The 2011 Melbourne Premier Sale concluded March 3, with significant increases across the board during the Premier II session, concluding a highly successful four days at Oaklands.
The average of Aust$31,917 (US$133,652) represented a 15% increase from 2010 figures, while the gross of $3,479,000 ($3,524,750) was also up 11%. This year’s clearance rate of 78% was also an improvement over the 74% figure for the same session a year ago.
McDonald Racing went to $150,000 ($151,973) to secure the session’s highest priced lot—a bay colt by Snitzel from the Grand Lodge mare Bee And Bee consigned by Woodside Park.
The colt was one of 22 yearlings to reach $50,000 or more today.
“Today’s sale proved that you don’t have to be in Premier I to get a good result,” Inglis Director Peter Heagney said. “Again, as in the main sale, the good horses were able to exceed vendors’ expectations.
“It was great to see many of the major buyers still in attendance and in addition to the predictably strong domestic buying bench, horses were also knocked down to South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong today.
“To get increases in all aspects of the sale is a very satisfying achievement and results at Oaklands this week have been comparatively better than any sale conducted in Australasia this year.”