Australia, 16 April 2007

Lot-by-lot results, session one
Lot-by-lot results, session two

Virage de Fortune sells to Darley

The record price for a thoroughbred sold at public auction in Australian was shattered today when dual Group One winning Anabaa (USA) mare, Virage de Fortune was purchased by Darley Australia for an astonishing $3.4 million. At the final fall of the hammer in today’s first session 112 lots sold for a gross of $11,091,750 and average of $99,033.

In one of the most exciting bidding duels ever seen in the Newmarket Sale ring, competition came from all corners of the auditorium and, it would seem, all corners of the globe, before William Inglis & Son Director, Jonathan D’Arcy, via mobile, fired the final shot on behalf of Darley. It capped an amazing week for Darley Australia which also purchased 14 yearlings at last weeks Easter yearling Sale for a total of $14,290,000.

An excited Ollie Tait, General Manager of Darley Australia, said they had been prepared to pay the price because, “Virage de Fortune is a beautiful type, she was fast and has a wonderful pedigree�. Indeed, Darley eclipsed its own record Australasian price for a broodmare after paying $2,050,000 for the Danehill (USA) mare Mannington at the 2005 William Inglis & Son Australian Select Broodmare Sale.
“It was a great result and Virage de Fortune enhances a rapidly growing broodmare band which includes Mannington, Serenade Rose and Golden Slipper placegetter Pure Energy,� Tait added. “A decision on a mating will be made later, but she matches up very well with Elusive Quality (USA) and Bernardini (USA).�

Virage de Fortune, victorious in the MVRC Australia Stakes and QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes, both at the elite level, was purchased as a yearling by astute judge James Bester for $70,000. Keeping a share in this grand-daughter of Champion racemare Emancipation now seems like an extremely worthwhile gamble for the well known bloodstock agent.

Interestingly, Emancipation was sold at the 1995 William Inglis & Son Broodmare Sale for $180,000, Virage de Fortune’s dam, Virage, was sold at the 2000 William Inglis & Son Broodmare Sale for $200,000 and now, the grand-daughter and daughter respectively has sold for a record $3.4 million.

William Inglis Acting Managing Director, Jamie Inglis, agreed “it’s been an amazing week� and was looking forward to the next four days. “Bidding came fast and furious for the choice lots with breeders seeking to capitalise on a boom market. Importantly though, there were plenty of bargains to be had at the other end of the spectrum too with a number of well-pedigreed mares, in foal to commercial stallions, selling for $40,000 or under.�

The broodmare section certainly didn’t take long to get into full swing with bloodstock agent, Robert Roulston, upping the ante to $775,000 to secure Lot 292, the Group One MRC Oakleigh Plate heroine, Reactive. In foal to Group One VRC Lightning Stakes hero Fastnet Rock, Roultson pointed out that, “I purchased Reactive on behalf of a Victorian breeder who will send her to Redoute’s Choice this spring. She’s a neat, tidy mare, a good walker and I actually bid on her as a yearling�.

Statistics, session one

Lots catalogued 988
Lots withdrawn 15
Lots passed in 27
Lots sold 112
Top price A$3,400,000
Gross value A$11,091,750
Average price A$99,033
Median price A$36,250

Top Lots, session one