Strong start to Inglis Easter Yearling Sale

An energetic and diverse buying bench, mixed with an exceptionally strong catalogue, has resulted in a powerful opening session of the 2017 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. 

On a nostalgic day at Newmarket for the last ever Easter Sale at the iconic venue before the company moves to Riverside Stables at Warwick Farm, results showed the market was strong and both buyers and vendors were getting healthy results.

Statistically, Day 1 ended with an Average of $347,045, a Median of $300,000 and gross of $38,175,000 with a clearance rate at a healthy 80%.

Day 1’s leading vendor by aggregate was Bhima Thoroughbreds ($3,130,000 from eight sales) and by average was Segenhoe Stud ($726,250 from four sales) while the leading buyer by Lots purchased was Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (six Lots) and by aggregate was James Harron Bloodstock ($3,400,000 from three purchases).

The leading sire by aggregate was Snitzel ($5,490,000 from 14 sales) and by average (with three or more sold) was I Am Invincible at $622,000.

To view the full results, CLICK HERE.

The day’s top Lot was purchased by Tim Stakemire, racing manager for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who paid $1.8 million for Lot 87, a Redoute’s Choice x Court filly from the Newhaven Park draft (pictured).

The filly will be trained by Tony McEvoy in Melbourne, and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner English.

“I was just chatting to Sheikh Khalifa and he leant over and he said ‘everybody wanted my filly’,’’ McEvoy said.

“Thankfully he was too strong. She was extremely popular. All the good judges were on her.’’

Newhaven Park’s John Kelly was stunned by the result.

“It’s a credit to Inglis, they’ve got a wonderful buying bench here, she was a wonderful filly, and when you combine those two things, you get big sales, and this result is fantastic,’’ Kelly said.

“We were always hopeful of a good result but nobody dreams of selling yearlings for $1.8 million. It’s the top price we’ve got for a long time, that’s for sure.’’

James Harron was the buyer of the second and fourth-highest priced horses on Day 1, Lot 71 (an I Am Invincible x Captivating Claire colt for $1.6 million from Segenhoe Stud) and Lot 65 (a Written Tycoon x Brilliant Bisc colt for $1 million from Turangga Farm).

Both will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.

“The sale’s started well, a nice buoyant market and lots of lovely horses,’’ Harron said.

Peter O’Brien of Segenhoe Stud tactically put “quite a small reserve’’ on the Captivating Claire colt, given he knew the pre-sale interest in the colt had been immense.

The sale continues a great Easter run for Segenhoe, which was the vendor of last year’s top Lot, a Vegas Showgirl colt (half-brother to Winx).

“Every good judge in the country was on him but I never thought he’d make that amount,’’ O’Brien said.

“To have James Harron buy him, who’s not only a good friend but I think the best judge in the business, we’re just delighted.’’

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was buoyed by the Day 1 results.

“It was a special day at Newmarket under the fig, the last Easter Sale here and the buying bench was certainly keen to get involved in the action,’’ Webster said.

“We’ve had a few people ask why the numbers catalogued for Easter are down on last year and I think the results in the sale ring provide the answer.

"We decided to be even more disciplined with yearling selection this year to ensure Easter maintains its reputation as the source of the best of the best, and that strategy is paying dividends.

"Vendors have presented horses of the highest quality and they are getting well rewarded for their hard work, and buyers appreciate only having to inspect the best of quality.

"Easter is not about numbers, it’s about a standard.”

Tomorrow’s Day 2 action begins at midday.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2017 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE – DAY 1 STATISTICS

Lots sold: 110 (138)

Clearance Rate: 80% (78%)

Average Price: $347,045 ($291,975)

Median Price: $300,000 ($210,000)

Top Price: $1,800,000 ($2,300,000)

Gross: $38,175,000 ($40,292,500)