The Melbourne Great Southern Sale continued its trend as being one of Australia's fastest growing sales, with this year's gross almost double from just two years ago.
When the hammer came down on the last lot at Oaklands today, over 650 weanlings, broodmares, racing stock and unbroken stock had been sold over the past four days.
The sale ended with a gross of $15,119,500, a 13% increase on last year and 78% higher than the 2015 edition of the sale.
This year's was a record-breaking sale on many fronts, including setting a new top price for a Victorian-sold weanling, which was made at $310,000 on Day 1 and matched on Day 2.
The top-priced lot over the four days was $460,000 for Group 3 winner Scarlet Billows, who was bought by Belmont Bloodstock (As Agent), from John Richards of Galadi Holdings.
An abundance of vendors went home with outstanding results, with Burnewang North, Milburn Creek, Three Bridges and Rosemont especially all enjoying a memorable sale.
Inglis' Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian was pleased with the overall results.
"This sale continues to prosper on so many fronts,'' Vivian said.
"Twenty-five lots sold for in excess of $100,000, indicating the significant increase in the quality of lots presented by our vendors. This resulted in unprecedented support from a wide national and international buying bench.
"It is also very pleasing to see the clearance rate for the select weanling session get up to nearly 80% and today's racing stock session clearing over 97%.''
Day 4 of the sale, which had a mix of yearling, racing stock and unbroken stock offered, saw Lindsay Park claim top vendor honour, selling all 16 of their entered stock.
The top Lot of the day wasLucques (Lot 832, pictured), which sold to Eric Musgrove for $160,000 from Contract Racing.
"The Great Southern is a quality sale and one we love supporting and this was a great result for us,'' Lindsay Park's Jason Timperley said.
"All vendors aim for a 100% clearance rate and we bought some nice horses to the ring today so it was nice to see them all go to great homes.
"This shows the value of buying well-bred fillies at yearlings sales; they can have a very good residual value once their racing days are over.''
Inglis' next sale is the Turangga Farm Unreserved Dispersal of In-Foal Mares, Select Weanlings and Race Fillies Sale at White Park, Scone on Sunday July 23.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
2017 MELBOURNE GREAT SOUTHERN SALE STATISTICS
(2016 in brackets)
Lots Sold:660 (683)
Clearance Rate:79 (91%)
Average Price:$22,908 ($18,601)
Top Price:$460,000 ($310,000)
Gross:$15,119,500 ($13,374,300)
