A colt by Eureka Stud's Spirit of Boom (Aus)–who has already sired 13 winners and four stakes winners in his first season with runners–topped the single-session Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale in Melbourne on Sunday. Setting a new high-price mark at A$120,000, lot 248 sold to Gelagotis Racing and Anthony Panozzo from the draft of Rosemont Stud as a supplementary entry. Sales statistics on a whole however were down, with 200 sold–the same number as last year–for a clearance rate of only 79%. The 2017 edition resulted in 88% of the catalogue finding new homes. The aggregate was A$3,853,000, while the average fell to A$19,265 (-14.7%). The median also dipped to A$13,000 (-27.8%).
From the family of Italian stakes winners Poseidon (GB) (Polar Falcon) and Jalmoon (GB) (Jalmood), the October-foaled bay is out of the Mossman (Aus) mare Moxie Doll (Aus), a half-sister to Group 3 winner King Kool Kat (Aus) (King Cugat).
“The stallion is doing incredible things and we're really thrilled to get a nice running style of a horse like him with a pedigree to run, by a stallion in the top three or four in Australia at the moment,” Manny Gelagotis said.
Rosemont's Gerard Jones always believed the son of Spirit of Boom youngster was “the colt of the sale”. “We're ecstatic with the result,” Jones said. “He's been out of his box all day today especially, so I'm glad he can go back now and relax. He's typical of all the Spirit of Booms, really relaxed, no fuss. He took it all in his stride. It's really good that Manny got him. He's VOBIS qualified so it's great that he stayed home in Victoria.”
The second dearest lot on the day was also the top-priced filly, as Tony Ottobre of Boneo Horse Ranch snapped up a daughter of shuttler Toronado (Ire) out of Take All of Me (Aus) (Jeune {GB}) (lot 210) for A$85,000. Part of the Armidale Stud consignment, the half-sister to G3 National S. victress I'll Have a Bit (Aus) (Smart Missile {Aus}) counts three-time group winner Tickle My (Aus) (Perugino) as her second dam.
“The Toronados I really do like,” said Ottobre. “I also like the High Chaparral (Ire) side and I see a lot of High Chaparral in this filly. She's a 3-year-old onwards type, mid-distance, definitely not a sprinter. She's a very nice Classic type of racehorse.”
“To be able to achieve a record price for the sale was very pleasing,” said Inglis Victoria Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian.
“The clearance rate was especially sticky for the first couple of hours while the sale found its feet, but the second half probably went around 85% clearance through the ring which was satisfying. Private sales will see that advance to over 80%. There was great support here from the Victorian training bench, as well as NSW, South Australia and Tasmanian trainers too, so I'm looking forward to seeing some fantastic results on the track from these horses from next year.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
