3 minute read
It’s been a busy week at the sales down in Melbourne.
THE JOURNEY TO A YEARLING SALE
It’s almost two and a half years to the day since I bought into a placed broodmare called Chitraka, by Tale Of The Cat out of talented Victoria Oaks contestant Mango Daiquiri.
Chitraka was purchased for $3500 after a short but less than fruitful race career.
I was interested in breeding at that stage, and I grew to love the journey involved.
Owning an interest in a broodmare as opposed to a racehorse allowed me to have an interest in many more horses at an affordable level.
It took nearly 12 months for the foal to be born on the 29th of September 2012, a colt by successful son of El Prado, Artie Schiller.
My journey with the colt came to an end on the weekend when he was snapped up as Lot 106 for $50,000 by astute Mornington trainer Pat Carey.
One thing for sure and certain is that with his younger full brother running around the paddock at Emirates and his dam in-foal to successful stallion Reset, I will be keeping a close eye on the boy we called Muscles.
INGLIS WRAP UP
It was great to see a strong buying bench and an increase in the amount of foreign money spent on Australian yearlings, with many forecast to remain on Australian soil to commence their racing career.
Foreign buyers included those from Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, China and South Africa.
Whether everyone was buying or not, I definitely can't recall having seen so many people in attendance at the sales in previous years as I did on Sunday, which can only be good for the industry.
The Blue Riband Session is gaining momentum in its second year.
All in all the stats suggested that the market remains strong as we head towards the most anticipated yearling sale of the year, the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Session 1, the strongest indicator of the market leading into Easter, was up from an average of $76,302 at last year’s sale to $84,155 at this year’s, whilst the clearance rate also increased slightly.
It is encouraging for buyers that the reward for those that are able to find winners are greater than ever before with fantastic bonus schemes in place for those that were nominated.
SUPER SATURDAY
Super Saturday is labelled just that for a reason, and it’s justified with the amazing platter that awaits this weekend.
The Newmarket highlights this when you consider Moment Of Change, a horse coming off two G1 wins in a row, rates as an $11 chance.
Gun sprinter Shamexpress heads the market with the vastly improved Lankan Rupee and Samaready hot on his tail.
The Australian Cup is billed as a match race between Fiorente and Shamus Award, however an outstanding field of quality stayers and middle-distance horses will greet the starter in what will be a great form race as The Championships loom.
The Kewney stakes is of genuine interest as the hot favourite Solicit is emerging from being a solid 3yo staying filly in the spring, to a potential star of the turf in a matter of months.
Every race on the Flemington card is being contested with black-type up for grabs and it's sure to be a belter.
Up in Sydney, we witness yet another cracking 2yo race on the path to the Golden Slipper.
We get to see the return bout between Guelph and the ever-consistent Sweet Idea.
No doubt the most important race of the day in Sydney is the Chipping Norton Stakes, an extremely important race in shaping the stud future of It's a Dundeel who aims to win an open-class G1 over a mile for the first time. He landed the Randwick Guineas as part of his three-year-old Triple Crown in the autumn last year.
Until next week…good luck and good racing!
