Park.
Inglis: Momentum carried through
Inglis General Manager of Bloodstock Sales Sebastian Hutch believes a diverse buying bench and a new look facility helped carry momentum through Book 2.
The refurbished Oaklands sales complex
"We worked very hard to bring the very best buying bench we could to the sale. Prior to the sale vendors expressed their delight as to the diversity of people they had seen and fortunately it materialised that those people bid and bid very strong."
"The feedback through Book 1 and Book 2 was that it was hard to buy the horses they want, with many of them far exceeding reserve, which is always demonstrative of a healthy market," Hutch said.
Hutch said feedback on the revamped complex had been positive and contributed to the sound sales results.
"The changes to the auditorium have had a very positive effect on the atmosphere." - Inglis general manager of bloodstock sales, Sebastian Hutch
"The changes to the auditorium have had a very positive effect on the atmosphere," he said. "At various stages during the sale there was a tremendous atmosphere in the auditorium, and that was a hugely contributing factor to the sale doing well."
The season now moves to Adelaide for next week's Magic Millions Sale, while Inglis' attention now switches to Sydney for next month's Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
