SHARKBITE HAS WOW FACTOR

Some big winners emerged from last week’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale – and none more so than exciting freshman sire, Sharkbite (above).

Astute broodmare owners were rewarded for their faith when Sharkbite progeny sold for up to 15 times service fee in Melbourne, but more importantly, it was the “direction” those youngsters took when departing Oaklands Junction.

Although only four Sharkbite yearlings were offered in Melbourne (with many mare owners deciding to retain their rising 2YOs), those that did go through the ring attracted the attention of our nation’s leading trainers including Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, David Hayes, Anthony Freedman and John McArdle.

It’s little wonder that they were so popular: Sharkbite himself was sold for $900,000 as a yearling – testimony to his athleticism – and he’s by Champion stallion , Redoute’s Choice, whose other successful sons at stud include top sires Stratum, Snitzel and Not a Single Doubt.

Furthermore, Sharkbite hails from arguably the finest family in the European Stud Book, being closely related to Champion UK sire, Dansili, and Leroidesanimeux, sire of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom as well as six other Group One winners, including champion Banks Hill.

Sharkbite  backed up his yearling price and blue blood pedigree with racetrack performance, being unbeaten as a 2YO and being amongst the best of his age at three: subsequently defeating six stakes winners in the Listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield.

“Sharkbite has been hugely popular since arriving on the farm,” Eliza Park’s Nominations Manager, Mark Lindsay, said, referring to Sharkbite’s  books of 100 plus mares in his two seasons since moving to Victoria. “There has been a buzz about  his foals from the beginning and last year his first weanlings sold for up to $40,000. That’s very good off a service fee of just $5,500!

“We were very encouraged when David Bourne paid $60,000 for a colt at the Sydney Classic Sale and at Melbourne Premier I was blown away by the number of inspections for the Sharkbite (from Miss Keaton) filly that we offered in the first session. Just about every leading trainer and bloodstock agent had her out of the box at some stage with many of them returning for second and third looks. She ended up going to Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra for $75,000 – 15 times service fee. The Sharkbite (from Thousand Veils) colt from Grange Thoroughbreds was equally popular and he sold to John McCardle for $70,000 – giving Sharkbite an overall average of $72,500 for the Premier session.

“The second session saw the Sharkbite (from Pomeranz) filly go to David Hayes for $40,000 and the Sharkbite (from Huamulan) colt go to the bid of Anthony Freedman for $35,000. That’s an average of $55,000 over the two sessions and a tidy 11 times service fee.

“They will surely be given every chance to succeed and it augurs well for those broodmare owners who have supported the horse in the past three seasons.

“The Sharkbite gravy train now heads to Adelaide where Eliza Park will offer a lovely colt from the well related Zabeel mare Close Embrace (Lot 154) and he is expected to be popular too.

“We have already taken a number of 2012 season bookings from breeders returning to Sharkbite and, at a service fee of $5,500, Sharkbite represents excellent value … particularly with the introduction of the new VOBIS Gold bonus scheme.”