By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
The annual Garrard’s Redcliffe Yearling Sale held at Redcliffe Paceway last Sunday (April 2) has overcome hurdles to record the second-best average in its 16-year history.
Both Redcliffe Harness Racing Club President Bernie Ring, and chief auctioneer, Darren Ebert, from Darren Ebert & Co Auctioneers and Agents, were delighted with the result, despite there being other harness racing attractions on the same day.
While prices tumbled at the Melbourne Yearling Sale, and the Marburg Pacing Association conducted its eight race programme, the Redcliffe Sale overcome the odds to boast a $615,500 gross spend with an average price of $12,069 for the 51 lots presented.
This compared last’s best ever sale when 57 horses were presented, amassing $752,750 and an average of $13,206. That was well up on the previous two years’ average.
In 2021 the average price was $10,2000 and the year before $8,200.
“We are rapt considering it was a busy harness racing day, including four Australian harness racing meetings and one from New Zealand all being televised.
“Darren and the team have done a brilliant job. We had a fir crowd considering, plus 120 people viewing online, and from that we got 29 online bidders,” Ring said.
“Congratulations to the buyers of our top Lot – Lot 19, who went for $36,000. His mother, Holme Call went okay. She won four mainly on the Gold Coast, and has turned out to be a very nice broodmare,” he added.
This year’s top lot was an Ultimate Machete – Holme Call (Holmes Hanover) bay colt (pictured) presented by Burwood Stud and purchased by Chris Garrard. Last year’s top price was $65,000 while in 2021 and 2020 the top prices were $23,000, and $31,000 respectively.
Ring was spot on. Holme Call has proven to be a better broodmare than racehorse.
Her first foal the late 2009 Ultimate Falcon gelding, Couldntresist (1:56.5) won 18 races and $99,538. Foal two, the 2011 Cammibest mare, Mathilda Divenia (1:55) won 12 races and $129,171; foal three, the 201 Cammibest gelding, Bumper ((1:53.8) won 16vraces and $103,287; and foal five, the 2017 Heston Blue Chip mare, Shes Miss Devine (1:54.5) has won 10 races and $138,566.
Ring said 15 lots surpassed $15,000 or more with two going beyond $30,000.
The full Sales results for 2023 can be viewed at the end of this story.
Meanwhile Ebert, reinforced Ring’s comments saying it was a good Sale which met market standards.
“When Dad (Kerry) and I started this Sale 16 years ago we were hoping it would develop into something people would take seriously. People took Sunday’s seriously no matter how busy the Sunday was.
“Sure, the doubling of sales and race meetings didn’t help, but those that wanted to buy horses did so, no matter what was on. I’m delighted with the average price considering.
“People know there is no reserve at this Sale all horses sold are eligible for the Qbred scheme carrying almost $4 million in prize money and bonuses while some may also be eligible for other race series or incentive schemes such as the NSW Breeders Challenge, Vicbred, Breeders Crown, Bathurst Gold Crown or NZ Sires Stakes,” Ebert said.
Ebert said the 2023 had a lot to live up to after the best Sale in its history was stages last year.
“We are happy that this Sale has now firmly established itself on the Australasian yearling sales calendar.
“We are proud of what we have achieved and Sunday was no exception. I just hope the programming suits everyone next year,” Ebert said.
“It’s unbelievable really. We started off with a $20,000 final, and now we have $100,000 Group One races. The bonus scheme saved us,” the auctioneer, come horseman said.
The full 2023 Redcliffe Sales results can be viewedby copying and pasting this link here:
https://www.darrenebertauctioneer.com.au/yearlingsale.php
