Buyers from right throughout Australia as well as South Africa, New Zealand and
Malaysia ensured a strong opening day of the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale
carried over into Monday’s second session, with business remaining brisk. The
absence of million-dollar show stoppers meant the first day average of A$157,675
for 213 sold dropped to A$70,977 for 181 sold Monday — on par with a day-two
average last year of A$75,298 for 202 sold.
The sale was held over five days
last year, whereas there is just one general session remaining now. Last year,
after day three the average was A$70,154 (up from A$53,526 in 06), so the
cumulative average of A$117,846 stacks up very well, and although there are 435
fewer mares cataloged, the gross from this year’s Select Session is up $4.1
million on last year’s total.
Brett and Rachel Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock
secured the second session-topper MOHAVE DANCER (Zabeel), offered
by Willow Park Stud, for A$560,000. Covered by Encosta de Lago, the
stakes-winning, Group
2-placed Mohave Dancer is the dam of multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter
Natural Blitz (Dehere) and of the stakes-placed Superblitz
(Thunder Gulch). She missed in 2006, but foaled a Redoute’s Choice colt in
2007; she also has an Encosta de Lago two-year-old yet to race. He was
knocked down last year at the Inglis Easter sale for A$775,000 to trainer Leon
McDonald. At the same sale a year earlier, Adrian Nicoll’s BBA Ireland signed
the ticket at A$750,000 for Mohave Dancer’s Dehere filly.
LADY OF THE DESERT (Desert Prince [Ire]), in foal to the Danehill stallion Commands, went
to Freyer Bloodstock for A$500,000. She is from the family of Sydney Cup
(Aus-G1) winner Gallic (Zabeel), and her second dam is the multiple Group 1 winner Solveigh
(Imposing). She has an Elusive Quality two-year-old filly and was not covered in 2006.
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said the sale company’s decision to
grade the catalog and offer a two-day select session had been justified.
“Competition has been very strong and we have seen some fantastic results over
the past two days,” he said.
The general session of the Australian Easter
Broodmare Sale is set for Tuesday.