Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The Sale average ended on $19,187, the third-highest in the Gold Sale's history and a significant increase on the $14,876 at 2020's COVID-effected Sale, and also up on the 2019 mark of $18,186.
The Sale median finished at $11,000, up on last year's mark of $10,000 and level with the standard set in 2019.
The clearance rate improved to 84 per cent, up on the 2020 rate of 72 per cent, and slightly down from the 89 per cent cleared at the Sale in 2019.
A record $4.95 million was grossed over the two days, close to double what was sold last year and 50 per cent up on 2019.
John Sadler will train the Sale-topping Extreme Choice filly, continuing his strong association with Bon Ho.
Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock secured a Headwater filly for $200,000 and ended as the Sale's leading buyers.
Blue Gum Farm, which sold the Headwater filly, was the Sale's leading vendor.
Choice play for Ho
Lot 215, one of just 29 foals from the second crop of Newgate's Extreme Choice, was always expected to be in demand, having been withdrawn from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale because of a slight setback.
It was a case of second time lucky for Supreme Thoroughbreds, which secured $260,000 for the filly, the highest price in the Sale's history.
It was Bon Ho's Legend Racing that won the day, with the filly destined for the stables of John Sadler, who has become the Hong Kong businessman's main trainer in Australia.
Ho had asked Sadler to cast his eye over the filly, who is out of French Origins (Choisir), the half-sister to French stakes winner Inhabitant (GB) (Zafonic {USA}) and who is descended from multiple international Group 1 winner Infra Green (Ire) (Laser Light {GB}).
“Bon had asked me to look at her, but I believe Jonathan D’Arcy may have recommended the filly to him and then I went and had a look at her, got her vetted and it was all clear,” Sadler said.
“Extreme Choice, from limited opportunities because of his fertility issues, is doing a really good job.
“She’s a beautiful-bodied filly, very strong and just a fantastic sort.”
“She’s (Lot 215) a beautiful-bodied filly, very strong and just a fantastic sort.” - John Sadler
Sadler said he would let the filly tell him whether she would be suited to racing as a 2-year-old.
"I don’t target any horse to get up and running early but if they put their hand up we will let them go early and she will tell me if that’s the case,” he said.
Ho and Sadler cemented their relationship with a series of purchases together at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including Starry Legend (Zoustar), who looks a very promising colt having won two of his three starts for Sadler as a 2-year-old.
“For someone like me, a smaller trainer, Bon’s (Ho) support is a chance in a lifetime. When you get someone like Bon who supports you in the manner he does it's just terrific,” Sadler said.
“We’ve had a little bit of success with him and hopefully the best days with him are ahead and I think there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be.”
Second time lucky for Supreme
Supreme Thoroughbreds prepared the filly for Middlebrook Valley Lodge, which sent her down in December with the intention she would be sold at the Premier Sale in March.
“She was in the Melbourne Premier Sale and she got injured about five days before that Sale and we had to withdraw her because she injured her back fetlock," Supreme Thoroughbreds' General Manager, Brent Grayling, said.
“We thought she was our best filly at Premier and we thought she was worth around $120,000, and since then Extreme Choice has gone on and sired the Golden Slipper winner and another stakes winner on the weekend so sometimes bad luck can play into your hands.
“It just proves that it’s all about stallions and Extreme Choice is obviously on fire at the moment and being the only one here, it showed."
Newgate's Extreme Choice may have battled fertility issues early in his stud career. but has produced five winners from his small first crop, including G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Stay Inside and Listed winner Xtremetime.
Supreme Thoroughbreds ended as the vendor with the best average of the Sale, on $46,857 across its seven sales.
Fidelia connection cements chase for Headwater filly
Robbie Griffiths secured five wins and multiple Group placings with classy mare Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) and it was Griffiths de Kock Racing/Peter Ford and Heywood Bloodstock that secured a Headwater filly out of Fidelia’s sister Little Indian for $200,000.
Offered by Blue Gum Farm, the filly is the second foal out of Little Indian, who was a dual winner on the track, comes from the same family as the stakes-winning quartet Simple Believe (Kenmare {Fr}), Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}), Black Minx (Lonhro) and So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}).
Griffiths said the filly had made quite the impression, and his team were determined to take her back to their Cranbourne stables.
“We fell in love with her, she’s a great specimen, is very well-balanced, has great strength, a great step on her and a great pedigree.
“We would’ve gone more if we had to and although you want to pay as little possible, we were bringing her home no matter what," he said.
