By Daithi Harvey
Inglis kicked off the first of their four day Great Southern Sale in Melbourne on Sunday in style by setting a record for the highest priced weanling sold in Victoria. When Steve Jostlear of Ampulla Lodge bid A$310,000 for a son of More Than Ready offered by Swettenham Stud he eclipsed the previous highest price of A$300,000 for a weanling in Victoria, incidentally set by Jostlear himself back in 2015. The top lot, one of ten in total to make six figures helped push the aggregate for the opening day to A$5,083,250. 149 of the 207 offered weanlings changed hands for a clearance rate of 72%, an average of A$34,116 and a median of A$18,000.
Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian was satisfied with the opening day, despite a lower than ideal clearance rate of 72%. “The top of the market was incredibly sound, the buying bench on parade was outstanding and we received great support from a wide range of areas,” Vivian said.
“That said, possibly some vendors' expectations exceeded what the market was prepared to pay, which led to a clearance rate that was a little disappointing, but we'll be endeavouring to negotiate as many private sales as possible for our vendors,” he added.
The sale topper, offered as lot 204 is the first produce from the five time winner Calming Influence (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) who was graded stakes placed on a number of occasions. Jostlear had his heart set on the colt from early on and he commented, “He's a spectacular colt, equal to if not the best I've seen at any sale anywhere this year, and I'm not just saying that. I stood and watched him for nearly two hours earlier today, to check on his temperament. He was very popular but he didn't bat an eye lid. He had every chance to spit the dummy, and probably should have at times, but he was dead set perfect.
Jostlear, who made it clear in the ring that he wasn't leaving without the colt, added, “On top of that he had perfect X-Rays, has a great pedigree, I knew he was the one for us, that's why I opened the bidding at $200,000!”
The next two most expensive transactions were for fillies with lot 60 from Eldon Park Stud making A$235,000 to the bid of R Smith. The filly by Written Tycoon (Aus) is out of Shabtis (Elusive Quality) whose breeding career got of to a flyer with her first produce Take Pride (Aus) (Reward For Effort {Aus}) winning the G3 Champagne S. at Moonee Valley in 2015. David Lucas as agent for Phoenix Thoroughbreds signed for three of the top ten lots and they included lot 108 a filly by Brazen Beau (Aus) for A$175,000 and lot 98 a colt by Dissident (Aus) for A$170,000.
Day 2 of the Great Southern Sale begins at 10a.m. local time on Monday with another session of weanlings.
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