Dr. Tom Simon, owner of Vinery in both Australia and the United States, sold all the mares he owns outright on opening day of the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale in Sydney on Sunday.And the smile on the big German's face wouldn't have been wiped off by anything. "What can I say?" he asked. "It is everything I expected and hoped for."Vinery's Australian broodmare dispersal netted Simon U.S.$14,686,500, but it seemed to raise more questions than answers. Are they pulling out of Australia by doing this? "No, just re-evaluating our position and looking to do things differently," said Simon, not wanting to elaborate much more. Be certain, though, there are bigger stories just around the corner in regard to Vinery's Australian operation.But sweep that aside.The limelight, spotlight and incredible fall sunlight (it was 96 degrees) were on Vinery's impressive draft which managed to produce three solo million dollar sales, topped by Mannington.She was a multiple group winner as a 2-year-old and twice group 1 placed as an older horse. She's by Danehill from former Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay – so she is about as well bred as a female in Australia can be. Darley bought her for U.S.$1,589,000. Darley has no limit on buying but this was over double what the previous Australian broodmare record was. But Mannington, who is in foal to Red Ransom, wasn't the only Vinery mare to attract seven figure sums.In The Past (Zafonic-Victoriana) is seven years old. She started just once and was unplaced. But her son, her first son, too – Domesday (by Red Ransom) – is a stakes winning 2-year-old and potentially one of the best juveniles in Australia.In The Past's grand dam is the great Sir Ivor blue hen Monroe. She fetched U.S.$809,714 to the bid of the cashed up Tyreel group who sold the Royal Academy-Sydney's Dream yearling last week in Sydney for A$1,200,000. In The Past is in foal to Red Ransom which helped her price skyrocket.Snowdrift, who has produced four stakes winners from four foals to race thus far, is a 10-year-old but worth her weight in gold. By Polish Precedent from the French mare Snowtop (Thatching), she fetched U.S.$1.25 million falling to the bid of Paul Fleming, also of the Tyreel group. Snowdrift is in foal to Red Ransom and has a More Than Ready yearling coming through plus a Red Ransom weaner.One of Vinery's U.S. runners, Damaschino, who was fourth in two separate grade II events in America, was part of this dispersal and was sold for A$800,000 to the Yoshidas of Japan. Damaschino (Last Tycoon-Princess Jocinda) was an outstanding runner while in Australia, winning twice at group III level and placing in New Zealand at group I level. She was sold in foal to Red Ransom.All up day one saw 199 horses sold (99% clearance rate) for a total of $29,016,500 (U.S.$22,479,000) at an average price of $145,811 (U.S.$112,404).
