Yearling sales pose a challenge

THERE are very few positives to come out of the equine influenza outbreak that crippled the vast racing and breeding industries of Queensland and New South Wales.
But the Alanbridge Stud at Aberdeen, in the NSW Hunter Valley, highlighted one enforced by the impact of the disease - a real Christmas break.
"We did not have the usual staff that is on the stud for the yearling prep and so, for the first time in history, we had a relaxing time," said Lasca Bowcock, who runs Alanbridge with husband Andrew.
Alanbridge was right in the thick of things when EI took hold in the Hunter Valley in August. Last week, Alanbridge won its "clean" certificate, having undergone a 90-day period of the property being free of EI since the most recent outbreak.
"But we're still in the purple zone, which means no horse movement without special permit, and that leads to confusion," Bowcock said.
"For example, we have been trying to get two horses off to the Gold Coast for a horses-in-training sale next month, but we've virtually given up on that, with all the protocol requirements in the way.
"And we have also decided to withdraw a couple of our yearlings from the Melbourne (Premier) sale in March, after being told it was unlikely we could move them in time." Alanbridge has some 30 yearlings to prepare for the 2008 round of yearling sales - a schedule that has been up-ended due to the EI crisis.
Normally, Alanbridge and other studs would have been putting the finishing touches to the preparation yearlings for the Magic Millions showcase sale on the Gold Coast and the Inglis Classic sale in Sydney.
But Alanbridge is still two weeks away from starting sale procedures on its 2008 yearlings, with eight of its draft listed for the Magic Millions' Gold Coast in late March. They include the first foal, by Fastnet Rock, of Bella Corona, which defeated the high-class Shamekha in a stakes race at Randwick.
The stud also has yearlings entered for the eight-day Inglis autumn season in Sydney, featuring the principal select sale at Easter at which Alanbridge will be offering a Rock Of Gibraltar half-sister to $1m Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing.