Weblog: William Huntingdon rounds-up the events at the Inglis Easter Sale
Tough for Patinack to take on Darley's empire
FINAL RESULTS for the 2009 Easter Sales were better than the gloomy first day figures augured. However, therewere only eight million-dollar-plus yearlings and the average dipped markedly.
Predictably Redoute's Choice headed the sires' list averages, but slightly surprisingly, Galileo had a better average for his 11 yearlings than Encostade Lago.
Galileo had his critics here but had an impressive book of mares two years ago that included Makybe Diva and Procrastinate.
Numerically, Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farm bought the largest number of horses, closely followed by Darley and Shadwell and then local trainer Anthony Cummings, Bart's son. Apart from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, notable absentees included Bob Ingham and Lloyd Williams.
Darley have recently added three adjacent properties near Richmond with a Georgian heritage house called Osborne Park. There is already a good training track there built by Bob Rutley but unused, which is going to become the two-year-old training base for the Darley horses after breaking in and before going to Warwick Farm. Their determination to build on their impressive Australian base is clear and Nathan Tinkler's challenge to become bigger and more successful than Darley may be hard to sustain.
In addition to the various European bloodstock agents over for the sales, well-known Newmarket vets Andrew Edgar and Mathilde Texiel have been here. Sam Vestey is hoping to repeat the success he has already had with Adrian Nicholl-bought yearlings out here.
Mark Wallace is soon to move into his new Warwick Farm stable, while Nigel Blakiston who worked for Bruce Hobbs in Newmarket has had a Group 1 winner in Littorio and was hoping to add to his stable at Flemington. Gary and John Moore were down from Macau andHong Kong respectively.
Gary spent some time at Warren Place with Sir Noel Murless and then rode very successfully in France.
John has trained many winners in Hong Kong and has teamed up in recent years with Al Donald of Kern Lillingston to import English and Irish horses, including the recent Hong Kong Derby winner Collection, previously trained by William Haggas for Highclere Thoroughbreds.
Generally it is felt that Australian breeding will ride out the trough of recession more successfully than most other countries due to their great prize-money and lower keep charges thanks to their better climate.
It may take two years before the high covering fees from the lasttwo seasons work themselves out. This year's nominations will allow a better chance of safe profit margins.
