Curtain Falls in Inglis Easter

CURTAIN FALLS ON INGLIS EASTER 
By Christina Bossinakis, additional coverage by Rob Burnet 
The three-day Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale came to a close Thursday with overall sale clearance reaching 83%, with 328 lots sold, an average of A$252,873 and a median of A$190,000. The average was the highest–outside of 2013, when two high-priced colts added A$9 million alone to the gross–for the past five years. The clearance was better than 2010 (80%), 2011-12 (82%), 2013 (78%) and only lower than 2009 (84%). 
“Throughout the sale we have seen a very good clearance rate,” said Inglis Bloodstock Director Jonathan D’Arcy. “The horses that had passed in during the sale have met with good reception outside. The overall clearance of 83% through the three days is very pleasing. If at any sale around the world you can be selling at 83%, I’d say you’ve done very well.” 
The highest price paid at this year’s Easter sale was A$1.6 million paid for Lot 149, a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of Perfect Persuasion (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who was secured by John Warren Bloodstock. Offered during the first day of selling, the colt was consigned by Coolmore Stud, who sold a trio of yearlings at Easter–all by Coolmore stallion Fastnet Rock–for in excess of seven figures. The sale concluded with seven yearlings bringing over A$1-million, with four falling on Day 1, two on the second day and one yesterday. 
“We all thought that the first day was the strongest, but it was just the way the alphabet falls, and that’s where a couple of the big horses were,” explained D’Arcy. 
Added Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster, “The middle market was very strong, and I still think the top of the market was quite good as well. The number of yearlings making a million or more compared to other sales in the region is still well ahead of what everyone else can do.” 
While gross, average and median dipped from the 2013 renewal of the sale–when a pair of colts brought A$5-million and A$4-million during the first two sessions–this season’s renewal of the sale compared favored with other editions over the past few years. 
“I said before the sale that there was no way we were going to replicate those two big colts, so I am really happy with the result,” said Webster. “My goal coming into the sale was to improve the clearance rate and get it into the low 80’s, so I think we have done that. 
Topping Thursday’s truncated final portion of Session 1 was Lot 403 (video), a colt by Fastnet Rock out of Defiant Dame (Aus) (More Than Ready). Consigned by his breeder Coolmore Stud, the colt was secured by trainer Gerald Ryan for A$1.3 million. Thursday’s Session II also offered a couple of highlights, headed by Lot 523, a colt by Magic Albert (Aus), out of the Snitzel (Aus) mare Eye For Fun (Aus). The half-sibling to G1 Golden Slipper heroine Mossfun (Mossman {Aus}) was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum for A$750,000, the second highest price on the afternoon. 
“There are some yearlings that would sell better in Session II–it is a matter of placement,” said Webster. “If vendors were more open to Session II, they might actually get a better result in Session II. So that is something we would like to talk more about to some of the vendors going forward as it is a Session that is producing good performers, like Mossfun [who brought A$85,000 in 2013]. The same buyers are here. One of the top sellers in Session II is Lot 450 [colt by Northern Meteor {Aus}, who went to China Horse Club for A$650,000], so it is successful. And [Hong Kong’s] George Moore was the underbidder, so [the big bidders] are still here.” 
Commenting on the overall quality of this year’s group of yearlings relative to what many thought was a superior lot offered in 2013, D’Arcy said, “I think maybe some stallions were just a little bit off [this year]. Last year, we just had the best group of Fastnet Rock colts and fillies that we had ever seen. This year just wasn’t the same, although we did have some very nice Fastnets, but they just weren’t the same caliber, as a bunch.” 
On the other side of the coin, D’Arcy pointed out several other stallions improved over one year ago. 
“This year, we had some outstanding individuals by Street Cry (Ire) and I think More Than Ready had the best group he has ever had at a sale,” he said. “I think horses like Sebring (Aus) and Northern Meteor moved into the market. I think now we have a group of six or seven stallions in Australia that people are happy to go to over A$500,000, and as we saw, up to A$1.5 million for a Snitzel [Lot 118], so the young stallions are really starting to hit the market in the sale ring.” 
Leading the charge by gross expenditures through Session I was Shadwell Australasia, which signed for 20 head for a total of A$8.085 million. The operation was well ahead of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who took home four yearlings for A$3.625 million and topped Session II with a single purchase of A$750,000. 
“The other thing is we are not replying on any one buyer,” said Webster when asked about the buying bench. “The buying bench has been quite diverse with a couple of big buys for the Middle East, but we have had [B. Wayne Hughes and John Moynihan from the U.S.], Hong Kong, Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse, Peter Moody, Gerald Ryan and some syndicators have been able to buy as well.” 