“We would’ve gone more if we had to and although you want to pay as little possible, we were bringing her (Lot 291) home no matter what." - Robbie Griffiths
“We’ve had a lot of luck with the family and Fidelia was a great racehorse who probably should’ve been even more successful than the race record reads.
“This filly has all the ability and genetics to do the same and we thought she was a must-buy for all of those reasons. She is a great addition to the stable."
Griffiths was particularly taken by the combination of physical and pedigree that the Headwater filly offered.
“She looks like an add water and stir instant racehorse to look at, she’s very well-balanced and has that real Exceed And Excel get-up-and-go through Headwater and Not A Single Doubt, as well through the male and female lines. So, it would be no surprise with her strength and balance if she could get up and run early," he said.
“We target physique first and pedigree second. However, Headwater is an exciting young stallion and when you mix it up with Little Indian being a full sister to Fidelia it’s a fantastic cross."
Another Blue Gum success
Lot 291 was bred by a syndicate headed by prominent owner Rupert Legh and represented another great result for Blue Gum Farm.
“It’s a real buzz when you have a horse going through the ring that everyone here seems to want a piece of. There was a lot of competition, a lot of x-ray hits and looks at her scope prior," Blue Gum Farm's, Philip Campbell, said.
“I can honestly say I’m a little bit surprised (by the price) but when you put them in the ring, they (buyers) value them.
“I’m absolutely wrapped for the guys who own and bred the filly, it’s a great result for them and the farm."
Blue Gum Farm ended the Gold Sale as the clear vendor by aggregate, with 21 sales for $874,000.
"I knew we had a nice draft of horses here and they’ve sold from $6000 up to $200,000. There wasn’t a horse in that draft who I didn’t have some time for, it was a really good, even draft," Campbell said.
“I knew we had some nice types, and this is a type Sale, and if you bring good types here you get rewarded."
Griffiths de Kock Racing was the top buyer of the Gold Sale, spending $264,000 across four lots while Shawn Mathrick was the most prolific buyer, picking up eight yearlings.
Vinery Stud's Headwater, who currently leads the race to be crowned Champion Second-Season Sire, led all sires on average across the Sale (three or more), on $84,333. Swettenham Stud's Toronado (Ire) ended with the highest aggregate of sales on $514,000 across 12 lots.
Other noteworthy results on Monday saw SBR Racing pay $72,000 for Lot 204, a colt by Caravaggio (USA) from the draft of Bowness Stud, while Michelle Payne Racing picked up Lot 198, a colt by Lonhro from the family of Group 1 winner Moment Of Change (Barley A Moment) from Maluka Thoroughbreds for $60,000.
Healthy market pleases Inglis
Inglis General Manager Bloodstock Sales and Marketing, Sebastian Hutch, said the Sale had proven a largely successful one for vendors, particularly those selling at the quality end of the market.
"We were very pleased to see the overall turnover and being in excess of $5 million is really a fantastic result, to clear an ever-increasing 85 per cent is fantastic and a lot of vendors were very happy to participate in what was a very healthy marketplace," he said.
“Obviously the lower end of the market is challenging, as it is at any sale but for vendors to come here and participate in a very true market is the positive thing.
“The Extreme Choice and Headwater fillies that sold today were the two standout lots of the Sale and they were entitled to sell well, but I don’t think the connections of either of those horses expected them to sell as well as they did. However, it’s a real testament to the strength of the market and broad spectrum of people that were involved in the Sale.
“We have great confidence that we can generate a market that can provide healthy returns for vendors at all levels at all of our sales, we just need to be given the stock to do so and today was a good illustration of that."
