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William Inglis and Son Ltd
8.50 pm.
Encosta de Lago has been widely tipped to star at this year’s sale and his stock have certainly been popular with buyers tonight. A total of nine passed through the ring, with all finding a new owner at an average price of $54,278.
His final offering of the night, Lot 96, fetched $75,000 and was knocked down to the bid of prominent trainer Colin Alderson. Offered by Dr Angus McKinnon’s Hillview Farm at Euroa, he is an athletic brown colt from the Noalcoholic (FR) mare Old Soft Shoe, a half-sister to VRC Oaks winner Rom’s Stiletto.
8.10 pm
Brian Mayfield-Smith won the battle for Lot 71, the full brother to former brilliant juvenile filly Millrich who ran third in the 1995 Golden Slipper behind top colts Flying Spur and Octagonal.
“He’s a real Rubiton type from a great winning family,” said Mayfield-Smith. “We’ve had so much success with the Rubiton stock of late and I’ve had so many enquiries. I don’t think I’ll have any problem finding owners for him.”
“The Rubiton’s just need a bit of time, you’ve got to be patient and my owners understand this.”
Mayfield-Smith’s exciting Rubiton filly Innovation Girl was a late scratching from the Blue Diamond Prelude today after developing an elevated temperature.
“She was 38.4 degrees when she got there, but then it went up to 38.9 and you just can’t take any risks. It’s a shame, but that’s horses. It wasn’t meant to be.”
7 pm.
The appearance of Gold Lottey's full sister sparked instant attention from the packed crowd at tonight's session. Opening with a bid of $50,000, she quickly went past the $100,000 mark, before being knocked down to Inglis as agent for $140,000.
The stylish bay is very much in the mould of her famous sister and was purchased by a client of the Bart Cummings stable, with Gold Lottey's trainer Graeme Rogerson the underbidder. Anthony Cummings commented, "She's a lovely filly, a lot like her sister. She's really well related, the family is doing a great job."
5.30 pm
Melanie Hill of Racing Victoria played host to more than 100 keen racing fans at the Oaklands complex today. A comprehensive tour was organized to explain the ins and outs of buying a yearling, everything from conformation to pedigrees and how to bid and buy.
Three groups were taken around for expert advice provided by trainer Bill Mitchell, and bloodstock agents Bryan Muschialli and Tim Stewart. The tour concluded with a glass of champagne at the Collingrove Stud hospitality tent.
"So many people love to go to the races, but find the prospect of buying a horse a little bit intimidating and we're hoping that this type of exercise can initiate them into the world of racehorse ownership," said Hill.
5pm
The 2002 Premier Yearling Sale gets under way this evening with an opening session of 110 lots to excite the interest of buyers as they seek to find their very own Recruiting.
The full sister to outstanding filly Gold Lottey, winner of the Vanity Stakes Gr 3 at Flemington yesterday, will be one of the highlights tonight.
Phillip Campbell of Blue Gum Farm reports that the filly (Lot 39) has been most popular today, in the wake of her sister's exciting win.
"She's very similar to Gold Lottey, just like her really," he said. "The dam Lottey has had three fillies to Encosta de
Lago, Gold Lottey who fetched $50,000, then La Quinta Gold who made $75,000 and now this one."
"The Rogerson stable have a big opinion of La Quinta Gold, they were really disappointed not to get a run with her in the Premier Race. She was a bit different to the other two fillies, a big scopey chestnut."
If La Quinta Gold is as good as they say, buyers could be looking at a full sister to two stakes-winners with the residual value to enhance any select broodmare band, whatever her racetrack performance.
"You don't like to get your hopes up, but she should sell really well," Campbell added.
Bel Esprit confirmed his standing as one of the best two year olds in the country with another faultless performance to win the VATC Blue Diamond Prelude Gr 3 at Caulfield today. His three-quarter sister-in-blood, by Royal Academy (USA) from Palace Beat (NZ) (Lot 101) will go under the hammer later tonight, offered by Robert Crabtree's Dorrington Farm.
Also from Dorrington Farm tonight, Lot 108, a cracking type of bay colt by Snippets from the good producer Patience Camp (GB). Many of the good judges are tipping him as the best Snippets on the grounds.
Rubiton, the Cox Plate winning son of mighty Victorian sire Century, has some great lots scheduled for this evening including: Lot 71, full brother to brilliant juvenile
Millrich; Lot 74, full brother to South African star Ruby Clipper; and Lot 83, full brother to stakes-winner
Rubitoff; Lot 85, a full sister to highly promising sprinter Prince
Rubiton.
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