Golden Opportunities at the VOBIS Sale

It was certainly a very busy day for the hard working team from Swettenham Stud with sixteen quality yearlings sold through the ring at “unquestionably the best ever’’ Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction.

Off the back of a brilliant days racing at Caulfield for the Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday, the weekend showcased the strength and confidence in the Victorian racing and breeding industry at the moment.

On a cool, but sunny afternoon, the sales complex was buzzing with breeders, buyers and spectators, all trying to find their next Trust In A Gust or Lyuba. With Swettenham Stud having sold both in recent years, there is every possibility the 2017 draft includes another top class galloper to add to that list.

Swettenham Stud was able to make the most of the buoyant feeling, and it was clear when the first yearlings went through the ring, that there were plenty of interested parties happy to take them home. The Swettenham Stud draft had a clearance rate of 94%, only taking one of the seventeen yearlings on offer home, with an average price of $19,094 for the sale.

Eight lots reached bids of $20,000 or more.Some of the stand out yearlings included the Reward for Effort x La Kalima colt sold for $37,000 to Your Highness Bloodstock. The impressive Fiorente x Aqua Modern colt, sold for $38,000 to O’Brien Thoroughbreds and the Star Witness Elle’s Decree for $30,000 to International buyers, De Burgh Equine from Ireland.

Craig Gamble, part breeder and owner of Rich Charm bought the lovely Americain x Gilded Minstrel colt to be educated by recent VOBIS Gold Sprint winning trainer Udyta Clarke.“It is nice to buy from Swettenham Stud and it was a thrill when Adam (Sangster) came running down at the races yesterday with big congratulations.” "We like to share our purchases with genuine people in the industry”“He’s a beautiful colt, we just fell in love with him, and so did my girls.”“Udyta names the horses each year starting with the next letter of the alphabet, so when the handler told us his nickname was Gillian, or Gilli for short and we were up to the letter “G”, it was just meant to be.” Craig said. “Udyta is patient, we may not see him race till he is four but we will certainly be down at the stables making sure he settles in and gets plenty of love, care and attention until then.”

Swettenham Stud’s draft provided an opportunity for potential buyers to invest in great value yearlings, and we eagerly look forward to seeing the racing success stories that graduate from the 2017 VOBIS Gold Sale.