A decision by Rosemont Stud to concentrate its major yearling sales drafts on the Gold Coast and Melbourne has ‘gifted’ the latter with a number of Easter quality youngsters in 2023.

When the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale kicks off at Oaklands Junction on 5 March, Rosemont will field 36 well related colts and fillies: clearly one of the most attractive drafts from such a proven source.

“The decision (to bypass Easter) was quite an easy one in the end,” Rosemont Stud’s General Manager Bloodstock, Ryan McEvoy points out.

“Premier continues to grow each year, we’re a Victorian-based farm and intend to support our major sale and put simply, if you keep presenting quality, you’ll always find buyers in a buoyant market.”

Starspangledbanner yearlings will be a highlight for Rosemont Stud

Stallions represented in the draft reads like a who’s who of elite sires; I AM INVINCIBLE, SNITZEL, ZOUSTAR, CAMELOT, EXCEED AND EXCEL, FASTNET ROCK, STARSPANGLEDBANNER & of course Rosemont’s own superstar SHAMUS AWARD.

“We have certainly been deliberate in targeting this sale for a number of our top end yearlings. In fact, 15 of the 26 yearlings we will present In Book 1 for example are either out of or a half to a stakes winner or black type horse,” added McEvoy.

Rosemont’s ‘presence’ has increased markedly in recent years with its silks adorning the likes of BROOKLYN HUSTLE, BRERETON, SNEAKY FIVE, MILLANE, NANAGUI, PROMISE OF SUCCESS, MINHAAJ, EXTREME WARRIOR and co., while the operation continues to invest heavily in quality bloodstock, in partnership with the Rosemont-Victorian Alliance.

Yet, it’s the large and continuing flow of winners to come off the farm that will bear most relevance heading into the Melbourne Premier Sale.

“The last 12 months has been remarkable for Rosemont in terms of winners we’ve either bred, raised or sold,” McEvoy adds.

“BELLA NIPOTINA won the Manikato and now has $3.3 million in the bank, NORTHSTAR LASS took out the Group 2 Furious Stakes, POUNDING captured the Group 3 Carlyon earlier this month, Bon Ho’s FASHION LEGEND has won his last four including the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and BEAUTY ETERNAL is shaping up to be an absolute superstar in Hong Kong … favourite for next month’s prestigious Hong Kong Derby in fact.”

Beauty Eternal wins again at Sha Tin on Sunday – image HKJC

The John Size trained Beauty Eternal was in top form at Sha Tin on Sunday scoring a commanding two length win in the Class Two event over 1600m with Zac Purton in the saddle.

He was a short priced favourite and has now won four of five starts.

Speaking of superstars, McEvoy does nothing to hide the fact that Rosemont is presenting – in Melbourne – 50% of the 14 yearlings available in 2023 from the penultimate crop of Starspangledbanner.

“An operation of our size has many moving parts and we don’t survive or thrive on any one thing, but Starspangledbanner has played such a huge role in our success,” McEvoy claims.

“He (Starspangledbanner) has had winners in 21 countries … the Cox Plate winner in 2021 (STATE OF REST), CALIFORNIA SPANGLE won the International Mile in Hong Kong and BEAUTY ETERNAL could join him shortly, THE WOW SIGNAL and ARISTIA are Group 1 winners in France, MILLISLE won the Cheveley at Newmarket a couple of years back, RHEA MOON won the (Group 1) American Oaks in December.

“His last six months has been sensational with four individual Group 1 winners, a Group winning 2YO in Ireland (BELLA MARTINI) and, of course, Clinton McDonald’s Australia Day stakes winner STAR PATROL.

“I reckon our eight Starspangledbanners at the Prem will be some of the highlights of the entire sale.”

The Rosemont Stud draft will be available for inspection in Barn D at Oaklands Junction from Tuesday, Feb 28th.