Continued activity by a trainer-dominated buying bench ensured a more buoyant
atmosphere at Monday’s second session of the Inglis Premier Sale. While the
average was down 33 percent, the clearance rate improved slightly, and Inglis
Managing Director Mark Webster said he would be more than satisfied if the major
Melbourne yearling sale finishes on par with 2007 figures.
“Last year, we were the first sale after the EI outbreak, and we posted a
massive 56 percent increase in average. So if we drop by 25 percent, we are back
to 2007 levels and we will be happy with that,” Webster said.
Inglis Melbourne Director Peter Heagney noted that a trend seen at other
sales this year is continuing at Premier: buyers are increasingly discerning.
“There was good competition on the quality lots, but buyers were most
unforgiving on conformation and pedigree. It’s very much a buyers market,”
Heagney noted. “The mood was brighter today. I would like to see the clearance
rate climb a little further as the sale progresses, (but) the number of private
sales is encouraging for vendors who have not sold in the ring.”
After blasting onto the horizon as dominant buyer at almost all major sales
last year, Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm had gone quietly this year, but,
possibly buoyed by a couple of recent winners carrying the farm’s colors,
Patinack increased the tempo at Premier, and has purchased 10 thus far for
A$995,000. Patinack bought nine fillies and a colt, delving deeply into the
draft of Tony Santic’s Makybe Farm for four youngsters, including a A$150,000
Singspiel (Ire) filly.
Makybe, established on the Geelong Peninsula five years ago by tuna fisherman
Tony Santic, is also rocketing into prominence. Offering yearlings under its own
banner for the first time this year, Makybe was leading Victorian vendor at
Magic Millions, averaging A$195,000, and has taken over as the leading vendor by
aggregate after two sessions here, with 12 sold for A$1,223,000, including
Monday’s A$365,000 sale topper, Hip No. 283. The Redoute’s Choice colt, from a
half-sister to champion mare Makybe Diva (Desert King), was knocked down to Bill
Benson’s Emerald Thoroughbreds and will be trained by Bevan Laming.