The curtain came down on the 2011 Melbourne Premier Sale on Thursday afternoon with Session 11 producing significant increases across the board.

It concluded a highly successful four days at Oaklands Junction.  The Session 11 average of $31,917 represented a 15% increase from 2010 figures. 

Turnover of $3.47 million was also up 11% and it was similar story with the $25,000 median.

Last year’s 74% clearance rate was also clearly bettered, with sales passing the 78% mark and likely to climb further as post sale negotiations are completed.

McDonald Racing secured Thursday’s highest priced lot, a bay colt by Snitzel from the Grand Lodge mare Bee And Bee offered by Woodside Park.  He was one of 22 yearlings to reach $50,000 or more during Session 11.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the result,” Inglis Director Peter Heagney said.  “Session 11 proved that you don’t have to be in the Premier Sale to get a good result.  Again, as in the main sale, the good horses were able to exceed vendors’ expectations.

“It was great to see many of the major buyers still in attendance and in addition to the predictably strong domestic buying bench, horses were also knocked down to South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong today.

“To get increases in all aspects of the sale is a very satisfying achievement and results at Oaklands this week have been comparatively better than any sale conducted in Australasia this year.”

Horses passed in during the four days of the Sale are still available for sale via the Make an Offer service.

The next sale in Melbourne is the March Thoroughbred Sale on 18 March, followed by the Autumn Yearling Sale on 17 and 18 April.