Swettenham Sets New Victorian Record

Swettenham Stud was the talk of the town yesterday at the Inglis Great Southern Sale with the outstanding More Than Ready – Calming Influence colt selling for $310,000, to claim the highest price ever paid for a weanling at the Victorian sale.

Offered for sale on behalf of the Marheine family, Lot 204 was one of three beautifully bred Stratheden Stud weanlings to go through the ring on the first day.

Brian Gorman, Swettenham’s Operations Manager, had commented on the stunning colt earlier in the week and was not surprised to see the spirited bidding for him in the ring.

“When the opening bid was $200,000 you knew it was going to be a serious result”, Gorman said.

“He was just enormously popular, hardly ever in his box, and the number of inspections he did was just phenomenal.”

“But what really struck the buyers, was how he handled the pressure, a total professional, he did not miss a beat.”

“His level of maturity that he displayed was what you would expect from a seasoned yearling, not a weanling. He was like that from the start of his preparation, from day one he was a pleasure to work with an amazing attitude.”

“Swettenham is very proud to hold this Victorian record as a vendor, it shows we are ticking the boxes. We now hold the record for the highest priced yearling filly, and now the highest priced weanling, and that has been in the last couple of years. It’s very pleasing to be setting records of that standard,” said Gorman.

Purchased by Steve Jostlear of Ampulla Lodge, the new record price succeeded the record Jostlear himself set when he and Ascot Farm paid $300,000 for an Exceed And Excel x Common Smytzer colt in 2015.

“I thought he was just a spectacular colt, equal to any weanling I have seen at any other sale this year,” Jostlear said.

“I was so impressed with his manner. I was watching him all day, and he didn’t bat an eyelid at all the commotion. He could have spat the dummy, possibly should have, but he held it together like a real pro,”

“Along with his perfect X-Rays and his great pedigree, I knew he was the one for us, that’s why I opened the bidding at $200,000!’

The other two Stratheden weanlings also sold very well, with Lot 228, the flashy Sebring filly from the dam Christmas Day bringing the hammer down for $90,000. A lovely bodied foal, coupled with a strong “Assertive” pedigree, she was purchased by Lyndhurst Farm from New Zealand. The athletic All Too Hard filly from the mare, Assertive Sound, Lot 161 was picked up by Davali Thoroughbreds for $40,000.

Over the next two days, Swettenham Stud will proudly continue to offer the remaining weanling to go through the ring, along with a select group of quality mares to the local buying bench.

Swettenham Stud would like to extend an open invitation to pop down to Barn D to keep your energy levels up for hot coffee, some delicious home made soup, and warm finger food to enjoy.

With our stallions showcased on the big screen, the Swettenham team would be happy to chat about your bloodstock inquiries or assist with future mating plans for the upcoming season.