Oceanfast tops Inglis broodmare session

OCEANFAST (Monde Bleu [GB]), the dam of 2005 Australian champion

three-year-old filly Alinghi (Encosta de Lago), realized a final bid of

A$700,000 to top Tuesday's opening session of the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale

at the company's Newmarket sales grounds. Offered in foal to Fastnet Rock,

Oceanfast was consigned to the sale by Arthur and Harry Mitchell's Yarraman Park

Stud and was purchased by Peter Ford Thoroughbreds, the same person who secured

Helsinge (Desert Sun [GB]), dam of Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), on behalf of Rick

Jamieson's Gilgai Farm.

Sons and daughters of Oceanfest have starred over the last several years at

Inglis, with five of her yearlings selling for a total of A$7.5 million.

Yarraman Park has had great success with Oceanfast, selling five yearlings for a

total of A$7.5 million at the Easter Sale, including Alinghi's full sister

Perfect Persuasion, who made A$2.6 million back in 2006. Arthur Mitchell

confirmed that the mare would be heading back to his farm and that he and his

team were able to keep a part of her.

"She's been a great mare to us and we're delighted we can retain ownership in

her and have her come home," Mitchell commented.

READY TO LIFT (More Than Ready) is likely headed to New Zealand after Guy

Mulcaster Bloodstock bid A$620,000 on behalf of Raffles Dancers Pty Ltd, a group

which shares in the ownership of last weekend's AJC Australian Derby (Aus-G1)

winner Shamrocker (O'Reilly). Formerly trainer by Gerald Ryan, Ready to Lift

recorded no fewer than 10 wins and bankrolled nearly A$600,000 in a career which

saw her land the AJC Summer Cup (Aus-G3) and the Kingston Town S. (Aus-G3). She

was offered in foal to High Chaparral (Ire).

While the average and the median showed gains over the 2010 figures, the

clearance rate came in well below the expectations of company officials at 62

percent.

"The market was very selective, which was reflected in today's clearance

rate," Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said. "We've seen the yearling

market rebound strongly this year so some great opportunities exist for breeders

here at Newmarket over the next two days."

The sale continues Wednesday Full results are available at

www.inglis.com.au.