A Snitzel filly from a family synonymous with the Premier Yearling Sale and race day success topped today’s opening day action of the 2024 sale at Oaklands.
Lot 167 is a daughter of Snitzel and Charleston Dancer, whose page includes the likes of Victorian Stakes winners like She Dances, Bold Bastille, Innovation Girl, Ideas Man, Chloe In Paris etc, all bred by leading Victorian breeder Des Pope.
Pope again offered today’s top lot in the Blue Gum Farm draft, selling the filly to Peter Moody for $650,000.
Blue Gum’s Sean Dingwall was thrilled with the outcome.
“It’s absolutely a fantastic result,’’ Dingwall said.
“She’s obviously bred by the Popes who have owned this family for generations. She’s just a lovely balanced filly and a very good example of what Snitzel throws.
“She was very popular all week. We were blessed to have two lovely Snitzel fillies in the sale, this girl and one tomorrow (lot 314 ex Jestajingle), they’re both ripping fillies and have been very well inspected ahead of the sale.’’
Moody described the filly (pictured) as “gorgeous’’.
“She’s a really nice filly, we’ve obviously got the half sister in She Dances at home and we’ve also got the full sister at home that we have a lot of time for as well,’’ Moody said.
“She looks a lovely running filly, typical of the family and it’s a very strong fillies family and the pope family have been successful breeders for many decades so hopefully this is their next star.’’
Moody was also the buyer of today’s second top lot, a Written Tycoon x Talented colt from Yulong that was offered as lot 2 early in the morning.
“He’s a really nice colt, typical of the nice Written Tycoon colts he’s a big strong horse, a fair bit of [dam sire] Snitzel about him, nice size and strength and looks quite sharp,’’ Moody said of the colt, which he paid $525,000 for.
“Yulong have presented a big draft here, they’ve done a terrific job. We’re pleased to add this bloke to the team and looking forward to getting him home into the yard.’’
Yulong’s Sam Fairgray added: “He was a lovely colt, obviously Written Tycoon having a Group 1 winner yesterday doesn’t hurt, plus he’s out of a Stakes performed Snitzel mare and that cross works really well.
“Physically he was just a beautiful horse, we’re rapt with the result.’’
The sale of the colt helped Yulong end Day 1 as leading vendor, selling 21 yearlings for a gross of $3,233,000.
“We’ve been really happy with how the day has gone for us,’’ Fairgray said.
“It’s been a busy week, big numbers but we’ve had a really good day and the results have been great.
At the conclusion of Day 1 the sale is averaging $139,701 with a median of $105,000 and gross of $26,124,000, very similar figures to the equivalent stage 12 months ago.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch, while pleased with trade on the whole, felt the market was consistent with what has been experienced at the major Australian yearling sales so far in 2024.
“The competition on the horses that hit the bullseye for buyers was particularly strong and I think a lot of buyers were blown out of the water on the first preferences,” Hutch said.
“Inspections were strong and interest in the sale generally has been very good, but as has been the case through the year, buyers have been more selective in their approach and it’s meant that vendors have had to work harder to meet the market in some instances.
“I think as we progress to tomorrow, the clearance rate will continue to improve as buyers recognise the value that there is to be found in different sections of the market.
“We have plenty of nice horses to sell tomorrow with buyers getting the opportunity to find their next Think About it or Attrition or Griff or I Am Me or Bella Nipotina etc.’’
To enquire about a passed in lot from today’s action, contact Will Stott from the Inglis Bloodstock team on 0408 126 952.
The remaining two days of the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale begin at 10am at Oaklands and will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website and Facebook page via our Sale Day Live coverage from 9.30am both days.
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