"It's probably fairer on everyone if we sell them at auction," Orton said. "We have made the announcement that that is the way we will go with them and we will keep to that."The broodmare band, which will serve as stage two of the overall Vinery sell-off, is valued conservatively at around $20 million.
In a stunning multi-million dollar development overnight, Australia's most progressive stud farm, Arrowfield, has entered into an agreement with a silent partner to purchase all of Vinery Stud's Australian weanlings.The cost of the acquisition has not been confirmed by either Peter Orton, Vinery's general manager, or Arrowfield's owner John Messara, but strong industry rumor has it at around $4.5 million (Australian funds, about $3.5 million U.S.)."From our perspective, we are more than happy with the arrangement and the price, Orton said."There are 50 weanlings in the package. It is the biggest and most expensive independent weanling sale ever conducted in Australia.Listed among the pedigrees are numerous foals by Red Ransom, a large number by More Than Ready , several by Fusaichi Pegasus and a few by Mossman, Way Of Lights, and Brahms."We will be moving all of the weanlings to Arrowfield this week," declared Messara. "We paid market price for them and at this stage will just let them all grow out before deciding just what we do with them. Some we will keep, many we will sell as yearlings."Messara added that the 50-strong weanling package would bring to well over 200 the number of foals he has on the picturesque Scone based farm. "Obviously we will need to have a reduction of some stock in the not to distant future," he added.Vinery has had numerous offers to sell its broodmare band, but has committed the mares to public auction in April.