Capitalist pinhook tops opening session of Inglis Melbourne Gold Sale
Andrew Lafontaine and Peter Macvean splash $115,000 on yearling from Ponderosa Park by leading first season sire
Buyers rallied strongly for the only Capitalist (Written Tycoon) on offer at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale with Victorians Andrew Lafontaine and Peter Macvean going to $115,000 during yesterday’s opening session to secure a flashy–looking colt from the Ponderosa Park draft.
Lot 160, the first foal out of MRC Blue Diamond Preview (Gr 3, 1000m) placegetter Chateau Griffo (Sebring), is the second-highest priced horse ever sold at a Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale.
Old friends, Lafontaine and Macvean have been racing horses together with reasonable success for more than 15 years and were delighted to get the horse they had targeted.
“He’s by Capitalist, out of a stakes-placed mare, he’s a cracking type with a nice page so we’re really pumped to be taking him home,’’ said Lafontaine.
“We came here wanting to buy one of the best horses in the sale, we had a few on our list and our limit was $100,000, but we basically knew that we would need to dig a bit deeper to get our hands on a Capitalist colt, so we did and we’re pretty happy we did.
“Capitalist can do no wrong, he’s going from strength to strength so hopefully this colt can add to that in years to come.
“We have bought a couple of horses from this sale and with mixed results, so we thought we would look at some of the better type horses from the better stallions and see where we land this time around.”
He will be sent to Moe to be trained by Craig Blackshaw, the son of well respected Gippsland horseman Darryl.
“We’ve been racing horses with Craig for a few years now and have given him some cheapies, but we wanted to give him a proper horse and we think this is the one.
“We have had success with a few cheapies and we thought we would upgrade this time and see how we go.”
Lafontaine part-owns the handy four-year-old Robbie Griffiths–trained mare Don’ttelltheboss (Street Boss) who ran second in a Benchmark 84 race at Flemington on Saturday, and, like many owners, he’s dreaming of winning that elusive Group 1.
“We haven’t cracked it for a Group 1 win yet but nor have a lot of people, so we will keep striving for that. You never know your luck,” he said.
The colt was a great pinhooking outcome for the team at Nathalia–based Ponderosa Park, who originally purchased him out of the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March for $45,000.
At that particular sale he went through the sales ring with a bandaged leg after suffering a nick on the fetlock. Whilst the injury was only cosmetic, it put some buyers off and enabled Ponderosa Park’s owner Paul Kelly to pick him up for what, in hindsight, was a song.
Kelly, described the colt as an outstanding looking horse.
“We’re very happy with the price, he was on the market early enough for trainers to get on him and we’d hoped he’d roll up toward the $100,000 mark but never did we think it would exceed that, let alone reach $115,000 so we’re thrilled,’’ said Kelly.
“He’d be the best horse we’ve ever put through a yearling sale… he grabbed everyone’s attention and it was a great bidding battle with 360 Bloodstock the underbidder.
“Full credit needs to go to the staff at the farm, they do a great job and have done so especially with this colt and we can’t wait to get back here for session two where we have four more to offer, including a beautiful Merchant Navy filly.’’
Second-top lot honours on day one were shared, with an All Too Hard filly out of Savsenga (Reset), Lot 33 from the Blue Gum Farm draft and Lot 140, a Toronado colt out of Bluegrass Danni (Danetime) from Bombora Downs each selling for $100,000.
Christoph Bruechert offered the Toronado (High Chaparral) colt on behalf of breeder Raymond More, who was over the moon with the result.
“Raymond is thrilled, he’s so excited, we’re all very happy with that.
“He sold very well. For such a strong horse he moves quite lightly and I think that’s what attracted people to him,’’ said Bruechert.
The colt was purchased by long-time friends Mark Cook and Rod Scott, who met at Inglis’ original Newmarket sales complex more than 20 years ago.
Scott, who is based on the mid North Coast, said: “We’re delighted to get him. I wasn’t planning on spending that much but sometimes you’ve just got to go with your instinct.
“He developed so well even here on the complex, even from Thursday to this morning he just kept getting better. Mark is a great judge, it’s great working alongside him so hopefully we have some fun with this colt.’’
Blue Gum’s All Too Hard (Casino Prince) filly sold to Flemington trainer John Sadler and is a half–sister to Sadler’s talented two-year-old Starry Legend (Zoustar), which has won two of his three starts to date.
“We’ve got a very healthy opinion of Starry Legend and if he goes on to do what I think he’s capable of doing in the spring or next autumn, he really could enhance this filly’s page,’’ said Sadler.
“I really liked this filly as well, she’s going to be a lovely addition to the stable.
“I’d say she’d be up and running by this time next year and hopefully she can go on and make a name for herself in her own right, which I certainly think she can.’’
Blue Gum’s Phil Campbell – who enjoyed a 100% clearance rate yesterday from 12 yearlings offered said; “She’s a nice running type of filly, a particularly good mover and I think they’ll have plenty of fun with her.
“We’re tickled pink with the sale, we sold her for a good client Phil Wilton and she’s been raised on the farm all the way along.
“We’re very happy with what’s been achieved so far and tomorrow looks to be another strong day too,’’ said Campbell.
A number of other Victorian trainers were prominent on the buying bench with Michelle Payne forking out $70,000 for a Palentino colt out of Tiger’s Girl (Tiger Hill), Lot 78, from the Bucklee Farm draft.
Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell paid $72,000 for a Glass Harmonium colt offered as Lot 58 by Blue Gum Farm. He is out of Starlet O’Hara (Galileo), who has already produced Group 2-placed Captain Rhett (Helenus).
James Price, who is officiating at his first sale since taking over the role as Inglis’ Victorian bloodstock manager from Simon Vivian, said he was pleased with the opening day’s results.
The session ended with turnover of $2,297,250, with an average of $18,986, median of $11,000 and clearance rate of 80%. There are no comparable figures to last year’s edition, which was pushed back to July and held as an online one-day sale.
“I think it was a very healthy sale. There’s no doubt that based on the confirmation and pedigree of a number of the horses it was very strong.
“The market is still very picky. They are picky for the stallion most importantly, and for that to then match up on type.
“The industry is in a very good, healthy position but it’s not easier to sell horses that are a bit short of the mark,” said Price.
Crowd attendance at the Oaklands Junction sales complex yesterday was moderate with many buyers opting to conduct their bidding activity online.
“A number of people are doing inspections early and bidding online. Activity online was strong right through from the top lots to bottom end.”
The second session (Lots 171-339) of the Ingis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale begins today at 10am.