A revamped breeding stock sale series concluded at Riverside this afternoon, with the Australian Broodmare & Weanling Sale and the Chairman's Sale deemed an overwhelming success.
The broodmare sale ended with another strong day of trade, finalising a big four days of action which resulted in:
*The two days of select and general race fillies and broodmares averaging $42,199 and clearing an improving 76% through the ring
*Thursday's select weanlings clearing 85% and averaging $36,088 for 177 foals sold
*The Chairman's Sale ending with a clearance rate of 92% and average of $427,315, a record for a southern hemisphere sale
*In total over the four days of selling almost $40m was grossed.
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster believed the restructured sales format and scheduling played a significant role in the positive results.
"We listened to the feedback from our clients after some indifferent results last year, we changed some things around and I'm thrilled with how the past four or five days have played out for everyone,'' Webster said.
"There was strong, competitive bidding across all three sales – the weanlings, the Chairman's and the broodmares – and that led to many great results for the breeders and vendors.
"I'd like to thank all our clients who supported these sales and I wish the buyers the best of luck with their new purchases.''
On today's final day of the Australian Broodmare & Weanling Sale, three mares shared the honours of top lot with Exceed And Excel mare Aljawzaa (for Yarraman Park, in foal to Impending), Fastnet Rock mare Fast And Sexy (for Coolmore, pictured, in foal to No Nay Never) and High Chaparral mare High Hostess (for Coolmore, in foal to Merchant Navy) all selling for $200,000.
Those results ensured Coolmore ended as leading vendor by aggregate for the broodmares and race fillies at $1,502,00 ahead of Yarraman Park at $1,084,000.
Coolmore's Tom Moore said: "The competitive trade at all levels the past two days really highlights the strength and depth of the Australian market.
"Overall, the results for us and our clients are very pleasing and we'd like to thank all those who bought from us and wish them luck with their new purchases.''
Yarraman's Arthur Mitchell was delighted with the results.
"These sales are quite strong, very strong really,'' Mitchell said.
"There's plenty of people here to buy horses at all points of the market. It's good.''
John Kelly of Newhaven Park – who was one of several vendors to enjoy a 100% clearance rate and better the overall sale average – said: "It's been a very good sale at all levels. I think the market has been the best market for a Sydney broodmare sale for a lot of years.
"The Inglis team have done a fantastic job getting the buyers here for this sale.''
Friday night's Chairman's Sale was also a resounding success, with Henry Field of leading vendor Newgate Consignment describing it as a "really well executed sale''.
"It was a great job by the Inglis team keeping the catalogue very tight and the buying bench very big,'' Field said.
"It was a terrific sale. Every single mare we put to the market sold for above the reserve and the competition on most mares, there were three or more buying groups on them. That's testimony to the depth of the buying bench.''
Attention now moves to Scone for the annual HTBA Scone Select Yearling Sale, for which 204 yearlings have been catalogued.
Progeny of 71 sires including Not A Single Doubt, Dundeel, Brazen Beau, Sebring, Written Tycoon, Hinchinbrook, So You Think, More Than Ready, Deep Field, Nicconi, Rubick, Smart Missile, Star Witness, All Too Hard and Tavistock are among the catalogue, as are first season offerings by the likes of Exosphere, Press Statement, Kermadec, Super One, Scissor Kick, Headwater, Real Impact, Bull Point, Outreach and Panzer Division.
The sale will begin at White Park at 10am this Sunday, May 12.
Inspections begin from 8.30am at White Park on Saturday.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
Following Sunday's action there will be an Inglis Online sale to complement the yearling sale.
The Scone Online Thoroughbred Sale has attracted a quality catalogue of 146 broodmares, weanlings, yearlings and racehorses.
It will be available for viewing from tomorrow, Tuesday May 7 at 3pm, when bidding will begin.
The 'final countdown of bidding' will begin at 5pm on Monday May 13.
To view the catalogue, visitwww.inglisdigital.com