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Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria have launched a major fund raiser  06/08/2001

Press Release Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria

Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria have launched a major fund raising drive aimed at bolstering the buying bench at next year’s Wm Inglis Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction.

TBV is determined to raise promotional funds to be used to reverse the trend of 2001 which saw the Premier Sale fall behind Adelaide in sales averages for the first time.

The drop in sales averages in Melbourne has led to all sectors of the breeding industry, including Racing Minister Mr Rob Hulls, coming together to isolate the causes and find answers to reversing this alarming trend.

TBV has this week launched a raffle of services to prominent stallions, the proceeds of which will be used to lure additional buyers to the Melbourne Premier sale in February 2002.

"For some time now major Victorian breeders have been avoiding the Melbourne sales with their better lots because they felt that the buyers were not here to realise the prices they wanted," said TBV President Mike Becker.

"Equally, some of the bigger buyers have been bypassing Melbourne because they felt the better horses have not been here.

"So it appears quite obvious that if we can help get the buyers here then the breeders will be better encouraged to stay at home with their better horses," Becker said.

Becker said that the Victorian breeding industry was as strong now as it had ever been but the perception from the slump in sales averages this year had damaged the image of breeding in the State.

"The sales are our main industry barometer but not truly reflective of how strong our State is," he said.

"Victoria stands nine of the leading 20 active stallions in Australia, only one less than NSW. Progeny of our stallions at value service fees have won major Group One races right across Australia again last season and our sales provide the best value yearlings in the country against the prizemoney on offer inMelbourne, bolstered by the SuperVobis incentive scheme.

"We have every reason to be confident that we should be able to get the buyers here."

TBV will canvas heavily in all States of Australia and throughout South-East Asia and offer incentives for buyers to be in Melbourne in February. In conjunction with Wm Inglis and Son, TBV will organise an action-packed time in Melbourne for the buyers.

"We need support from our industry to make this happen but I am very confident that we can quickly reverse the situation and get the Melbourne sales back on track and going forward.

"I can only urge breeders to rethink their sales entries to include Melbourne next year because we will have the buyers here and we need to make sure that the horses are here that they are looking for," Becker said.

Tickets for the raffle, which carry services to Brief Truce, Lacryma Cristi, Dangerous, Festival Hall and Dolphin Street. For further information call Annie @ the TBV office on (03) 9376 3893.

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