Strong buyer competition continued during the third session of the Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale on Tuesday with the average climbing 34% to $63,695.

Gross receipts for broodmares is more than $22 million, well up on the $17.50 million for the total sale in 2015, with a full day of selling to come on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s top price was recorded for Group 3 winner Vergara when Heritage Bloodstock’s Paul Guy paid $460,000 on behalf of Blue Gum Farm.  The four-year-old Snippetson mare attracted significant interest after running a strong fourth behind Winx in the G1 Doncaster Hcp last month.

“She will be bred this season but not before we give her a freshen-up and take her to Brisbane,” said Guy.  “She does well first up so we’re looking forward to seeing some results.  We’re excited to get her, she’s out of a half-sister to Blue Gum’s sire Turffontein so we have a lot of respect for the family.”

Victorian clients dominated the leader-board securing 11 of the top 15 lots and over 120 mares in total.

“Blue Gum was the leading vendor at Melbourne Premier this year and we are delighted to see the confidence they and other Victorian breeders have shown in the future of their state’s breeding industry,” Inglis director Jonathan D’Arcy said.  “They have invested in some high quality mares and so have Yu Long Investments, Sun Stud, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Musk Creek Farm, Rushton Park, Burnewang North Pastoral and Spendthrift Australia.”

VERGARA