Top lots
215 | Extreme Choice | French Origins | Filly | Supreme Thoroughbreds, Romsey | Legend Racing Pty Ltd HONG KONG | $260,000 |
291 | Headwater | Little Indian | Filly | Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | Griffiths de Kock Racing / Peter Ford Bloodstock (FBAA) / Heywood Bloodstock VIC | $200,000 |
160 | Capitalist | Chateau Griffo | Colt | Ponderosa Park, Nathalia | A Laffontaine / P Macvean VIC | $115,000 |
33 | All Too Hard | Savsenga | Filly | Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | John Sadler Racing VIC | $100,000 |
140 | Toronado | Bluegrass Danni | Colt | Bombora Downs, Bittern | M Cook / RM Racing NSW | $100,000 |
58 | Glass Harmonium | Starlet O'Hara | Colt | Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | G Eurell VIC | $72,000 |
204 | Caravaggio | Fastidious | Colt | Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | SBR Racing VIC | $72,000 |
78 | Palentino | Tiger's Girl | Colt | Bucklee Farm, Greta West | Michelle Payne Racing / S Azmoun VIC | $70,000 |
147 | Toronado | Butterfly Club | Filly | Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | G Eurell VIC | $70,000 |
18 | Toronado | Red Pixie | Filly | Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | B Griffiths VIC | $68,000 |
Top buyers
Griffiths de Kock Racing / Peter Ford Bloodstock (FBAA) / Heywood Bloodstock | VIC | 4 | $264,000 | $66,000 | $200,000 |
Legend Racing Pty Ltd | HONG KONG | 1 | $260,000 | $260,000 | $260,000 |
S Mathrick | VIC | 8 | $222,500 | $27,812 | $56,000 |
John Sadler Racing | VIC | 4 | $147,000 | $36,750 | $100,000 |
G Eurell | VIC | 2 | $142,000 | $71,000 | $72,000 |
SBR Racing | VIC | 2 | $122,000 | $61,000 | $72,000 |
M Cook / RM Racing | NSW | 2 | $116,000 | $58,000 | $100,000 |
A Laffontaine / P Macvean | VIC | 1 | $115,000 | $115,000 | $115,000 |
Henry Dwyer Racing Pty Ltd | VIC | 3 | $95,000 | $31,667 | $46,000 |
Michelle Payne Racing | VIC | 2 | $94,000 | $47,000 | $60,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 21 | $874,000 | $41,619 | $200,000 |
Supreme Thoroughbreds, Romsey | 8 | $356,000 | $44,500 | $260,000 |
Bucklee Farm, Greta West | 18 | $308,500 | $17,139 | $70,000 |
Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 14 | $306,500 | $21,893 | $72,000 |
Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 11 | $289,000 | $26,273 | $70,000 |
Hollylodge Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 12 | $273,000 | $22,750 | $42,000 |
Maluka Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 12 | $267,000 | $22,250 | $60,000 |
Yulong, Nagambie | 13 | $183,500 | $14,115 | $34,000 |
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East | 5 | $181,500 | $36,300 | $55,000 |
Bombora Downs, Bittern | 12 | $177,000 | $14,750 | $100,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
Supreme Thoroughbreds, Romsey | 8 | $44,500 | $356,000 | $260,000 |
Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 21 | $41,619 | $874,000 | $200,000 |
Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East | 5 | $36,300 | $181,500 | $55,000 |
Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tas | 3 | $30,000 | $90,000 | $38,000 |
Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 11 | $26,273 | $289,000 | $70,000 |
Ponderosa Park, Nathalia | 5 | $26,100 | $130,500 | $115,000 |
Hollylodge Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 12 | $22,750 | $273,000 | $42,000 |
Maluka Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 12 | $22,250 | $267,000 | $60,000 |
Bowness Stud, Young, NSW | 14 | $21,893 | $306,500 | $72,000 |
Noor Elaine Farm, Euroa | 6 | $19,667 | $118,000 | $46,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
Toronado | 12 | $514,000 | $42,833 | $100,000 |
Extreme Choice | 1 | $260,000 | $260,000 | $260,000 |
Headwater | 3 | $253,000 | $84,333 | $200,000 |
Frosted | 4 | $152,000 | $38,000 | $55,000 |
Glass Harmonium | 3 | $144,000 | $48,000 | $72,000 |
All Too Hard | 3 | $137,000 | $45,667 | $100,000 |
Manhattan Rain | 8 | $131,500 | $16,438 | $35,000 |
Written Tycoon | 3 | $120,500 | $40,167 | $52,500 |
Rich Enuff | 6 | $119,500 | $19,917 | $40,000 |
Capitalist | 1 | $115,000 | $115,000 | $115,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
Headwater | 3 | $84,333 | $253,000 | $200,000 |
Glass Harmonium | 3 | $48,000 | $144,000 | $72,000 |
All Too Hard | 3 | $45,667 | $137,000 | $100,000 |
Toronado | 12 | $42,833 | $514,000 | $100,000 |
Written Tycoon | 3 | $40,167 | $120,500 | $52,500 |
Frosted | 4 | $38,000 | $152,000 | $55,000 |
Reset | 3 | $30,500 | $91,500 | $50,000 |
Fighting Sun | 3 | $30,000 | $90,000 | $50,000 |
Deep Field | 3 | $28,000 | $84,000 | $34,000 |
So You Think | 3 | $26,667 | $80,000 | $30,000 |