Australian Easter Sale Day 1

Top priced Lot, the Fastnet Rock filly out of Alinghi’s sister Perfect Persuasion.

Australian and international buyers locked horns on the opening day of the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchasing 132 of the region’s best yearlings at a great average of $291,667.

“There has been an incredible buzz around the sale, and day one has certainly lived up to that,” said Inglis’ Managing Director Mark Webster.

“It is great to see Australian trainers and agents working closely with both international and local owners to secure the incredible athletes assembled at Easter,” Webster said.

Today’s median of $210,000 is up on last year, as is the average of $291,667 and gross of $38,500,000. The clearance rate of 73% at the fall of the final hammer today is very similar to this time last year and is expected to increase in the coming days as sales of passed-in lots are processed.

“The Day One clearance rate last year rose from 74% to 88% by the end of the sale and the Inglis team will be working hard in the coming days to deliver similar results for our vendors,” added Webster.

Prices on day one were topped by Lot 103 (pictured right), a Fastnet Rock filly out of Alinghi’s sister Perfect Persuasion. Offered from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud, the filly sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum for $1,600,000 and will remain in Australia to race.

Along with the top Lot, the breeder and part-owner of Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Pride Of Dubai purchased Lot 28, another Fastnet Rock filly out of Livealifeoflove for $675,000 from Coolmore Stud.

Also flying the flag for the fillies was Lot 41 out of Mennetou, offered from the draft of Coolmore Stud. The three-quarter sister by Fastnet Rock to two Group 3 winners was secured by Adrian Nicoll BBA Ireland for the Niarchos Family for $1,300,000.

The top priced colt today was offered by Scone’s Willow Park Stud as Lot 79 (pictured left). By Darley’s ill-fated stallion Street Cry and out of the Exceed And Excel mare Noesis, the colt sold to International bloodstock agent George Moore for $1,000,000.

Coolmore Stud currently leads the vendors’ table by aggregate, selling 11 of 13 Lots for $5,155,000. Their headline sire Fastnet Rock was also dominant selling five of the top ten highest priced Lots, and accumulating a total of $8,445,000 on 16 Lots.

10 other sires also had individual progeny sell for $500,000 or more. They are Street Cry, I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Manhattan Rain, Redoute’s Choice, Exceed And Excel, Sebring, Medaglia d’Oro, High Chaparral and More Than Ready.

International representation on the buying bench was strong as predicted, led by Angus Gold of Shadwell Stud who signed for 8 yearlings for $2,685,000. Local and interstate buyers also took advantage of the quality catalogue.

Australian trainers, syndicators and agents who were active today include John Foote Bloodstock, Hawkes Racing, James Harron Bloodstock, Anthony Cummings, Lee Freedman, Chris Waller, Ellerton Zahra Racing, Gai Waterhouse, Julian Blaxland, Boomer Bloodstock, Aquanita Racing, David Raphael, Belmont Bloodstock, Peter Moody, Mick Price, Paul Perry, James Bester, Gerald Ryan, Leon Macdonald, Spicer Thoroughbreds, Star Thoroughbreds, Darby Racing, Phillip Stokes and Astute Bloodstock.

“It is wonderful to see some new faces both amongst vendors and the buying bench, and of course to get some great results for the stalwarts of the industry,” added Webster.

Category: Breeding