Buyers have converged on the Inglis Oaklands sales complex as inspections take place ahead of Monday’s first session of the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.

Sale graduates have been flying high in the past 12 months and Black Caviar’s scintillating Lightning Stakes win last Saturday further underlined the level of quality on offer at Premier.

Melbourne’s jewel in the Festival Of Racing, this weekend’s Super Saturday at Caulfield, could further enhance that reputation.  Inglis graduates are heavily represented across the Blue Diamond, Futurity Stakes and Oakleigh Plate.

The Blue Diamond has been a happy hunting ground for Inglis graduates, winning seven of the past 11, including Premier stars Alinghi and Reward For Effort.

Graduates of Inglis sales make up 9 of the 14 runners in this year’s Diamond, including Premier purchases Masthead, Arctic Command, Delago’s Lad and second favourite Hallowell Belle.

Reward For Effort is out to further his G1 resume when he runs in the Oakleigh Plate, where stablemate and fellow Premier graduate Set For Fame also looms as a live chance.

Ortensia has been well-travelled in the past 18 months and performed with distinction everywhere she has raced.  The Tony Noonan trained mare chases an overdue G1 win in the Futurity Stakes.  Avienus, who ran so well in last year’s Cox Plate, is another Oaklands product set to tackle the Futurity.

The 2011 Melbourne Premier Sale begins next Monday, February 28 and runs over four consecutive days.