Victorian demand for quality bloodstock reached unprecedented levels at the Inglis Broodmare Sale in Sydney last week.

The Top 20 leader-board included 11 mares heading to Victoria and the First X1 alone totalled $5 million.

Yulong Investments owner Zhang Yueshang paid $735,000 for Hussonet mare Extremely who was sold in foal to Snitzel.  She is carrying a full sibling to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Extreme Choice.

“Mares like her don’t come up very often,” YuLong’s Pakenham-based manager Scott Williamson said.  “It was a great opportunity to buy a mare who has produced arguably the best two-year-old of the year.”

Sun Bloodstock weighed in with $700,000 for Shamardal’s Group 1 winning filly Faint Perfume, in foal to Redoute’s Choice.  “She was a really talented mare so we’re delighted to be able to buy her,” Sun’s David O’Callaghan said.  “She will visit one of Sun Stud’s resident stallions this season.”

Another high-priced mare relocating to the VOBIS State is $520,000 buy Forever Discreet (Bernardini).  The LR Morphettville Guineas winner will join the Spendthrift Farm nursery at Romsey in foal to Deep Field.

Heritage Bloodstock’s Paul Guy paid $460,000 for Vergara (Snippetson) on behalf of Blue Gum Farm.  “We’re excited to get her,” Guy said.  “She’s out of a half-sister to Blue Gum sire Turffontein so we have a lot of respect for the family.”

Vergara will freshen-up for the Brisbane winter carnival before going to stud in September.

“We are delighted to see the confidence Blue Gum and other Victorian breeders have shown in the future of their State’s breeding industry,” Inglis director Jonathan D’Arcy said.  “They have invested in some high quality mares and so have Yu Long Investments, Sun Stud, Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Musk Creek Farm, Rushton Park, Burnewang North Pastoral and Spendthrift Australia.”

Mares carrying first-crop foals by Victorian sires were also popular in Sydney.  Darley star Brazen Beau averaged $276,250 for four lots highlighted by London Calling who was knocked down to Heritage Bloodstock for $470,000.

Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (Ire) covered 174 mares in his first book including More Than Ready mare Moretti who made $170,000 to the bid of China Horse Club.  She is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bentley Biscuit.

FAINT PERFUME