By any reckoning, Yallambee Stud’s returns were very rewarding at this week’s Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.
The Woodard family – Peter, Rick and Christie – arrived from Romsey with 21 yearlings and 19 changed hands for a second-best aggregate of $2.25 million. Eliza Park raised more money but the Kerrie nursery had to find new homes for 33 head to reach turnover of $2.91 million.
Yallambee’s average of $118,684 was by far the best of the big guns at Oaklands. Only those studs with 6 sales or less finished in front of the Woodards on the vendors’ list.
“It’s been our best ever sale,” Peter Woodard claimed. “The pre-sale inspections were positive but you can never be too confident.
“Inglis did a fantastic marketing job and trainers will keep coming back while they keep banking those VOBIS cheques.”
Yallambee graduates will go into local stables like Peter Moody, Mick Price, Peter Morgan, John Moloney, Clinton McDonald, Pat Carey and Shea Eden.
“Our yearlings are also heading to Gai Waterhouse, David Payne and Bjorn Baker in Sydney,” Woodard said. “And we also had the visiting South Africans among the under-bidders.
“Rick and Christie prepped the yearlings to perfection and Christie’s updates and photos on Facebook and our website was a huge help for all the interstate and international buyers. One of the South African guys told me he bid on a few of ours after logging on during the flight over.”
Topping their draft at $240,000 was the Choisir half-brother to Adelaide G3 winner Moment in Time (Lot 217) and the Magnus half-sister to Melbourne G2 winner Upbeat (Lot 554).
Yallambee’s Melbourne Premier I figures have kept well ahead of the overall average improving from $77,429 (2011), $97,125 (2012), $100,750 (2013) and $118,684 this year.
Next on the circuit for Yallambee is the Melbourne VOBIS Gold Sale on April 27 & 28 comprising yearlings by Magnus (4), God’s Own (2) and Street Boss (1).
YALLAMBEE REWARDED
Rick, Christie and Peter Woodard relax after Premier I at Oaklands
Photo / Sharon Chapman