Topping the vendors in Session I was Coolmore Stud at A$9.18 million for 29 sold followed by Arrowfield Stud at A$7.61 million with 26 sold. Fastnet Rock proved far and away the best of the bunch with 41 yearlings selling for an aggregate of A$15,485,000, well ahead of More Than Ready who reeled in A$8,485,000 for 31 head sold. 

Fastimes Continue at Inglis Easter… 
Already responsible for a pair of A$1-million topping yearlings at this year’s Inglis Easter sale, Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) added a third to the elite group in the form a colt out of the listed-winning mare Defiant Dame (Aus) (More Than Ready). Auctioneer Simon Vivian was holding the gavel when the much- anticipated Lot 403 was led into the sale ring and he asked for an even A$1-million to start proceedings. Eventually, he called for A$200,000, and the escalation started from that figure in A$50,000 increments. In a blink of an eye, the A$500,000 mark was passed, and the bids were coming from three different directions at the A$50,000 level, with Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan stationed outside under the fig tree leading the way. Vivian increased the level to A$100,000 from A$800,000 to A$900,000, and then to A$1 million. New Zealand buyer David Ellis was still in the mix of things late, but after the level reached $1.2 million, a final volley came from Ryan to land the colt for A$1.3 million. 
“I reckon he was one of the best Fastnet Rock colts here,” said Ryan, who indicated he was prepared to go higher for the handsome bay. “He looks like he would be early. He was just a nice colt.” 
The first foal out of Defiant Dame–a half-sister to Group 3 winner Hidden Warrior (Aus) (Hidden Dragon)–is from the extended family of Group 1 winners Red Tracer (Aus) (Dane Shadow {Aus}) and Shellscrape (Aus) (Daneshadow {Aus}).
The conditioner confirmed that the syndicate is made up of new clients from the U.S., but he was not at liberty to reveal the names of the group. He added that the colt will remain in Australia to race. 
“He was bought for an international syndicate,” said Ryan. “They approached me and we had the same numbers on a couple of colts and we thought he was probably the better one.” 
Through the three days of selling, Ryan also secured Lot 351, a bay colt by Not a Single Doubt ((Aus) (Danzero {Aus}) for A$80,000 during Wednesday’s session. 
On Day 1, Coolmore sold a daughter out of Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky) by Fastnet Rock–Lot 42–for A$1-million to trainer John Hawkes before topping the session with Lot 149, a colt by the son of Danehill out of Perfect Persuasion (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) for a session topping A$1.6 million. The colt went to John Warren Bloodstock. 
Of Coolmore’s latest score, General Manager Michael Kirwan said “He was a magnificent horse, a fast looking 2-year-old type who might go early. Gerald bought well, he did very well.” 

Shadwell Remains Active at Easter… 
Through three sessions of the Easter sale, Shadwell Australasia signed for no less than 20 head, headed by Lot 133, a colt by leading sire Redoute’s Choice (Aus) out of the National Assembly mare National Colour (SAf). Offered on Day 1, the Sept. 6 foal was consigned by Arrowfield Stud, which stands the colt’s marquee stallion. The bay colt, who is out of the joint South African Horse of the Year and champion English sprint older mare, will be conditioned by trainer David Hayes. Despite landing eight head, including the A$800,000 Redoute’s Choice on Day 1, Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold admitted the going was tough for the most desirable lots. 
“[Top end yearlings] have sold fantastically well,” he said “At the start of the first day it looked very quiet for the first couple of hours, and then suddenly it took off and I have never had such a frustrating day in Sydney. We struggled on the first day. I bid on 10 horses which I did not buy. When you are dealing at the top end, that is quite a lot.” 
Still armed and firing on the third day of selling, Gold secured Lot 407, a colt by More Than Ready, for A$650,000. Signing for the colt as Shadwell Australasia, the New Zealand-bred is destined for South Africa and trainer Mike De Kock. Offered by Broadwater Thoroughbreds, the bay is out of listed-winning Diamond Like (Aus) (Danehill), a half-sister to Group-1 placed Miss Zenella (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Gold said the decision to buy yearlings to send to South Africa for De Kock had worked well in the first year of the operation. 
“We have only run three so far which have all won and two of them have run twice and won twice and looked quite smart at the moment,” said Gold. “This is a long term experiment with the idea to get some of them to Dubai for the Carnival in due course, so it is in its infancy, but so far it is looking promising anyway.” 
Also bringing A$650,000 yesterday was Lot 395, a filly by Starcraft (NZ) who went the way of British agent David Redvers. The grey miss is out of Dane Belltar (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}), making her a half-sister to a pair of group winners, including last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup hero Fawkner (Aus) (Reset {Aus}). 
