A wide range of proven sires and newcomers are represented in this year’s catalogue of 241 yearlings, 115 of them are Super VOBIS nominated and 97 are BOBS eligible, with selling to get underway at Oaklands Junction at 10am on Sunday.
“On Anzac Day, we didn’t expect there to be many out here and I was astounded with the number of people,” Vivian said. “It was really, really active and a lot of big name trainers out here too.
“What it did indicate to me is that there’s still a market for these horses. We’re delighted to have a lot of very good stallions represented.
“On Anzac Day, we didn’t expect there to be many out here and I was astounded with the number of people.” – Simon Vivian.
“I’m also really pleased with the way the horses have been presented, the vendors are doing a great job.”
Inglis Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian
Interstate interest
Among those out and about on pre-sale inspection duty has been the Tasmanian-based horseman Adam Trinder, trainer of the outstanding G1 Australian Guineas and All-Star Mile winner Mystic Journey (Needs Further).
“He’s got one of the best 3-year-olds in the country. He’s at this sale where he knows he can pick up some cheap horses and have a bit of fun, it’s very important,” Vivian said. “There’s always room for these sorts of horses.
“One of the things that we’ve tried to do is speak to owners. For as little as $1000 you can get five per cent of a horse and five per cent of the bill and the massive thrills that can come from it,” Vivian said.
“For as little as $1000 you can get five per cent of a horse and five per cent of the bill and the massive thrills that can come from it.” – Simon Vivian.
“Why not get in at a cheap level and get a toe in the water. If you’ve got a bit more money you might buy a better pedigree or whatever, but if it was that easy the Arab Sheikhs would probably control the racing world and they don’t.”
Impressive ambassadors
The Gold Sale has produced some outstanding results in recent years, graduates including the Group 1 Darley Classic winner Malaguerra (Magnus), who was bought for $32,000 and has earned more than $1.8 million.
The G2 Euclase S. winner and G1 Goodwood H. placegetter I’ll Have A Bit (Smart Missile) was a $48,000 purchase and has banked more than $670,000.
“We also saw that little filly that Darren Weir trained called Lyuba that cost $2000 and she’s won $400,000,” Vivian said.
“It’s a great concept and to have $2.5 million on offer the day before a yearling sale is fantastic.” - Simon Vivian.
This year’s sale will also ideally set up by Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield featuring the inaugural $1 million Ladbrokes Showdown, named after the great stallion who stood at Stockwell Stud, and open to the 2-year-old progeny of Victorian-based stallions nominated for the VOBIS Sires Race Series.
“It’s a great concept and to have $2.5 million on offer the day before a yearling sale is fantastic,” Vivian said.
“What it does indicate to anyone who wishes to get involved is that they can come to a sale and buy a horse relatively cheaply and be able to participate at very high prize money levels.
G1 winner Malaguerra was a $32,000 Melbourne Gold purchase
“The great percentage of horses in this sale are Super VOBIS or VOBIS Gold horses, that’s a driving force to so many of the Victorian buyers.
“We will be using the race day on Saturday as a major prompt to get people involved in the sale on Sunday.” – Simon Vivian.
“We will be using the race day on Saturday as a major prompt to get people involved in the sale on Sunday.”
Among the Showdown contenders on Saturday is Geraldine’s Jewel (Helmet), who highlights the value the auction offers being a bargain buy at the sale 12 months ago.
Owner and trainer Mark Ashby paid just $5500 for the filly, named after his mother, and following a debut win at Sandown and a fifth at Caulfield off a wide run she is now running for a $500,000 winning purse.
Bowness heads catalogue entries
John North’s Bowness Stud has the biggest draft in the sale and is expecting the stock of resident sire Bon Hoffa to attract widespread attention.
“He’s had the country championships winner Noble Boy recently and he looks to be a very good horse.” – John North.
“We’ve got some good colts by him and he’s always been fairly popular in Victoria, he was trained down here,” he said.
“He’s had the country championships winner Noble Boy recently and he looks to be a very good horse.
“There is also Bons Away with Ciaron Maher and he’s lined up in most of the big sprints and performed very well.”
John North with Bon Hoffa
Noble Boy has only been beaten once in seven outings while Bons Away has won six times for Maher and David Eustace, including this season’s Listed Adams S. He has also collected five black type placings and finished fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
“I’m tipping they’ll like them here, they’re pretty good types.” - John North.
“I’m tipping they’ll like them here, they’re pretty good types,” North said.
The Bowness draft also features half a dozen colts and three fillies by Bullet Train (GB), a Group winning three-quarter brother to the unbeaten champion Frankel {GB}).
“We own the Southern Hemisphere breeding rights to him, but didn’t bring him back this year,” North said. “The yearling market is unwilling to embrace these staying types, which is a shame.”
Bullet Train remains at his European base at Woodfield Farm Stud in County Waterford, Ireland.
“We’ve got a full-sister to Chapada, Lot 231, and she’s a really nice type,” North said.
“We’ve got a full-sister to Chapada, Lot 231, and she’s a really nice type.” - John North.
Trained by Michael Moroney, Chapada (Bullet Train) finished third in this season’s G1 VRC Derby and runner-up in the G2 Caulfield Classic. He is currently on a path toward next month’s G1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville.
He is out of Diamantina Dior (Oasis Dream {GB}), who boasts a well-performed European black type pedigree that includes the G1 Irish Derby winner Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
The family has also made a high level mark in Australia through Bauer (Ire) (Halling {USA}), winner of the G3 Geelong Cup and runner-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
