Mohave Dancer leads the way at Inglis Easter

Buyers from right throughout Australia as well as South Africa, New Zealand and

Malaysia ensured a strong opening day of the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale

carried over into Monday's second session, with business remaining brisk. The

absence of million-dollar show stoppers meant the first day average of A$157,675

for 213 sold dropped to A$70,977 for 181 sold Monday -- on par with a day-two

average last year of A$75,298 for 202 sold.

The sale was held over five days

last year, whereas there is just one general session remaining now. Last year,

after day three the average was A$70,154 (up from A$53,526 in 06), so the

cumulative average of A$117,846 stacks up very well, and although there are 435

fewer mares cataloged, the gross from this year's Select Session is up $4.1

million on last year's total.

Brett and Rachel Howard's Randwick Bloodstock

secured the second session-topper MOHAVE DANCER (Zabeel), offered

by Willow Park Stud, for A$560,000. Covered by Encosta de Lago, the

stakes-winning, Group

2-placed Mohave Dancer is the dam of multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter

Natural Blitz (Dehere) and of the stakes-placed Superblitz

(Thunder Gulch). She missed in 2006, but foaled a Redoute's Choice colt in

2007; she also has an Encosta de Lago two-year-old yet to race. He was

knocked down last year at the Inglis Easter sale for A$775,000 to trainer Leon

McDonald. At the same sale a year earlier, Adrian Nicoll's BBA Ireland signed

the ticket at A$750,000 for Mohave Dancer's Dehere filly.

LADY OF THE DESERT (Desert Prince [Ire]), in foal to the Danehill stallion Commands, went

to Freyer Bloodstock for A$500,000. She is from the family of Sydney Cup

(Aus-G1) winner Gallic (Zabeel), and her second dam is the multiple Group 1 winner Solveigh

(Imposing). She has an Elusive Quality two-year-old filly and was not covered in 2006.

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said the sale company's decision to

grade the catalog and offer a two-day select session had been justified.

"Competition has been very strong and we have seen some fantastic results over

the past two days," he said.

The general session of the Australian Easter

Broodmare Sale is set for Tuesday.