Top draft set for Capricornia Yearling Sale

Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) CEO Tony Fenlon said the sale has historically offered great value for money buying opportunities, with this year's line-up of 58 fillies and 41 colts and geldings expected to be no different.

Mr Fenlon said this is the first year the sale has been run by the RJC which late last year signed a three-year agreement to manage and promote it.

"On the back of prize money increases that came into effect late last year for Rockhampton racing in general, and also for the races associated with the Capricornia Yearling Sale, the RJC is expecting plenty of buyer interest in this year's event," he said.

From the draft assembled for the sale, Mr Fenlon said first-season sire Spill The Beans is expected to create great interest among bidders, with 10 yearlings by him catalogued.

He said the sire (a son of champion stallion Snitzel) who stands at Queensland's Aquis Farm, had a dream debut at the Magic Millions Sale at the Gold Coast in January with six of his yearlings selling there for an average of $120,000.

"That figure was 12 times the service fee and represented a welcome return on investment for most of the breeders.

"Based on his yearlings being popular at sales like that, they should command attention at the Rocky sale."

Mr Fenlon said the other first season sire represented at this year's sale is Rich Enuff, the Group Two winning son of champion stallion Written Tycoon.

"Rich Enuff has one yearling in this year's Rocky sale."

He said many success stories have originated from yearlings sold at the sale through the years, with sale graduate Cash Dash being the most recent example.

"Cash Dash, now raced in Hong Kong under the name Chung Wah Spirit, made it two wins on the trot at the Sha Tin meeting in late March this year.

"At $50,000, Chung Wah Spirit was the highest-priced lot purchased at the 2015 Capricornia Yearling Sale by Peter Malpass who raced him as Cash Dash with co-owner, Ross Donovan of Our Boy Malachi fame."

Mr Fenlon said in Australia, the son of Dash For Cash out of the Exceed And Excel mare Letter From France raced three times as a two-year-old for two wins at Eagle Farm and the Sunshine Coast respectively before being sold to Hong Kong in 2016 for $500,000.

"Since joining trainer Dennis (C.H.) Yip in Hong Kong, Chung Wah Spirit has won three races - all with fellow Aussie Zac Purton in the saddle."

Mr Fenlon said the winner of the 2018 Capricornia Yearling Sale 2YO Classic, Wicked Ways, has been another success story.

"He was bought for $10,000 from the Oaklands Stud draft at the 2017 Capricornia Yearling Sale and earned $103,975 in prize money on the race track.

"Following his victory in the 2018 Two Year Old Classic, Wicked Ways was sold to Hong Kong for $250,000 providing his connections with a further windfall."

Mr Fenlon said the sale will act as the culmination to a flurry of race action and connected events being held over the two days prior.

"On Friday, April 12, the Hygain Country Cup Race Day will be on at Callaghan Park from 10.30am, and from 6pm the RJC will play host to the Rum City Foods Two Year Old Classic Calcutta on the front lawn of the club.

"The following morning a free barbecue breakfast will be offered at the showgrounds from 8am, with the Capricornia Yearling Sales Two Year Old Classic Race Day to follow on at Callaghan Park from 10.30am.

"After the races conclude a free welcome barbecue will be held at the showgrounds for sale vendors and prospective buyers from 6pm, with a select yearling parade to follow at 7pm."

He said the lots selected for the sale will be available anytime from the Friday afternoon through to the morning of the sale.

"Those unable to attend the sale in person will be able to bid online through the Capricornia Yearling Sale website."

Mr Fenlon said the sale catalogue can now be viewed on the RJC website and will also be on the Capricornia Yearling Sale website soon, and hard copy catalogues are now available from the RJC office.