Royal Academy Mare Brings $102,911 in Australia; Oaklands June Sale Posts Record Gross

Liberty Rose, a stakes-winning daughter of Royal Academy, brought Aus$155,000 ($102,911 in U.S. funds) Wednesday to top the final session of William Inglis & Son's June weanling and Thoroughbred sale at Oaklands in Australia. The auction ended with a sale-record gross revenue of Aus$6,258,950 ($4,155,567), up 6% from a year ago. The 738 horses sold averaged Aus$8,407 ($5,582).

"I could not have asked for a better outcome over the past three days of selling," said Peter Heagney, William Inglis & Son's Melbourne manager. "With record entries and an outstanding clearance rate of 90%, it is encouraging to see such consumer confidence in the Victorian Thoroughbred industry. Our market continues to go from strength to strength, which augers well for the 2004 yearling sales."

Belmont Bloodstock purchased Liberty Rose from Group One Racing Club. A 5-year-old who was produced from the Sir Tristram mare Cherry Garden, Liberty Rose captured the 2001 Lindsay Park Guineas and finished second in the same year's Oakland Plate.