Darley sire Helmet topped the six stallion nominations auctioned during the Inglis August Sale at Oaklands Junction on Friday.

Proceeds will help support the Victorian breeding industry through Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.

Woodside Park manager Murray Tillett bid $27,000 to secure a 2014 nomination to Helmet.  The Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel has just returned to Darley’s Northwood Park property in Seymour after a northern season at Dalham Hall in Newmarket.

“We’re fans of Helmet and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s already booked out this year,” Tillett said.  “My son Matt works at Darley and even he couldn’t get us in!”

Helmet was a Group 1 juvenile winner of the ATC Sires Produce Stakes and ATC Champagne Stakes before returning at three to land the G1 Caulfield Guineas.  “He arrived back home in great nick last week,” Darley’s Victorian nominations manager Andy Makiv said.  “He covered 155 mares here last year and his first southern yearlings will be catalogued for the 2015 majors.”

Friday’s sale netted $97,000 and TBV president James O’Brien thanked the six studs that donated nominations to the following stallions;

EQUIANO (Swettenham)  Buyer:  Burnewang North Pastoral  $12,000
FIORENTE (Eliza Park)  Buyer:  Deballa Trust  $16,000
HELMET (Darley)  Buyer:  Woodside Park  $27,000

STARSPANGLEDBANNER (Rosemont)  Buyer:  Inglis (as agent)  $21,000
UNENCUMBERED  (Three Bridges)  Buyer:  C & H Bloodstock  $11,000
WRITTEN TYCOON (Woodside Park)  Buyer:  P Schauble  $10,000

MURRAY TILLETT (left) & ANDY MAKIV