I received the Inglis Easter Sales Preview in yesterday's post and I have to say - it's (as always) a magnificent line-up of horses and the book itself is also very easy on the eye this year.

I did, however, do a double-take at a column in last week's Stallion Daily Bulletin. Graeme Kelly reported (on 15/12):

"CHAMPION’S HALF-SISTER IN EASTER CATALOGUE

A half-sister by the exciting sire Encosta de Lago to World Sprint Champion Silent Witness will be catalogued for the 2005 William Inglis & Son Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney.

“ We will put a reasonable reserve on her,” says the filly’s breeder Ian Smith, of Edinburgh Park Stud at Taree.

“ But everyone knows I put my horses up for sale, so she will be there to be bought.”

According to the sales company’s executive director, auctions Jonathan D’Arcy a price of $1 million would not be “unreasonable”."

Whilst Jonathan may be enjoying the prospect of the commission on a 7-figure sales price I have to say I did look twice at the amount. No, I'm not a bloodstock assessor but the figure did seem extraordinarily high for the pedigree. Silent Witness may be champion world sprinter but a 'freak' horse does not usually cast the same talent on other members of the family (dare I use Songline the dam of Sunline as a case in point). The only other two foals under the first dam who have raced have only placed and whilst the hype continues around Encosta de Lago and the auction houses are desperate for an heir apparent now that the Danehill and Sunday Silence days are behind us ... a million dollars?

For Edinburgh Park's sake I certainly hope the filly sells well (especially considering the Jade Tiara yearling that was scheduled to be sold last year had to be withdrawn after a paddock accident; a major blow to a small stud) but I think we all need to remain commercially realistic in spite of all the hype.