Day 1 Inglis Melbourne Premier – Average rises 20%

A diverse buying bench purchased 112 yearlings for $10.58 million during Sunday’s opening session of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne.

Buyers from Victoria snapped up over half the lots sold, but had healthy competition from interstate buyers (28 lots) and overseas guests (27 lots).

“It is very satisfying to see our Day One average ($94,473) increase by 20%, and especially pleasing was a 33% increase in the median,” Inglis director Peter Heagney said.  “As we still have many quality yearlings to offer we are confident that the sale should continue to remain buoyant.”

A classy Snitzel filly from Bel Esprit mare Belle of the City (Lot 44) topped the leader board at $560,000.  She was sold to South African trainer Brett Crawford by Yallambee Stud and helped the Woodard family finish Day 1 as leading vendor with 10 Lots for $1.55 million.

The support from South African buyers continued throughout the day, including the purchase of Lot 67, a filly by hot freshman sire Foxwedge from Carlton Show.  Bred and sold by Romsey based Supreme Thoroughbreds, the filly sold to fellow South African Joey Ramsden for $340,000.

Supreme owner Brent Grayling sold three at an average of $186,667.  The others were a Medaglia d’Oro to Gai Waterhouse and a Reward For Effort knocked down to Aquanita Racing.

Victorian based stallions with six-figure sales included Bel Esprit, Reward For Effort, Helmet, Wanted, Turffontein, Magnus, Master Of Design and Canford Cliffs.

Darley Victoria sire Helmet headed locally based freshmen with an average of $85,000.

Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu leads the buyers’ table having spent $680,000 on three colts by Not A Single Doubt, Foxwedge and Sepoy.  Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds bought five for $645,000, including $260,000 for the half-sister by Bel Esprit to Group 2 winner Arinosa from Swettenham Stud.