Hanseatic high rounds out Premier sale

A $160,000 colt from the first crop of Hanseatic topped the Showcase Session as the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale came to a close with figures marginally down on last year.

Overall, $58.1 million was spent on the three days, $6.7 million, or 10.3 per cent, down on the 2023 sale, with 35 fewer horses sold. The sale average across both books dropped to $105,853, a dip of 4.6 per cent.

That average was the lowest at Melbourne Premier for the entire sale since 2019, while it was lowest overall spend since 2020. The total horses sold, 549, was the least since 2013.

The key to that drop in numbers was the clearance rate which concluded at 77 per cent, with Inglis set to work on increasing that over the coming days.

The $160,000 paid by Peter Moody for Lot 681, the colt by Hanseatic out of Knowles offered by Rosemont, was the highlight of the final day of trade at Oaklands Junction. He was the only purchase on Tuesday for Moody who secured six yearlings in the Premier Session.

Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath continued their spending spree, picking up four horses for $200,000 on Tuesday to go with the seven purchased earlier in the week.

Greg Eurell also purchased four horses, while Upper Bloodstock paid $320,000 for three horses.