PR Funds partners Mark Player and Rob Roulston went back to a proven source at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Wednesday when they bought an I Am Invincible filly from Vinery Stud.

Not for the first time, I Am Invincible topped the Easter leader-board for turnover and average but there was still value to be had in the ever-escalating middle market at Riverside Stables.  Player and Roulston found one such gem midway through Day 2 with the ‘Vinnie’ filly from Peace Force (Lot 342) that changed hands for $475,000.

“I thought she was cheap buy for our clients at that price,” Player admitted.  “I Am Invincible is a great sire of fillies and this one has a fantastic page.  Her 2yo half-brother Nobel has ability being Stakes-placed first-up at Moonee Valley earlier this season.”

Player’s strike-rate is second to none with yearlings and Written Tycoon colt Ole Kirk is an obvious highlight.  He cost $675,000 at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier and was purchased to stand at Vinery following Group 1 victories in the ATC Golden Rose Stakes and MRC Caulfield Guineas.

Last year, Player and Roulston targeted an I Am Invincible – Mousai colt from Vinery (as agent) at the Gold Coast Magic Millions for $700,000.  He has been named Garza Blanca for a syndicate managed by Noorilim Park and trainer Ciaron Maher reports he will be ready to trial in three weeks.

Noorilim Park’s Peter Carrick is also in the Zoustar half-sister to Miss Hipstar (Star Turn) that was bought by Player and Roulston for $320,000 from Vinery (as agent) at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Chris Waller will train The Autumn Sun – Miss Antaeus filly (Lot 289) that made $360,000 from Vinery (as agent) on Wednesday.  She was purchased on behalf of Hermitage Thoroughbreds owners Eugene and Karen Chuang who raced The Autumn Sun.

“The owners want to support The Autumn Sun and this filly was good buying at that price,” Waller’s bloodstock adviser Guy Mulcaster said.  “She’s athletic, a lovely mover and there’s still plenty of improvement to come.”

Like Ole Kirk, The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) won a Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas and among his first-crop yearlings is the filly from Cleanup (Dehere) that Vinery sold to Brae Sokolski for $400,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions.

The Autumn Sun’s Easter filly will be given time at Hermitage Thoroughbreds, 80km south-west of Sydney, where Waller spelled world champion Winx and current-day star Nature Strip.

Mornington trainer Cliff Brown is building up his team on the peninsula with yearlings like the Spirit Of Boom – Meow filly (Lot 281) that was gavelled down for $440,000 yesterday.

Brown returned home nine months ago after 12 years training in Singapore.  The Vinery-consigned filly, who is a three-quarter sister to Brisbane Stakes winner Outback Barbie, was his only buy on a record-breaking day at Riverside Stables.

“I’ve bought her for Glen Whittenbury,” Brown said.  “She’s very nice filly and Spirit Of Boom is a top stallion.”

Brown’s new stable celebrated a winning return to Australia when The Inferno carried Whittenbury’s colours to a last-to-first victory in the McEwen Stakes (Gr.2, 1000m) at Moonee Valley in September.  Whittenbury owns Barree Pastoral and he repatriated the Holy Roman Emperor gelding after wins in the Lion City Cup and Singapore Guineas.

Two colts by Dundeel rounded out Vinery’s Easter Sale consignment.  Lot 306 (ex Mousai) was a $300,000 buy for Andrew Noblet while Lot 458 (ex Sweet Victory) was a $250,000 graduate for John O’Shea.

Vinery (as agent) sold 13 yearlings for turnover of $6,040,000 at an average of $464,615.

“We had some very good results on Day 1 with the half-brother to Artorius selling for $1.4million,” Vinery bloodstock manager Adam White said.  “He’s a gorgeous colt and didn’t put a foot wrong here.  Most of those stallion funds were on him and it was great to see him go to Coolmore.

“We’re also looking forward to the Zoustar colt bought by Matt Laurie for $875,000.  He’s a forward type who should go early.

“We backed up the colts with some nice fillies on Day 2 and overall we’ve enjoyed a terrific sale.”