Images courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
>> A selective buyers' market saw a clearance rate of 61.4 per cent, with 51 of the 83 lots to go through the ring finding new homes
>> Trainer Gerald Ryan picked up the top lot, a colt by I Am Invincible out of Winx's half-sister, securing him, after he was initially passed in, for $700,000
>> Three lots fetched $500,000 or above, two colts by I Am Invincible and a filly by Frankel (GB)
>> The sale aggregate topped $6.7 million taking the total Easter aggregate to $79,470,000
>> The average price was $131,588, with the Easter Round 1 average $306,189
>> The median price ended up at $85,000, compared to a Round 1 median of $250,000
>> Yulong led the way for vendors, selling three yearlings for $1.2 million in total
Deal done as Ryan gets a piece of Winx's family
It took some negotiation, but trainer Gerald Ryan secured the top lot of Easter Round 2, paying $700,000 for a colt by I Am invincible out of a half-sister to superstar mare Winx.
Lot 95, who is out of Miss Atom Bomb (Encosta De Lago), the unraced half-sister to both Winx and El Divino (Snitzel), had been passed in at the Easter Round 1 sale in April short of a $1 million reserve, and was offered again through Bhima Thoroughbreds' draft at Sunday's Sale.
He was initially passed in again, but a post-sales ring deal saw Ryan secure him for $700,000.
Lot 95 - I Am Invincible x Miss Atom Bomb (colt)
“He’s a nice horse who is by a great stallion out of a mare who was unraced but I knew what she could do (when she was trained at Rosehill by Tim Martin). She had a stack of ability and she was very fast and she is a half-sister to none other than Winx, so you wouldn’t get a better page," Ryan said.
“He’s a nice colt, he’s an athlete. He’s a big, strong horse. You wouldn’t say he’d be a pre-Christmas 2-year-old but he’d definitely be ready to run in the autumn.
“He’s a nice colt, he’s an athlete. He’s a big, strong horse." - Gerald Ryan
“We did a little bit of negotiating and the breeder was happy to stay in and do it himself.”
Bred by Peter and Terry Board, he is a half-brother to the winner Nuclear Blitz (Sepoy), who fetched $600,000 as a broodmare prospect last year, as well as the unraced Trinity One (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), who sold to Godolphin for $750,000 at last year's Easter Sale.
The Boards purchased Miss Atom Bomb in 2012 as the first foal out of stakes-winner Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar).
“The next foal out of the mare was Winx so we might not have got the best one to race but we’re certainly having some fun breeding with this mare,’’ Terry Board said.
“She always had a lot of ability and speed and Tim Martin who trained her always liked her but she never made it to the races.
“So we went on the breeding journey with her and while this year has been a little stressful at times to be honest given everything that’s been happening, we’re so very happy with this result today to get the $700,000 for the colt.’’
Ryan said the experience of bidding on Easter quality yearlings in July was a bit odd, but he was happy to have got the deal done.
Gerald Ryan (right)
“It was a bit more than what I was hoping (to pay) but on his page and if he goes through a normal Easter sale he probably makes $900,000," he said.
“It’s a bit different. You look at them in January, February or April and say, ‘they might need a little bit of time’ but here we are in July and they are nearly 2-years-old. They still need a bit of time."
Ryan's general consensus on the sale was that it was strong enough for the lots that were in demand.
"I know a few of the vendors would be a bit disappointed but given the present situation, I think they’ve sold okay. The colts and the good fillies, the same as every sale, they make their money. I think it’s held up okay under the present situation,” Ryan said.
Frankel filly finds Japanese home
The morning session began relatively quickly with Lot 6, a filly by Frankel (GB) out of Lake Hamana (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), going to Japanese buyer Dr Isoa Yamazumi for $500,000 from the strong draft of Yulong.
It was no surprise to see the filly making a mark, given her international pedigree, with her dam an unraced three-quarter sister to stakes-winner Sixth Sense (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and a half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Allary winner Sobetsu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
"There’s a very strong Japanese influence through the first three dams especially, the likes of Sobetsu and Sixth Sense and Tower Of London so it’s fantastic to be able to buy this filly," Dr Yamazumi said.
"There’s a very strong Japanese influence through the first three dams especially, the likes of Sobetsu and Sixth Sense and Tower Of London so it’s fantastic to be able to buy this filly." - Dr Isoa Yamazumi
"I tried to buy one from the family a couple of years ago but missed out so it’s a great relief and very exciting to be able to secure this beautiful filly. It’s a world-class pedigree being by the great Frankel and we liked everything about her."
Yulong Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray was rapt to see the filly find a good home.
"We’re really pleased. She’s a lovely filly who had been popular all week and even prior to that. To get $500,000 for her in this market, we’re definitely pleased with that," he said.
"She’s a belter of a filly, she had the size and strength about her and is such a good-moving filly. She was similar to Hungry Heart but probably with a bit more substance to her. She’s just a horse who everything was easy for her from the outset.’’
Santry swoops for Vinnie colt
Yulong was also able to get a $500,000 return on Lot 85, an I Am Invincible colt out of Group 2 winner Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt).
