04 February 2019 | APG Media
AS PREDICTED yesterday’s Ladbrokes Australian Pacing Gold Sale was a buyers’ and sellers’ paradise.
With 225 quality Lots in the catalogue, the Melbourne leg had the right option for every budget, with offerings from all the major stallions and a host of former star race mares and prolific producers.
From bargain purchases for buyers to top Lots for sellers, the event resulted in a sale’s average $32,713 – up a fantastic 16 per cent from 2018.
The catalogue included 125 colts, which sold at an average of $33,771, representing a rise of 17 per cent.
Fillies – of which 100 were listed – saw an average bid of $30,684 – 12 per cent hike from the previous year.
Somebeachsomewhere’s son from Ideal Priority – known as Lot 229 – topped the sale after being ‘knocked down’ for $130,000.
Multiple premiership winning stallion Art Major sired the highest priced filly – Lot 221 from Hawiian Hottie – which sold for $120,000.
“For the second straight year colts and fillies had similar averages,” APG General Manager David Boydell said. “It’s also the first time fillies averages reached $30,000.
“The sale also saw 73 per cent of horses sold fetch more than $20,000 compared to 62 per cent last year.”
With the Autumn Sale replaced by a ‘night session’, the Lots on offer produced “pleasing results” according to Boydell.
A colt by Pet Rock topped the session at $16,000, with colts averaging $10,200, which is over 20 per cent hike on last year’s Autumn Sale average.
“I think the decision to discontinue the Autumn Sale and instead conduct an evening session proved to be a good choice,” Boydell said.
“While the colts faired fairly well in the evening session, the fillies found the going tougher, which can often be the case at the lower end of the market.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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