Vinery Stud has finished in the Top 5 for vendor turnover at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale grossing $8.45 million at an average of $367,609.

Day 2 at Riverside Stables saw Vinery benefit from a busy schedule out of its Stable I quarters with 15 yearlings generating $4.60 million.  “It’s been an exciting lead-up and the culmination of a lot of hard work,” Vinery’s Harry Roach said near the close of trade on Tuesday.  “We’re ecstatic to have that rewarded with some fantastic results.

“Our two beautiful I Am Invincible fillies both made $800,000 yesterday and the Zoustar colt that sold for $700,000 was another highlight.  Cambridge Stud bought an All Too Hard filly for $400,000 today and he’s gaining respect in the yearling market with all that success over the last twelve months.

“The Hawkes and Gai Waterhouse purchased our first Easter yearlings by Exceedance which was nice to see and, among all that, there were positive results for some important clients and good friends of the farm.”

Prominent Queensland owner Ron Wanless outlaid $575,000 for a So You Think – Salina colt (Lot 331) to lead Vinery’s draft on Day 2.  He had purchased a Fastnet Rock colt for $600,000 from Vinery at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January.

“I thought the So You Think was a bargain after being pin-hooked as a foal for $300,000,” Wanless reasoned.  “He’s a nice mover and fitted our criteria.  He’s from a Redoute’s Choice mare and the second-dam is a Stakes-winner by Street Cry.”

Yulong Investments founder Zhang Yuesheng was the Easter Sale’s leading buyer by a wide margin and he targeted a colt and filly by his own sire Written Tycoon from Vinery on Day 2.  He had parted with $260,000 for the Written Tycoon – Dirty colt from Vinery on Monday.

Yulong’s second Written Tycoon colt is from Miss Antaeus (Lot 234) and cost $520,000 while the filly out of NZ-bred Risque (Lot 314) went for $420,000.  “Mr Zhang wants to follow through assisting breeders who supported Written Tycoon,” Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray said.

“The Miss Antaeus colt is super athletic and we would have been disappointed to miss out on him.  He’s a November foal so will keep powering ahead.  His dam is by I Am Invincible and she was a fast 2yo winner from the family of Zoustar.”

The All Too Hard filly that pumped her sire’s sale prospects is from More Than Ready (USA) mare Sezanne (Lot 350).  She will head to NZ after joining the bloodstock collection of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay for $400,000.  The filly represents the celebrated All Too Hard – More Than Ready cross responsible for Forbidden Love and Wellington and she will be educated across the Tasman before returning to Sydney to be trained for the valuable Inglis Race Series.

“She’s very strong and has a lovely walk,” Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre reported.  “Her dam was Group 1 placed at Randwick and Group 2 placed at Moonee Valley and the family has a connection with Cambridge Stud going back to the Zabeel Champions St Reims and Champagne.”

Former Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards, now based in Hong Kong, bought the first Vinery yearling on Tuesday morning with a $310,000 bid for the Toronado – Minetti colt (Lot 229).  “He’s medium-sized and looks like he will get up and go,” Richards predicted.  “We will take him home and get him ready for Hong Kong.   Toronado is going extra well up there and I was happy to get him after being underbidder on three yesterday.”

Bruce Elkington bought a Toronado – Orvieto grey filly (Lot 282) for $300,000.  “I like the stallion and I like this filly,” Elkington said of the half-sister to Bonvicini (VRC Vanity Stakes Gr.3, 1400m).  “I was talking to Adam White up at Vinery’s farm inspections and he told me she was one of the better ones in the draft.”

The Exceedance – Runway Star colt (Lot 327) joining Team Hawkes went with a $300,000 price-tag.  Three of the dam’s six wins were in black-type to Group 3 level in the SAJC Proud Miss Stakes (1200m).  “We first saw him touring the Hunter Valley last month,” Wayne Hawkes recalled.  “He’s a lovely colt and Dad liked him at first sight.

“We love Exceedance having trained him to win the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes.  This is the one we picked out and getting the one you want is a plus this week.”