Downs stud joins elite sale bracket

By Glen McCullough - Toowoomba Chronicle - 23 April 2008

Highgrove thoroughbred stud owner Ron Gilbert yesterday said he was humbled by the experience which placed him amongst the leading vendors at this year’s Australian Easter Yearling Sales at Newmarket in Sydney.

Two years after selling a Queensland record $1.2 million youngster at the sale, Gilbert yesterday sold two Redoute’s Choice colts for $1.1 million each.

The first, out of Sequin, was purchased by Inghams Bloodstock while Darley won a spirited bidding duel to secure the Angelic Smile colt.

On Sunday Ron and his wife Debbie sold the dearest Fastnet Rock lot of the three-day premier sale section when a colt out of Fragmentation went for $800,000.

“It’s an unbelievable result,” Gilbert said. “We knew we had three excellent types, but to top $1 million with two of them has exceeded our expectations.

“It’s very humbling to be one of only a handful of studs in Australia to top the six figure mark. It’s a fantastic result for our stud, our staff and the industry on the Downs.

“It’s a long haul from when you first plan the matings to where it all happens today. It takes 2½ years for everything to come together at this moment and for everyone associated with Highgrove, this is our grand final.”

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