An Encosta De Lago half-brother to former pin-up mare Hot Danish was the headline act at the opening session of Wednesday’s Inglis Weanling and Breeding Stock Sale.

The brown colt, which was prepared for sale by Holbrook Thoroughbreds, was sold back to his breeder David Parker for $150,000.  The day’s top lot headed 8 weanlings to make $50,000 or more during the session.

New Zealand based agent Michael Wallace was a keen player during the session.  Wallace gave $85,000 for Edinglassie’s Commands colt from the winning Magic Albert mare Magic Summer.  Earlier he went to $71,000 for Vinery’s Magic Albert – Hearth colt.

Fellow New Zealand buyer Dean Hawthorne went to $70,000 for a first crop filly by Henrythenavigator.  Prepared by Middlebrook, the filly is from the stakes placed Danehill mare Danesty from the family of former star filly Danendri.

Hawthorne topped the opening session of the 2010 Inglis weanling sale when he went to $220,000 to secure a Redoute’s Choice – Back Pass colt from Arrowfield.  The brother to Sharkbite was pin-hooked for $340,000 at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne premier yearling sale.

In all, 130 weanlings sold on Wednesday for turnover of nearly $1.9 million.  The average was $14,567.

“The catalogue was down on pedigree from 2010, so it was a satisfactory result,” Inglis Director Jonathan D’Arcy said.  “The 80% clearance rate was pleasing.  There is certainly money to be made by pin-hookers looking to sell some of these weanlings at next year’s yearling sales – as evidenced by the strong New Zealand presence.”

D’Arcy noted the absence of a number of buyers owing to the air traffic chaos which has engulfed Sydney this week.  “We had plenty of activity online from those buyers unable to attend, but ideally it’s always better to have agents and buyers on the ground.”

The Select Weanling session continues from 10.30am on Thursday.  The Select Broodmare session begins on Friday afternoon.