The three days of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale's session one drew to a close in Melbourne Tuesday, with a Blue Gum Farm-consigned son of Snitzel (Aus) providing a late highlight to the sale when fetching a sale-topping A$700,000 from Hong Kong-based agent Justin Bahen on behalf of Mr. Little Hung.
Cumulative figures for session one were up across the board. The gross rose 15% to A$51,393,000 with five more horses (463) sold than last year. The buyback rate dropped more than 5% to 12.9%, while the average climbed 14.4% to A$111,000. The median was up 6.3% to A$85,000.
“The overwhelming results from Session I are representative of the confidence in the Victorian industry, and in the Premier Sale,” said Inglis Victorian Manager Simon Vivian. “The jump in average of 14% proves that the results are there for breeders and vendors who support the sale with high-quality horses.”
Arrowfield's leading sire Snitzel was the headline horse of Australia's first yearling sale of the year, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January, when siring three of the six millionaires and the A$1.6 million sale-topping colt, and the son of Redoute's Choice (Aus) proved as popular as ever Tuesday. Agent Justin Bahen described the sale-topping colt (lot 474), the second most expensive yearling ever sold at this sale, as his pick of the sale.
“When Mr. Hung and I first came onto the complex we knew he was the colt we wanted, he was at the top of our list,” said Bahen. “We viewed him half a dozen times. He was full of energy throughout the sale and had a consistent attitude. We spent enough time to make sure he was the right horse for us.”
“He will spell for about a month at Booralite Park to get over the sale,” Bahen added. “The aim is to get him going for a couple of races around this time next year.”
The bay is the eighth foal out of Beauty World (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who has produced the G3 Frank Packer Plate and G3 Carbine Club S. winner Hi World (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}); G3 Steere Classic winner Lite'N In My Veins (Aus) (Henrythenavigator); listed winner Loveyamadly (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}); and Group 1-placed American Crew (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}).
Philip Campbell's Blue Gum Farm also sold a son of Sebring (Aus) (lot 411) to trainer Tony McEvoy for A$340,000 yesterday. McEvoy, who spent A$1,480,000 on eight yearlings during session one said, “the quality has increased at this sale. There were some lovely horses at the Classic sale and more quality horses here.”
McEvoy also bought a Snitzel colt from Arrowfield Stud (lot 443) Tuesday for A$310,000.
Blue Gum Farm was named Best Presented Draft for the sale and also became the first vendor ever at this sale to gross over A$4 million.
“We are delighted to achieve such great results for the clients and the farm,” said Campbell. “Our two top colts today were both outstanding animals with great presence, and we're confident they'll get the best chance with their buyers.”
The second-top price of the day was the A$380,000 shelled out by the China Horse Club for lot 470, a colt by G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Reward For Effort (Aus) who is a half-brother to stakes winner Mihalic (Aus) (Hard Spun).
The one-day session two component of the sale takes place Wednesday, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. local time.
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