CHAMPAGNE flowed in the Inglis sale ring following the final lot ever offered at Newmarket Stables, Randwick, through the Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale last week.
Following 112 years of history at Newmarket, an emotional crowd witnessed the penultimate entries and entered the ring for some post-sale celebrations.
When Jamie Inglis, the eldest of the fifth generation of the Inglis family, returned to the podium to auction the final entry, Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, had the honour of offering it, with principal Arthur Mitchell leading the horse.
Nervous Nellie, an unraced three-year-old filly by Snitzel, was purchased for $26,000 by John North, Bowness Stud, Young.
The sale began with a surge in demand for weanlings, the average being $25,672 for the 96 sold lots with a gross of $2.464 million.
The top price came early in the weanling division when a colt by new Sebring sire Dissident, from French bred mare Ajamais, fetched $160,000, selling from Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone, to Peter Ford Thoroughbreds, Victoria.
Middlebrook Valley Lodge also sold the second highest selling weanling at $130,000 for a colt by Vinery Stud’s champion sire More Than Ready, from Encosta de Lago mare Byatt.
The Queensland combination of Aquis Farm and Blue Sky Bloodstock bought a number of horses including the top-priced mare Our Girl Raquie, at $500,000 during the broodmare section.
An unraced three-year-old filly by Fastnet Rock, Our Girl Raquie was produced from Ten Carat Rock, a three-quarter sister to champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice.
Tamworth resident Judy Marhariene was ringside for its Stratheden Stud unreserved dispersal of weanlings and broodmares, who sold via Vinery Stud, as agent, a seven-year-old Fastnet Rock producer Passion Cheval, who was in foal to More Than Ready for $270,000.
Meanwhile, congratulations goes to Kate Harris of Bligh Park near Windsor who was one of three winners selected from thousands of entries for the Inglis “Win a share in a Racehorse” competition.
Having a lifelong interest in horses which included riding trackwork for former champion trainer Neville Begg at Randwick in the early 1970s, Kate is an employee of Fairfax Media having worked at The Land newspaper for the previous 25 years.
The package includes a 10 per cent share in a racehorse purchased at Inglis’ recent Australian Easter Yearling Sale and its upkeep for the next two years, with the horse to be trained Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes.
Kate’s shared racehorse is the yearling colt by former Godolphin United States-bred shuttle sire Shamardal.
The colt, who was produced from the Great Britain-bred Pivotal mare Transfix, was sold for $250,000 from Widden Stud.
Inglis displays cups
THE 2017 and 1867 Melbourne Cup trophies proved popular drawcards when displayed at Inglis’ massive farewell extravaganza party conducted in the sale’s ring last week.
I found long time Inglis vendors Helen and John North, of Bowness Stud, Young, among the 1867 cup admirers, the same year in which the Inglis firm kicked off its business as William Inglis in Sydney.
“I remember as a 12-year-old when I was with my father (John North senior) at the sales here and he bought a horse; it was 1962,” Mr North said at the party.
“That horse was Duo who won the Metropolitan Handicap, and was third in the Melbourne Cup.
“I am nostalgic about leaving Newmarket Stables, but I am looking forward to embracing the new complex (Riverside Stables at Warwick Farm) at the same time.
I am nostalgic about leaving Newmarket Stables, but I am looking forward to embracing the new complex.
- John North, Bowness Stud, Young
“It will be better for the horses, better access and space, and good logistics all round.”
