Inglis Classic Ends On A High

The curtain came down on a successful edition of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on Monday and after three days of trade yet again the strength and depth of the Australian bloodstock industry was evident. New highs for all performance indicators were achieved, with vendors who supported the sale rewarded with a healthy 90% clearance rate and an average up 37% from last year to A$57,426, complemented by a 47% increase in the median to a record A$44,000. The aggregate for the three days has more than doubled in the last two years, from A$13 million in 2014 to A$26.7 million. A total of 69 yearlings from 36 individual vendors sold for A$100,000 or more, which is more than double the 27 in 2015, further demonstrating the demand for quality bloodstock.

“The competition is as strong as I've ever witnessed at Newmarket, with an outstanding 44 vendors recording 100% clearance,” said Inglis National Bloodstock Director Jonathan D'Arcy. “The presence of buyers from Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and New Zealand, along with Australia's leading trainers, and a multitude of country and provincial trainers, and syndicators from across the country, highlights that Classic is now on every serious buyers' calendar as a sale to attend,” added D'Arcy.

New Zealand based bloodstock agent Michael Wallace secured the day's top priced yearling when lot 362, a Written Tycoon (Aus) (Iglesia {Aus}) colt was knocked down to him for A$305,000. Wallace purchased the Sledmere Stud consigned colt for China Horse Club in conjunction with WinStar Farm and will race him in Australia under the guidance of Peter Snowden. “He's by a stallion that we're really fond of. He's a great-looking horse that handled the week really well. He looks an early type so we'll take him home and get going on him and we hope to see him in some early races,” said Wallace. The colt represented a magnificent pinhook by Sledmere's Treen and Royston Murphy who originally purchased him at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for just A$34,000. The pair had another nice result later in the day when they sold lot 475, a colt by Pins (Aus) (Snippets {Aus}), on behalf of their client, New Zealand's Little Avondale Stud, to Carmel Size for A$260,000. “We've been delighted with the sale, we've cleared 100% and it's just proven that if you support it and bring the right product it's a very good sale with just rewards. We've aimed at this sale for the last few years, and we've had great results. It's a credit to Inglis,” said Royston Murphy.

I Am Invincible (Aus) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was one of the leading sires at the sale, averaging in excess of A$100,000, a feat he shared with Written Tycoon (Aus) (Iglesia {Aus}), Snitzel (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Smart Missile (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (3 or more sold). A Classic graduate himself, 26 of his yearlings sold for an average of $105,269, assisted by the determined bidding for his progeny from a number of parties, with leading buyers Yu Long Investments his biggest supporters. The Chinese-based organisation outlaid A$1,129,500 for 11 yearlings in total, nine by the Yarraman Park-based sire including A$260,000 for a colt, Lot 501 from Murrulla Stud, which will head to the Caulfield stable of Mick Price. “He's a lovely forward colt that looks like a two-year-old that will train on as a three-year-old. I just fell in love with him. Bred by the same people who bred Brazen Beau (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), he will make a lovely stallion prospect if he could win the right race,” said Luke Wilkinson, Bloodstock Manager for Mick Price.

Another vendor to sell all of their offerings was Yarraman Park Stud, who, after selling the sale topper on Sunday, achieved another notable result on Monday selling their colt by Hinchinbrook (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) to James Harron Bloodstock for A$260,000. After securing lot 442, which will be trained by Peter Snowden, Harron commented “He was a lovely athletic colt. He is a good-tracking and strong sort, with a nice pedigree to back it up.” Reflecting on a highly satisfactory three days for Inglis, their vendors and hopefully their purchasers Jonathan D'Arcy said, “We would like to thank all our clients, both buyers and vendors, for making this Classic Sale the success it has been. Our attention now turns to Oaklands in Melbourne where we look forward to seeing our buyers compete for an outstanding catalogue of 775 quality yearlings at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale on 28, 29 February and 1, 2 March.”