Late addition sets new high at Great Southern Sale

The Snitzel colt who was a late addition to the Great Southern Sale weanling catalogue lived up to his billing as a star attraction when he topped the Inglis Victorian sale, which concluded on Friday.

The youngster out of Members Joy was bought by Jim Carey for $575,000 out of the Bell River Thoroughbreds draft.

The colt leap-frogged Thursday's $525,000 Frankel filly as the most expensive lot of the sale and earned the distinction as the equal highest-priced weanling colt sold in Australia this year.

Bell River sold the colt on behalf of Suman Hedge and Sheriff Iskander and clients and James Ferguson said the farm was proud to have done it justice with a milestone result.

"We're really thrilled, it's a big thing to do, but to pull it off is a great result," Ferguson said.

"I think it's our highest-priced weanling we've ever sold, too, so it's all part of the new farm and the new adventure."

Carey's colt, which is likely to be offered for sale next year as a yearling, is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Pure Elation (I Am Invincible), who is the best-performed foal from the Listed winner and Group 2-placed daughter of Hussonet.

He was easily the highest-priced lot of the second session, whose second top lot was an Acrobat filly who sold for $170,000.

All up the 379 weanlings offered grossed $11,890,000 at an average of $46,996 with a $24,000 median.

Last year's sale, which comprised 313 weanlings, grossed $9,966,273 at an average of $44,692 with a $16,000 median.

The Great Southern Sale also comprised a 67-lot broodmare sale, which was topped by Nicconi mare Naiconi, who was bought by Mitchell Bloodstock for $160,000.

Only 35 lots were sold, leading to a 52 percent clearance rate, but those who did sell averaged $31,500 with a total of $1,102,500 changing hands.