Equiano a sales star!

PROGENY of first season sire Equiano are expected to be in high demand at the 2014 Inglis VOBIS Yearling Sale which starts at Oaklands this Sunday.

A total of 389 lots are scheduled to go under the hammer over two days as Inglis Director and auctioneer Jonathan D'Arcy explained.``Breeders have really got on board this year with the sale and we have a better quality catalogue and a better lot of horses going to the Sale,'' D'Arcy said.``The yearlings that are sold on the first day in the Select Session have undergone the normal process of selection by pedigree and type to make the Sale.``It is the sort of sale that offers great value whether you are going to race (the horse) or pinhook into a Ready to Race sale.''

The VOBIS Gold Sale offers buyers a tremendous amount of diversity on the sire front with progeny of over 100 stallions including Redoute's Choice, Snitzel, More Than Ready, High Chaparral, Reset, Show A Heart and a number of promising young stallions like I Am Invincible, All American, Stryker and Reward For Effort.

One stallion that is guaranteed to have his share of admirers is Swettenham Stud resident Equiano who was the designated surprise packet of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March.Equiano was the Premier's Leading First Season Sire with 15 of his yearlings selling for an average of $105,200 off a $15,000 service fee.

Among Equiano's stunning returns at Oaklands was the Premier's second top-priced lot, a colt out of the Group 1 runner-up Hidden Energy that sold for $420,000 to Malaysian based clients of Caulfield trainer Mick Price.

Equiano has five lots in the VOBIS Gold Sale including Swettenham's chestnut colt out of Gilded Time mare, Gilded Minstrel.Foaled at Kentucky's bluegrass Spendthrift Farm, Gilded Minstrel is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes and Frizette Stakes winner, Storm Song.Gilded Minstrel has thrown four winners from five to race led by Galiano who was placed third in the Listed Louisiana Minstrel Stakes.

Shayne O'Cass