Red Ransom Filly Tops The Price List In Highly Successful Melbourne Yearling Sales
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday February 14, 2003
Sydney-based bloodstock agent David Lamond, the man who engineered the Murphy's Blu Boy sale in Goondiwindi less than a fortnight ago, came away from this week's Melbourne Premier Sale with the highest-priced yearling, a filly by Red Ransom for $260,000.
The affable Lamond, who works closely with Randwick trainer Ron Quinton, purchased the filly on the second day of the sales which proved to be a resounding success for the William Inglis company with a 12 per cent increase on last year's results.
Red Ransom, a proven American sire which began its stud career there in 1991, has been shuttling to Vinery Australia since 1999 and has become a headliner courtesy of the two Blue Diamond Prelude wins by his filly Halibery, trained by Mick Price.
The Red Ransom filly sold on Tuesday was from the mare Calameo, which has already produced group1 Caulfield Guineas winner Lady Of The Pines, and her value as a broodmare down the track is quite exceptional.
Currently Red Ransom is in fifth position in the leading two-year-old stallion listings, but has a great opportunity to surge to the lead should Halibery maintain her unbeaten record in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week.
It was somewhat ironic that Murphy Blu Boy's trainer Mick Hicks was having his own little spending spree at the Melbourne sales as well after having sold half of the two-year-old for close to $1 million.
On day one Hicks spent $100,500 for four yearlings two by Dolphin Street, and one each by first season sires Dangerous and Lion Cavern. On Tuesday he followed up with two colts by Umatilla for a total of $50,000.
Are all Goondiwindi bound.
Newcastle trainer Paul Perry was another cashed up after his win with Choisir in last Sunday's group1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington, coming away from the Premier Sales with three lots costing $282,500.
These yearlings included a colt by another of Vinery Australia's shuttle stallions Gilded Time from Calemoss, which is closely related to the $260,000 filly. Perry paid out $160,000 for the youngster.
On day one Perry bought a colt by Danehill Dancer, the sire of Choisir, for $75,000 and on day two a Snippets colt as well as the Gilded Time for $47,500.
Perry's purchases follow his Karaka Premier buys which saw him acquire three Danehill yearlings for a combined total of $NZ630,000 ($588,000). The second-costliest yearling was Rubitano's full brother which sold late on day two for $230,000.
NZ-based bloodstock agent Paul Moroney was the biggest buyer at Melbourne with eight lots for $467,000. These will be trained by his brother Mike.
Tony Noonan finished the sale with seven lots costing $335,000; Aquanita Racing signed for six lots costing $335,500; South Coast trainer Rado Boljun was another surprise spender, buying six yearlings for $150,000 while Mark Pilkington left with seven yearlings for $267,500.
Only one yearling a filly by Red Ransom went to one the big buyers, Gai Waterhouse, while Graeme Rogerson purchased two yearlings for $30,000 and $32,500. Bart Cummings bought two while John Hawkes bought the only Redoute's Choice in the sale for $50,000.
Overall the Melbourne division of William Inglis was pleased with the result which saw 14 lots sell for more than $1m in total.
KENTUCKY BOUND: Mr Henrysee, sire of prolific group1 winners Mr Innocent and Victory Vein, jets out of Melbourne on Sunday for Kentucky, where he will have a belated stallion season at the Domino Stud of his owner, Ken Jones Jr.
The 14-year-old stallion is a son of Mr Prospector and Jones decided to use him with a dozen of his better American-based broodmares, and hopes to attract outside attention at the same time.
Mr Henrysee received the bulk of the owner's better performed mares in the southern hemisphere breeding season just finished.
GIANT-KILLER: A week ago Arrowfield Stud announced the acquisition of three stallions for the 2003 breeding season, but little did they expect one of the sires would boost his future with a feature race win in the US.
Hussonet, the former Chilean-owned stallion, was represented by the Nelson Bunker Hunt-owned Sienne, which registered his sixth win at the Golden Gate track last weekend in the Tanforan Hcp over 1 1/16th miles (1700m).
It was a giant-killing performance by Sienne, which relegated the group1 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Sligo Bay into second place, further emphasising the potential of Hussonet, which is a son of US supersire Mr Prospector.
DATE CHANGE: William Inglis & Son have announced a change of dates for their 2003 Australian Weanling and Broodmare Sale, reverting to its traditional Easter dates rather than late May which had been the case for the past two years.
Managing Director Reg Inglis said the change was a result of numerous
requests from international buyers who attend the Easter Yearling Sales and find
it hard to return a month later due to overseas commitments.
MELBOURNE PREMIER SALE Top 10 yearlings Filly (Red Ransom x Calemeo) D Lamond, $260k Colt (Rubiton x Mrs Soffel) Teeley Assets, $230k Colt (Gilded Time x Calemoss) P Perry, $160k Colt (Encosta De Lago x Lottey) B Durran, $150k Filly (Red Ransom x Kilspindle) Colm Santry, $140k Colt (Danzero x Bratenahl) Hancock B'Stock, $125k Filly (Flying Spur x Sister St Klaire) P Moroney, $115k Colt (Perugino x Edna Valley) B Casey, $115k Colt (Danzero x Chimango) T Bott, $110k
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
