THE ADRENALINE INVESTMENT

The cliché refers to 'The Sport of Kings' and in many ways, this is particularly apt.

However, in Australia's egalitarian society, the entry level into racehorse ownership has never been more affordable or more available to the general population.

Nowhere else in the world are so many racehorses owned by so many people. Partnerships and syndicates flourish among groups of friends, social clubs and office associates and the level of involvement can be surprisingly cheap. Thoroughbred Auctioneers William Inglis & Son have been facilitating in the purchase of throughbred bloodstock since 1867.

You don't need to be a millionaire to buy a champion. For instance, at one end of the scale is Australia's public favourite Takeover Target, purchased for just $1,250 by Joe Janiak from William Inglis & Son's thoroughbred auction complex "Newmarket" at Randwick. He subsequently became the winner of over $4 million in prizemoney and known around the world as a sprinter at the elite level. Horse of the Year Might And Power was sold for $40,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the same price as the multiple Group 1 winner, Racing To Win. This season’s Victoria Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss sold as a yearling for just $22,500 and is raced by a partnership while the current sprint sensation Weekend Hussler sold for $80,000 and for several of his owners, is their first entry into racehorse ownership.

All are Inglis sale graduates, as are the last two winners of the Golden Slipper - Miss Finland ($450,000) and Forensics ($900,000) who were both sold by William Inglis & Son at their Australian Easter Yearling Sale, that will be held at their Newmarket complex in 2008 from April 20 - 29.

Sure it isn't Easter in April this year but the brand "EASTER YEARLING" has global recognition due to the success of horses worldwide sold at the sale. The historic company chose to shift the sale out of the Easter weekend timeslot to keep it aligned to the stratospheric atmosphere of the Golden Slipper Festival and Royal Randwick Carnival.

For those that are looking to get involved at the upper end of the spectrum, investment has yielded some phenomenal returns in recent years. Young stallions Elvstroem, Exceed And Excel and Reset were purchased in a price range of $190,000 - $375,000 before being onsold at stud for a combined value of over $50 million.

Peak industry body Aushorse highlighted the potential of purchasing yearling colts at auction with a long term view to their future as stallions. The study looked at those colts purchased from the 2001, 2002 and 2003 Easter Yearling Sales, taking into consideration their purchase price, their racetrack career (earnings as well as training costs), and the earnings of those colts that went to stud (service fees). In total, $100 million would have been required to purchased the sample of the 839 colts that were included in the study. The result showed an outstanding return on investment of the collective group, with a net profit of $82million.

"For those that cannot step out and purchase every horse in a catalogue, racing a horse in partnership may be the answer and has many benefits." commented Inglis' Commercial Development Manager Matt Rudolph. "The entry cost is less, you can be involved in several horses at the same time to spread the risk and enjoy more trips to the races - and there are the social and business benefits of being able to network with like minded people with a passion for racing."

"We are more than happy to point anyone looking to become a racehorse owner in the right direction of a trainer, syndicator or bloodstock agent to facilitate the process as some feel it a little overwhelming to get started."

For further information please contact William Inglis & Son on (02) 9399 7999 or visit www.inglis.com.au