The 2018 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale got off to an even start on a day where the Victorian industry led from the front.
Woodside Park stallion Written Tycoon topped the Leading Sire list by aggregate, trainer Tony McEvoy was the day's No.1 buyer and Swettenham (by average) and Supreme Thoroughbreds (by aggregate) were the high-flying Day 1 vendors.
To view the Inglis TV story on Maluka Thoroughbreds and their unique blue-eyed yearling 'Frank Sinatra',CLICK HERE.
To view our Facebook Live end-of-day wrap of Day 1,CLICK HERE.
Day 1 ended with near identical stats to the same stage last year – average of $126,276, median of $110,000, clearance rate of 80% and gross of $14,648,000.
The Blue Riband session was also healthy, averaging $144,500 with a median of $150,000, clearance of 77% and gross of $4,335,000.
The day's top Lots were Lot 63, a Pierro x Scandiva colt offered by Supreme Thoroughbreds, which James Harron Bloodstock purchased for $400,000 and Lot 137, a colt by Fastnet Rock from Bird Of Fire, also selling for $400,000 to Paul Moroney Bloodstock.
The Pierro colt will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden at Randwick, while the Fastnet Rock colt will join the stables of Mike Moroney.
Coolmore duo Fastnet Rock ($255,000) and Pierro ($248,333) topped the leading sire by averages board.
Brent Grayling of Supreme Thoroughbreds was always confident his colt would sell well, despite being a later maturer.
"He's come into his own in the last month. He was so popular here this week, everybody wanted a piece of him,'' Grayling said.
"The key to him was everyone who knew the mother knew this colt because he's just a dead-ringer for mum.
"And the way Pierro is going, he's potentially a stud horse of the future this horse.''
Harron agreed.
"He's a cracking colt by the sire of the moment in Pierro out of a fantastic mare with one of the biggest pages in the book,'' Harron said.
"He has a great attitude, lovely depth of girth, great strong hip, very powerful sort of colt.
"He looks very strong and speedy. His mother was precocious so it's a fast family. He does tick boxes to be an early-type of horse.''
Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian was satisfied with the day's action.
"It was a largely predictable day, on par with this time last year and there are still a lot of very good horses from very good stallions to enter the ring,'' Vivian said.
"We would obviously like to see the clearance rate improve over the coming days but I'm extremely confident that will be the case as there is a lot of great stock still to be offered.
"The average of over $126,000 is pleasing knowing what is being offered over the coming days.''
To view the full Day 1 statistics,CLICK HERE.
Day 2 action begins at 11am tomorrow, Monday March 5.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
The remaining three days of the 2018 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will again be broadcast onInglis Sale Day Liveatinglis.com.auwhile Online Bidding and Make An Offer services will again be available.
To enquire about a Passed In Lot from today's action, contact James Mitchell from the Inglis Bloodstock division on 0438 274 198.
2018 MELBOURNE PREMIER YEARLING SALE DAY 1 WRAP
Lots Sold:116
Clearance Rate:80%
Average Price:$126,276
Median Price:$110,000
Top Price:$400,000
Gross:$14,648,000
BLUE RIBAND
Lots Sold:30
Clearance Rate:77%
Average Price:$144,500
Median Price:$150,000
Top Price:$400,000
Gross:$4,335,000