By Duane Ranger
Gold Coast horseman, Stephen Dux, said he would have bid as high as $50,000 to keep his Always B Miki filly on his Woongoolba property.
Sunday marked the 13th Garrards Redcliffe Yearling Sale held at Redcliffe Paceway, however as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale was held entirely online.
“I was prepared to go to that and beyond if I had to, but was happy with $31,000,” Dux said.
“The family means so much to me; she is a nice, quiet filly, who has good conformation.”
Dux’s bay filly, registered as Lot 39, fetched the top price at the online sale, which saw 66 lots programmed.
The Darren Ebert Auctioneers sale saw 167 buyers registered, on top of 581 online viewers.
There were 1,056 total bids, of which 969 were online.
The year’s average sale price was a tick over $8,200, slightly down on last year’s $9,396 mean.
Last year’s top price was Lot 35, a $47,000 bay colt by Hurrikane Kingcole out of Too Smart for You, purchased by mother-and-son pair Pam and Chris Smart.
Dux said his $31,000 filly was out of the four-win Mach Three mare, Our Lillyfield, foaled on December 11, 2018.
His prized filly, who will head to the breakers soon, will be looking to at least emulate the feats of her older half-sister, Covert Beauty (1:54.3).
She won 14 of her 48 starts, and placed in 15 others between April 2015 and May 2018, amassing $107,620 in prize money.
She was twice a runner-up in the Group 2 QBRED 2YO and 3YO Fillies Finals.
“The dam is a quality mare from nice bloodlines, she was knocked down in a couple of Classic races and after that she never really showed her true worth on the track,” Dux said.
“I always thought she would make a very nice broodmare, and she has - she is a very fertile horse.
“I’ve put her to eight different stallions in eight years since Covert Beauty, and her third foal Capitalize (by Mr Feelgood) won a race and placed several times.
“I personally think the whole family has the potential to do well on the racetrack.
“I’m especially pleased that this one has gone through the Sales and is eligible for Sales and QBRED races.”
Dux bought back Our Lillyfield’s Heston Blue Chip yearling colt at last year’s Redcliffe Sale for $2,000. The mare also has a Sweet Lou weanling destined for the 2021 Sale.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was little chance that the annual Sale would be cancelled if Redcliffe Harness Racing Club President Bernie Ring had anything to do with it.
Ring said he was delighted that the Sale went ahead, and did well quietening a few of the Club’s knockers.
“I thought it was a great Sale considering what the world is now going through, it was well-received by both vendors and buyers in a tough climate - everyone seemed pretty happy,” Ring said.
“I would like to thank everyone who made this unique Sale possible, We are grateful to Racing Queensland, and vendors for supporting the Sale in these trying times.
“Thanks must also go to Chris Norris from Elite Livestock, and Ken Field for supplying the videos and IT for the day.”
Click here to view full Sales results.