Ending With a Bang… 
In the waning moments of Thursday’s of the Inglis Easter sale, many thought Session II might go out like a lamb. Enter the lion–Lot 523–a colt by Magic Albert (Aus) out of Eye For Fun (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who was consigned by Fairview Park Stud. Receiving a boost of mighty proportions when his half-sister Mossfun (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) won last weekend’s G1 Golden Slipper, the bay colt brought a hefty A$750,000 final bid from the partnership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum Thursday, far exceeding the A$85,000 secured by his sister at the very same sale only one year ago. Sheikh Khalifa was sitting with his Australian bloodstock manager Tim Stakemire and trainers John and Wayne Hawkes, but it was Mohammed Khaleel who did the bidding standing in the ring tunnel on the right hand side of the ring. In the opposite tunnel was George Moore from Hong Kong and between then they produced a prolonged bidding duel. The $300,000 marker went by in $20,000 bids and then $400,000. Then $500,000 and $600,000 were left behind and still the exchange continued. 
“He had a good walk and we liked him,” said Mohammed Khaleel, bidding on behalf of the partnership. “Hopefully, he is as good as his sister.” 
The previous highest price for a Magic Albert yearling was A$240,000. 
Regarding the purchase price, Khaleel quipped, “[The winning bid] is always the final bid.” 
He added, “In every bidding situation, you always have to be open that you are going to lose, but when you have the support of Sheikh Mohammed he keeps giving you support, so let’s hope we get it right this time for him.” 
And working in his favor, there appeared to be much more to like about the colt than just the credentials in addition to his high profile older sister. 
“He is a nice colt and ticked all the boxes,” said Tim Stakemire, bloodstock adviser to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa. “He is a great walker, has a great gaskin and was a bit muscular. We think he is the real deal.” 
The sale turned out to be a major score for Fairview Park Stud, which offered six lots Thursday and sold five of six offerings, including yesterday’s second highest priced yearling of the day. 
“That’s a fabulous result for us,” said Fairview Park’s Ian Duckworth. “On the back of what Mossfun has done, he has certainly created a lot of interest. He has been very very popular at the sales and attracted some of the biggest bidders at this sale. He is a lovely big and strong horse and he has been popular with all the right people. He has a lot of quality about him and is just a lovely horse.” 
When asked about the price, Duckworth admitted, “No, we didn’t expect anything near that figure. We knew he had been popular, and people asked us to value him, but we just couldn’t put a value on him. Our reserve was much less than that, but we knew if the right people got on him, you may never know where it could finish. It was such an exciting bidding duel between two very strong bidders. It is very exciting because, for that sort of money, they get every opportunity.” 
Asked whether there were any similarities between the two siblings, Duckworth offered, “There were two photos recently put up and there are a lot of similarities, he’s just the male version of Mossfun. He is a very strong and powerful moving horse. Mossfun was a very inexpensive horse in comparison, but on the back of what she’s done, you realize that you have something special in him. So it comes as a wonderful surprise and it is a surreal feeling that he stood out.” 
The colt is destined to join trainer John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne, who also train Mossfun. According to John Hawkes, the Group 1-winning filly has gone for a spell after her win over Earthquake (Aus) last Saturday. 
“He is a lovely athletic colt, very much like her, just a lot more masculine, that is all.” said Hawkes. “A lovely balanced horse. Hopefully, he can run as far and as hard as she can.” 

Streaking Through Session 2… 
Just when it appeared the sale’s hottest action was far in the rearview mirror as the Easter sale’s second session kicked off yesterday, Lot 450 (video) strode into the ring. After an energetic round of bidding, it was the China Horse Club that remained standing with an A$640,000 bid on the son of Northern Meteor (Aus), the second highest price of the second session. 
“He is just a horse that turned out to be a star in the second session,” said Antony Thompson of Widden Stud, which consigned the colt. “He is closely related to Sacred Kingdom, and the mare herself hasn’t been a great producer, but he was a great physical, a real standout type. We thought we’d rather be a bigger fish in the small pond and he certainly was that.” 
When asked about the final price, Thompson said: “We didn’t think he would bring that much. But depending on what the buyers like, you never really know what they’re going to make. Being one of the last big colts in the sale, a couple of groups were looking to secure him and not go home without him.” 
The bay is out of Saffie Darling (Aus) (Catrail), a half-sister to 2010 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}). With his oldest offspring only 3-year-olds, Group 1 winning Northern Meteor, the leading Australian first season sire in 2012-13, failed to fulfill his true potential in the breeding shed when dying unexpectedly last year. 
“This is his second-to-last crop, I guess people see the value of him in his blood,” Thompson said. “They know he’s that branch of the Encosta de Lago line. It is getting hard to find that right colt. That’s what attracted us to Zoustar, who will be very popular at stud this season. So I guess people are out there trying to secure another son of Northern Meteor and, hopefully, he will be a stallion in the making.” 
Regarding Widdens overall trade at this season’s Easter sale, he added, “We’ve had an excellent sale. Clearance has been very good and we’ve been very happy with it. We are the largest consignor here and we’ve been thrilled with how we’ve fared.”