Inglis Yearling Sale Success
The last few days at the Inglis Yearling Sale have been electrifying to say the least. Trainers, bloodstock agents and owners descended on the sale with determination, pushing the sales over two days up to a staggering $A85 million, with 320 horses being sold. With top bloodlines being up for sale, tension rose as bidders waited for specific horses and then started hoping that their wallets were big enough to secure the buys. A few sales stood out above the rest, as the Inglis Yearling Sale proved to be more successful than anticipated.
At an Australian sale, there is definitely a combination that almost guarantees a superb racehorse, and one half of it is the name Oceanfast. This mare was bought by brothers Bill and Arthur Mitchell for $80 000, and she is best known for being the dam of Alinghi, one of the most celebrated sprinters. Alinghi’s sire, Encosta De Lago, completes the combination, and in previous years, foals that have been bred by Oceanfast and Encosta De Lago have reached record prices and proved their worth on the track. In 2006 Perfect Persuasion sold for $2.6 million, Azumi reached $1.4 million in 2007 and this year, Anthony Cummins secured ownership of the latest foal, a colt, for $2.2 million.
Another colt that hit a record price at the Inglis Yearling Sale belongs to a dam named Lavishly and a sire by the name of Redoute’s Choice. Trainer, Gary Moore, had to wait patiently for lot 203, but was determined not to let this colt slide through his fingers. Last year, he had to back off from a purchase as the under bidder, and he wasn’t going to let that happen again. Moore was buying horses on behalf of Stanley Ho, owner of Macau Casino and a very wealthy man.
After announcing to a shocked Australian public that he was selling his breeding industry to Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Maktoum for an estimated $500 million, Bob Ingham has decided to remain in the racing industry. He was seen at the sale in deep conversation with his long time friend Lloyd Williams, while spending almost $10 million on three colts and eleven fillies for his new racing venture. Ingham confirmed that his entire family is excited about the change of pace, and look forward to supporting him in taking on the racing circles.
With big names making even bigger purchases, the Inglis Yearling Sale has been a resounding success. Sales figures and the number of horses sold have confirmed that trainers and bloodstock agents were pleased with the quality of the horses that were on sale, and it is hoped that the next sale will exceed the sales experienced during the Inglis Yearling Easter Sale.
