PREMIER … IN EVERY SENSE

The 2013 chapter of the Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale has proven, yet again, that quality will find its measure.

Inglis is to be applauded for assembling a diverse buying bench – both domestic and global … with the South Africans in particular being most active.

Eliza Park was, for the second year running, the leading vendor by aggregate ($2,444,000) and also supplied the topper for the second session with the Holy Roman Emperor colt from Exact fetching $110,000.

Eliza Park based stallions also fared well with two Written Tycoons selling for $220,000 apiece, the Wanteds sold to $220,000, a Bel Esprit went for $280,000, Statue of Liberty was again popular, while Magnus averaged over three times service fee.

However, perhaps the most pleasing aspect of Melbourne Premier ’13 was the clearance rate: while the overall average was 79%, Eliza Park’s was over 85% - a tribute to both the quality on offer and our clientele’s willingness to meet the market.

Congratulations are also in order to Yearling manager, Jenny Saunders, Smithfield manager, Frank Oliver, and their team for presenting a team that lived right up to record inspections in the five days preceding and four days of the actual sale. Ultimately, there were over 3,500 inspections throughout the week – Sunday alone was incredible.

Encouragingly, draft members have found new homes in leading stables, with buyers from every state, along with purchasers from New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa.

And now we’re ready to do it all again with 24 youngsters up for grab at the Adelaide Magic Millions which kicks off on Monday, followed up by consignments for QTIS next weekend and then on to Sydney for the Easter Yearling Sale.

NEW RVL CHAIRMAN

Well done Rob Roulston ...

Some 24 hours after Victorian Racing Minister Dr Denis Napthine suddenly found himself elevated to Premier of Victoria, the State's governing racing body, Racing Victoria, has elected well known industry figure Robert Roulston as its new chairman. Roulston, who has been vice-chairman and has served on the Board since 2008, succeeds outgoing chairman Michael Duffy who will remain on the Board until October. Meanwhile, Roulston's newly appointed deputy chairman is Michael Caveny. Roulston commented on his appointment: "I am honoured to have been elected the Chairman of Racing Victoria and look forward to working with the Board, management, staff and industry stakeholders to ensure the sport of thoroughbred racing grows and prospers in Victoria..."

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE FARM ...

Good news from the Racing Network.

John McNair described himself as a kid waiting for Christmas as Hay List moved a step closer to a miracle return to the races with a sizzling gallop at Warwick Farm yesterday.

Glyn Schofield let the powerhouse sprinter rip over the final 600m of the gallop, stopping the clock at 33.26secs - indicating he is on track for the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Warwick Farm next Saturday.

“I was disappointed with the time until I heard what More Joyous ran (34.95secs),” McNair said.

“I came here expecting him to break 33 secs but I am very happy.

“I feel like a six-year-old waiting for Christmas, it is exciting.”

Schofield was pleasantly surprised with time of the hit-out given he was kind to the seven-year-old sprinter close to the winning post.

“He doesn’t feel like he is going that quick,” he said.

“It was the same in the trial, we went much quicker than I thought.”

Hay List hasn’t raced since finishing second in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March 2012.

He has since had life threatening surgery to repair a shattered knee incurred during an operation for colic.

McNair believes Hay List will be short of a run in the Challenge Stakes despite the strong hit-out.

“Ideally I would love another two weeks with him but we had a set back early on in the preparation and it put us 10 days behind,” he said.

“We need to run next week, we need to start his preparation so he is ready for the TJ Smith Stakes (April 13).”

BATTLE OF THE FIRST SEASON SIRES

Breednet’s Tara Madgwick sums up the 2013 Melbourne Premier …

The performance of first season sires at our major yearling sales is always a topic of interest so we’ve delved into the 2013 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale results to see which young sires found favour.

It was a market that can only be seen as quite unforgiving given the clearance rate of 76%, which is the lowest of any major sale in Australasia this year (barring NZB Select 71%) and the lowest at this sale since 2009 when it fell to 75%.

That said, there was good money for quality and Eliza Park’s Wanted led the freshman sire charge as he was always expected to do.

A Group One winning son of Fastnet Rock, Wanted has been super popular at earlier sales this year and demand for his stock continued in his home state.

Wanted averaged just shy of $100,000 and had six youngsters sell for $100,000 or more among his 14 in total, the best a colt from Dushanbe that made $220,000 for Kornong Stud Farm when knocked down to BC3 Thoroughbreds.

His progeny have impressed across the board and no doubt his half dozen for the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next month will also hit the mark.

Wanted started his stud career off in a comfortable fashion covering just 75 mares in his first season followed by 112 in 2011, but last year the brakes were released and he covered 179 mares at a fee of $33,000, so his supporters will be hoping they run as well as they look in the sale ring.

MAGNUS MARCH

The steady flow of winners for Magnus was clearly a telling point at the Melbourne Premier with his yearlings selling up to $125,000 and averaging $70,000 – over three times service fee.

Accordingly there has been plenty of action around his six yearlings in Eliza Park’s Adelaide draft and given his efforts over the last couple of days, they too should be popular in the Morphettville ring.

On Friday he had just the two runners, the Gai Waterhouse trained, Magnetron, who was having only his second start when successful over 1200m at Wyong, while Magnusificent finished second in South Australia.

On Saturday, David Hayes’ 3YO, Backstedt, won by almost four lengths over a mile at Echuca – his second win this time in – while his other three runners finished second on debut (Big Island), third on debut at Morphettville (Miss Wynette) and fifth – just a length off the placings – in the Supremacy Stakes-LR for 2YOs at Ascot (Purist).