Inglis confirmed on Monday the Australian Easter Yearling Sale will go ahead as planned in front of an invitation-only buying bench at Riverside Stables despite the wholesale disruptions brought about by coronavirus.
On-line bidding will play an unprecedented role and Vinery Stud has responded by filming and sharing virtual inspection videos of its yearlings complete with front and back walking views as well as 360 degree standing shots.
Vinery’s consignment will be available for on-site inspections as from next Monday, March 30 at Barn I. There will be five yearlings parading following the withdrawal of Lot 185.
The stud’s record with its graduates went to another level with Farnan in the Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 at Rosehill last Saturday and its Easter yearlings are by leading sires More Than Ready, Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Sebring and Tavistock.
The first Vinery lot into the sale-ring is from the penultimate crop of More Than Ready’s Golden Slipper winner Sebring. Lot 174 is the second foal from Runway Star who won the Proud Miss Stakes Gr.3 for Vinery and trainer Peter Moody.
Runway Star had made $300,000 at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearlings sale when stunning looks and superb pedigree made her the most expensive filly from the first crop of ill-fated sire Northern Meteor.
Second-dam Intuit (Commands) was stakes placed at Randwick and it’s the immediate family of Fashions Afield (Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes Gr.1) and More Than Ready colt Kiss And Make Up (Todman Stakes Gr.2).
Vinery’s colt by I Am Invincible from Group 1-winning sprinter Snitzerland (Lot 209) will be a highlight on Day 1 at Riverside Stables.
I Am Invincible had three yearlings top $1 million at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January and every colts syndicate looking for a stallion prospect will have him on their wish-list. Snitzerland has had two to race for two stakes performers including this season’s VRC Maribyrnong Plate Gr.3 winner Hard Landing.
The More Than Ready – Tale Of Choice filly (Lot 235) is from a Sydney-winning daughter of Redoute’s Choice. The Vinery legend’s cross with Danehill-line mares is a proven Group 1 combination and there could be another before the Easter Sale if Global Quest lines up in the Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 4.
Trainer Matt Dunn bought the first foal from Tale Of Choice from Vinery at last year’s Inglis Classic Sale. A son of All Too Hard, he has been named Wuddacuddashudda and was placed in a Gold Coast trial last month.
The Tavistock – Champagne Harmony colt (Lot 378) will attract extra off-shore attention given the success of his sire with Hong Kong Champion Werther. He sired another promising winner at Sha Tin on March 14 when Beluga scored second time out for David Hall.
Champagne Harmony (Choisir) won a Yallambee Classic Gr.2 and the best of her four winners to date has been More Than Ready filly Sezanne. She was runner-up in a Flight Stakes Gr.1 and Moonee Valley Classic Gr.2.
Buyers will keep their powder dry for Vinery’s Snitzel colt from Hallowell Belle (Lot 480) late on Day 2. Snitzel is Australia’s reigning champion sire and his Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Exhilarates was a Vinery graduate in 2018.
Hallowell Belle (Starcraft) won a Group 2 sprint at Flemington and was Group 1 placed four times for Gai Waterhouse. Lindsay Park 2yo filly Bella Nipotina has added more black-type to the page this season and she holds an entry to the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo this Saturday.
More Than Ready – Tale Of Choice filly Lot 235