Strong buying bench raises key sale stats

5 min read

A strong international buying bench at Monday’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale at Riverside Stables pushed key indicators to new levels.

While conceding there was still plenty of room for improvement, Managing Director Mark Webster was pleased with the overall results which saw significant increases in clearance rate (66 per cent, up from 60 per cent last year), average price ($91,148 up 30 percent), median price ($65,000, up 30 per cent) and sale gross ($8,021,000, a 45 per cent increase).

Buyers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, as well as all the major Australian States and Territories, were in action.

“This sale is all about improving every year and we put a lot of work into that for this year’s sale and I feel we absolutely achieved a significant improvement,’’ Webster said.

“There was more depth at the top of the market, better horses and more buyers in that range which is a good sign.” – Mark Webster.

“There was more depth at the top of the market, better horses and more buyers in that range which is a good sign.

“All the key stats being up is a positive sign. Yes, we have to improve the clearance rate, we all know that, but we’ll continue to work on that and continue to work with our vendors in the lead-up to the sale to ensure their horses are ready to be sold on sale day.”

Aquis Farm was the leading buyer by both total Lots purchased (six) and aggregate, $510,000.

The top end of the market was extremely strong, with significant increases across the board.

In total, 11 Lots sold for $200,000 or more, compared to just two 12 months ago, where four Lots sold above $100,000 there were 26 this year, up from 15. There were also several outstanding pin-hook results on the day.

Lionhearted effort

Lionheart Thoroughbreds was leading vendor by aggregate, grossing $1,550,500 for 14 Lots sold, while Musk Creek Farm was the best by average for three or more sold, selling a quartet at an average of $153,750.

The day’s top Lot came in the first hour of proceedings when Lot 24, a colt by Poet’s Voice (GB)(Dubawi {IRE}) out of Bedizened (Commands) colt offered by Musk Creek Farm, was purchased for $280,000 by Hong Kong trainer Dennis Yip.

WATCH: Poet's Voice x Bedizened colt

His agent Damian Yap, who was especially impressed with the colt’s breeze up time of 10.35secs at Cranbourne, said the 2-year-old would be sent for a spell before heading to Warwick Farm trainer Rick Worthington to be prepared for Hong Kong next year.

“He is a horse who will probably start off at the sprint trips and then be able to step up to the mile and I believe he will have a bright future in Hong Kong,” Yap said.

“I think we got him for under our budget. He was one of the best horses on the ground and he breezed up well.” - Damian Yap.

“I think we got him for under our budget. He was one of the best horses on the ground and he breezed up well.”

Thai buyer Krit Chittaseni had a big day, not only purchasing multiple Lots including the equal second-top Lot of the day, a Written Tycoon (Iglesia) out of Edikeni (NZ) (Johannesburg {USA}) for $260,000, but also winning The Everest prize with Waterford Bloodstock, which could see them win up to $300,000 at the 2019 The Everest through the Inglis slot runner.

Their prize came after Lot 172 was drawn out of the barrel in The Everest promotion.

“I’m very happy with this colt. He has very good conformation, good pedigree, I like him and that’s why I’m happy to have paid good money for him,” Chittaseni said of the Written Tycoon youngster offered by Baystone Farm.

WATCH: Written Tycoon x Edikeni colt

Shopping list ticked off

Meanwhile, Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland successfully filled his order for Asian clients at the Sale.

“I bought a Eurozone, a Kuroshio and a Dissident for them to take back to China, I think it’s a great sale for that type of horse,” he said.

Blaxland purchased the Eurozone (Northern Meteor) colt for $18,000 out of Lionheart Thoroughbreds’ draft; the Kuroshio from Baystone Farm for $50,000 and the Dissident for $55,000 from John Ramsay.

“They are all heading to Yulong’s property in Victoria and will then go to China in a couple of months.”

Local knowledge

Blaxland said his clients were keen to use local knowledge at the Sale. “They seem to know what they like and enlisted me to help them,”

“I enlist help when I go to Keeneland from local agents and breeders as well. Having someone who knows the local stock I think is an advantage.

“Obviously, the quality has gone up here and it’s interesting to see the yearling prices and vendors are spending more on them to bring them to this sale."