Australia-Easter Bloodstock yearling sales.

AUSTRALIA-EASTER BLOODSOCK YEARLING SALES.

AMID the gloom of the current "depression" of Australia’s Thoroughbred markets, a bright spot gleamed at William Inglis and Son’s time honoured Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Randwick when Makybe Diva’s first foal graced its sale’s ring last Sunday.

Many in the packed house caught only a glimpse of the colt (by Coolmore stud high flyer Galileo) prancing and jumping his way around the ring to a sale price of $1.5 million.

His dam is the most celebrated mare in Australia, Makybe Diva, winner of a history-making three successive Melbourne Cups and $14.5 million in prizemoney.

In happier times the colt (pictured with handler, Alex Woodhams, "Makybe", Gnarwarre, Victoria) could have fetched double (the sale has twice recorded a $3m record high), but as his Victorian breeder, Tony Santic said "he made his money".