The focus of the Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale turned to select broodmares for its second session Monday, and like the Easter yearling sales at the Newmarket complex in Sydney last month, there was a decidedly international flavor to proceedings, with the top two lots going to Chinese investor Yu Long Investments.
The session saw strength at the top of the market, but figures were down across the board. A total of 136 horses changed hands for A$6,527,100 for a buyback rate of 24.4%, up 9% from 12 months ago. The average dropped 26% to A$47,993, while the median dipped 10% to A$18,000.
Inglis's Managing Director Mark Webster pointed out the competition for high-quality offerings.
“There certainly isn't a lack of buyers here after quality mares, and to vendors who have supported the sale it is pleasing to see many of the better lots sell for considerably more that the offers they were receiving on the private sale market before this week's auction,” said Webster. “Plenty of breeders are here to re-invest after a great yearling sales season, highlighting what a great opportunity this sale offers to vendors willing to offer their best broodmares and race fillies here in Sydney in May.”
The session's top price–which was A$605,000 compared to A$800,000 on this day last year–was paid by Yu Long for lot 286, the 11-year-old Encosta de Lago (Aus) mare Flame of Sydney (Aus). Consigned by Arrowfield Stud, the stakes winner has already produced a stakes winner in the form of last year's G3 Zedative S. victor Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who was also twice Group 1-placed before being exported to Hong Kong at the end of last year. Flame of Sydney has an unraced 2-year-old by Redoute's Choice (Aus); a yearling by that three-time champion sire and a weanling by Snitzel (Aus), and was sold Monday in foal to Snitzel.
Yu Long later swooped for lot 456, the 6-year-old Neena Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), for A$500,000. A dual Group 3 winner for trainer John Sargent, Neena Rock was retired after finishing last of 16 in the Feb. 28 G3 Guy Walter S., and was offered here as a broodmare prospect. She is out of Feminine Wiles (Miesque's Son), an unraced half-sister to Grade I winner and successful sire Quiet American. It is also the family of influential sire Fappiano.
“International appeal has been strong throughout our Select Yearling Sales Series and again here this week,” Webster said. “We've seen new international players enter the Australian bloodstock market, with the top two mares today secured for a China-based client of Inglis's for commercial breeding purposes here in Australia.”
Another proven producer, Johan's Toy (Aus) (Johan Cruyuff {GB}), fetched six figures when hammered down to Alan Bell for A$280,000. The 13-year-old, a half-sister to group winners Extra Zero (Aus) (Danzero {Aus}) and Operetta Lass (Aus) (Singspiel {Ire}) and a dual stakes winner herself, is the dam of four-time Group 2 and 3 winner Toydini (Aus) (Bernardini). Johan's Toy's Animal Kingdom weanling filly was purchased by New Zealand's Lyndhurst Farm for A$200,000 Sunday, and the mare was offered in foal to another young sire, first-crop covering sire Dundeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Monday. A six-time Group 1 winner, Dundeel stands at Arrowfield Stud for A$27,500.
Yu Long Investments wasn't the only Asian buyer making waves in Sydney Monday. The Hong Kong-based Pan Su Tong, through his Goldin Farms, spent A$560,000 on three mares to support Goldin's resident stallion, G1 Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Derby winner Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). That haul was headed by a pair for A$220,000: lot 378, the Tasmanian Oaks winner Marchelle Belle (Aus) (Anabaa), who was offered not in foal from the Ruane dispersal after being covered by Sebring (Aus); and lot 433, the stakes-winning maiden mare Mezeray Miss (Aus) (Artie Schiller).
Goldin Farms, the former Lindsay Park Stud that was established in 1965 in South Australia, was purchased by Pan Su Tong's Goldin Group in 2013.
While Goldin Farms is just getting started, John Baxter's Ruane is winding down, and Monday's session marked the completion of the Ruane dispersal. Ruane sold 24 mares and two stallion shares for A$1,299,350 Monday. Their top-selling broodmare was Marchelle Belle, but the dearest offering of their dispersal was a share in Widden Stud's leading sire Sebring (Aus), which went to Damon Gabbedy's Belmont Bloodstock for A$350,000.
“I would like to thank John Baxter of Ruane for offering his breeding stock here [Monday],” Webster said. “John achieved great success as a breeder for over 25 years and we both look forward to watching the new owners of his stock enjoy similar success.”
Strong international participation was also seen from New Zealanders, with Paul Willetts leading that charge when signing for seven mares for A$484,000, including the stakes-winning and producing One In A Million (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 466), carrying a first-season cover to Zoustar (Aus).
The Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale continues Tuesday with another select broodmare session. For catalogues, results and live streaming, visit www.inglis.com.au.
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