John Holloway printed the rumour in the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday, Breeding & Racing (Australia) officially confirmed it yesterday - and every major racing portal including The Thoroughbred Times and The Bloodhorse were fast on their heels spreading it.

The Thoroughbred Times article read as follows:

"Vinery Australia has confirmed that it has sold its 50 Australian-bred weanlings, for approximately $3.5-million to Arrowfield Stud, its neighbor in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, and a silent partner.

The deal is reportedly the biggest private weanling sale ever struck in Australia.

Vinery general manager Peter Orton, quoted by Australian Breeding & Racing magazine internet industry news on Friday, said that Vinery is "more than happy with the arrangement and the price."

The overnight sale took the industry by surprise, and includes weanlings by Red Ransom, Fusaichi Pegasus, and the Australian-bred Mossman.

John Messara, head of the Arrowfield group, has not yet made a formal statement but confirmed that all 50 weanlings will move in the coming weeks to Arrowfield, where they will be allowed to mature.

"Some we will keep, many we will sell as yearlings," Messara said."