Australia, 17 April 2007

Group winner Lady Marion sells to Coolmore for $840,000

Lot-by-lot results, session two

The 2007 William Inglis & Son Australian Select Broodmare Sale proved, yet again, that cream rises to the surface, resulting in another brisk day of trade with 202 lots sold for $10,315,850 at an average of $75,298. This brings the overall sale total, with three sessions remaining, to 251 lots sold for $21,522,600, averaging $85,747.

Coolmore Stud proved that you have to pay a premium for Group winning Danehill mares and didn’t hesitate to bid up to $840,000 for the well-bred Lady Marion (Lot 593). Speaking on behalf of Coolmore Stud, Colm Santry said: “She (Lady Marion) is by Danehill, she has a filly foal at foot by Encosta de Lago and is in foal to Zabeel, three of the most dominant stallions in this part of the world. She’ll probably go back to Encosta de Lago this spring.� Taking a look through the results of last week’s Easter Yearling Sale it becomes evident through the average prices paid for both Encosta de Lago and Zabeel at $644,487 and $399,375 respectively, that both value and quality are available at every level.

Not surprisingly, plenty of interest surrounded outstanding matron Procrastinate (Lot 637), something of a legend in the Newmarket ring! Bidding ebbed and flowed until eventually BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicholl won the day with the final nod at $660,000 to secure the Group winning daughter of Jade Hunter, in foal to Galileo. “She’s an amazingly oustanding producer this mare,� Nicholl enthused. “I purchased the Galileo filly out of this mare and she went on to stakes success (Personify). I also tried to get Patasi but she went for too much money. Which is a pity because I’m convinced she’ll win stakes races. As the yearling prices would indicate, Procrastinate produces fantastic types and I’m hoping she’s carrying a filly this time around. I think Procrastinate will go to Encosta de Lago this spring.�

Synonymous with the Easter Sale ring, Procrastinate, who was sold at the 1992 Easter Yearling Sale has been a somewhat permanent fixture at Easter. With all her yearlings sold at public auction going through the Easter Sale ring, highlighted by the Redoute’s Choice colt which was purchased by Darley Australia for $2 million last Thursday. Her Easter tally now stands at $6,110,000, with an average of $763,750. Her first yearling, the Champion South African mare Laisserfaire ($575,000), recorded victories in five Group One events, while her other stakes horses include the now Yarraman Stud based Foreplay ($625,000), as well as current race fillies Personify ($650,000) and Patasi ($1,600,000).

Other sale highlights include the $620,000 paid by leading Victorian stud, Eliza Park, for Commands Nothin’ (Lot 530), an Inglis 2YO Classic winner by Commands and in foal to super sire Encosta de Lago. Sold as a yearling at the 2003 Inglis Sydney Classic for $24,000, subsequent family developments has seen this family pedigree become a much sought after commodity in the sale ring. Ain’t Seen Nothin’, the half-sister, went on to capture three stakes races and realise $460,000 at last year’s Broodmares Sale, while Polar Success, Elvstroem and more recently Haradasun, captured events at the elite level.

“I wasn’t going home without this mare,� Eliza Park principal, Lee Fleming, enthused. “We focus on quality and that’s exactly what this mare is. Quality plus. I’ve purchased horses from all over the world and this mare wouldn’t look out of place on ANY catalogue page!�

Highlighting the value to be had at this sale was Lot 494, an unbroken 2YO filly by Danehill Dancer (IRE) from the multiple Group winning Bluebird mare Blue Storm, knocked down to Belmont Bloodstock Agency for $105,000. According to Belmont’s Damon Gabbedy, there’s plenty of upside to his latest acquisition. “She’ll be broken in and we’ll see how she goes. But even if she doesn’t stand up to racing, I reckon she’s worth the $105,000 on broodmare residual alone,� Gabbedy points out. “The yearling half-sister (by Fusaichi Pegasus) was sold to Woodlands Stud last Tuesday for $440,000 and another of her half-sisters Steflara (AJC Breeders Classic-G3) was purchased for big money recently by Darley.�

William Inglis Acting Managing Director, Jamie Inglis, pointed out that the Broodmare Sale goes from “strength to strength� and was again pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the buying bench: “This sale truly holds value at both ends and I feel that’s reflected by the buyers who picked up some lovely types today. One minute you can be selling a Lady Marion for $840,000 and the next a full sister to multiple Group One winner, Umrum, for $60,000.
“A clear indication is the buyer participation today from South Africa, Europe, the UK, New Zealand and every state of Australia.�

The third session of the 2007 William Inglis & Son Australian Select Broodmare Sale continues at Newmarket tomorrow, commencing at 10.30am.

Statistics, session two

Lots catalogued 202
Lots withdrawn 17
Lots passed in 48
Lots sold 137
Top price A$840,000
Gross Value A$10,315,850
Average price A$75,298
Median price A$30,000

Top Lots, session two