It was Colm Santry who was able to secure the colt, whose ill-fated three-quarter brother Brazen Gypsy (Brazen Beau) was a winner, and whose third dam, Silk Lilly (Can) (Never Bend {USA}) is a half-sister to the influential broodmare Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
Lot 85 - I Am Invincible x Gypsy Diamond (colt)
"He’ll go to Chris Waller as part of our stallion syndicate with him," Santry said. "He’s a lovely horse. He was highly recommended by all the team, we all liked him. We’re very happy to be taking him.
"He’s a high-quality horse, a strong and mature horse who really should be highly effective as a 2-year-old. Fingers crossed! He’s already broken in which is good so he can basically go straight into the Waller system as normal immediately and just see how far he gets with him this first preparation. He’s well down the road.
"He’s a high-quality horse, a strong and mature horse who really should be highly effective as a 2-year-old. Fingers crossed!" - Colm Santry
"It’s great to be able to buy a lovely colt from Yulong, they have been great supporters of our stallions and Mr Zhang and his team continues to invest heavily in our industry. Yulong had an extremely high-quality draft at this sale and it’s a credit to their team."
Colm Santry
Again, it was a result which pleased Fairgray in what was a tricky market.
“Another great result under the circumstances and he’ll get every opportunity with Chris Waller. We’ve got the mare as well so it’s positives all round," he said.
"This colt was from day one the perfect article and he just kept progressing in the right direction. Nothing was ever a problem for him, he’s strong and everyone who saw him fell in love with him. He’s a beautiful animal and I’m sure the Waller team will get the best out of him."
Yulong top vendors' list
It was no surprise to see Yulong at the top of the vendors' list at the end of the day with $1.2 million in sales across three lots. But it also took home nine horses which passed in, while two more were withdrawn from the initial catalogue.
“Everyone has to deal with the current economic circumstances, everyone is in the same boat globally," Fairgray said. "It will stay like this a bit longer yet where it’s probably a buyers’ market at the moment but that said, to get $500,000 for those two horses we’re really happy about. It’s been great Inglis has been able to even create a marketplace with this live auction, so credit to them."
Sam Fairgray
Ryan ended the day as the top buyer, with three lots totalling $800,000, while Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke bloodstock spent $540,000 across two lots, including $400,000 for Lot 61, the Snitzel colt full sister to stakes-placed Miss Wonderland out of Alice's Smart (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}) from the draft of Edinburgh Park.
Another Snitzel colt from an American mare, Lot 89, the full brother to Thronum out of Helena's Secret (USA) (Five Star Day {USA}) went for $300,000 to Aquis Farm from the draft of Highgrove Stud.
The top price for a first-season sire lot on the day was the $200,000 Snowden Racing paid for Lot 58, a colt by Newgate's Capitalist out of Group 3 winner Zingaling (Redoute's Choice).
Lot 58 - Capitalist x Zingaling (colt)
"He’s a nice colt, strong, athletic with good length, probably a better type than the one we have at home now (Hurt Money) by a stallion we think will get 2-year-olds," Peter Snowden said.
"We’ve got a few Capitalists who are showing us quite a bit as well so it’s not a bad combination – out of a good mare who can produce by a stallion we know very well. He’ll be broken in straight away and all going well, we’ll give him a fair bit of time, let him grow out a bit more and target some later 2-year-old races with him."
Inglis’ Managing Director Mark Webster said under the unprecedented circumstances, he was pleased with the results of both Easter Round 2 and the Scone Yearling Sale which followed it.
“It’s been a tough few months for a lot of people in our industry and I’m just glad we’ve been able to provide a marketplace for a live sale to take place,’’ Webster said.
“We’ve cleared more than 70 per cent of the offering today selling a broad range of yearlings to a diverse domestic and international buying bench, including top end yearlings to Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong."
Live auction action at the Riverside Complex will resume on Wednesday, with the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale to take place over two days.
Top lots
| 95 | I Am Invincible | Miss Atom Bomb | Colt | Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | G Ryan NSW | $700,000 |
| 6 | Frankel (GB) | Lake Hamana (GB) | Filly | Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | I Yamazumi JAPAN | $500,000 |
| 85 | I Am Invincible | Gypsy Diamond | Colt | Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | Colm Santry Bloodstock Pty Ltd NSW | $500,000 |
| 61 | Snitzel | Alice's Smart (USA) | Colt | Edinburgh Park Stud, Wingham | Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock NSW | $400,000 |
| 89 | Snitzel | Helena's Secret (USA) | Colt | Highgrove Stud, Darling Downs, Qld | Aquis Farm QLD | $300,000 |
| 58 | Capitalist | Zingaling | Colt | Macquarie Stud, Wellington | Snowden Racing Pty Ltd NSW | $200,000 |
| 59 | Pierro | Albaicin | Filly | Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | Nat McCall Racing QLD | $200,000 |
| 74 | Fastnet Rock | Ciarlet | Colt | Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | Swettenham Stud / John Foote Bloodstock VIC | $200,000 |
| 39 | Capitalist | Savannah's Choice | Filly | Jazcom Thoroughbreds, The Oaks | Mark Newnham Bloodstock NSW | $180,000 |
| 60 | Fastnet Rock | Alberton Park (NZ) | Colt | Kia Ora Stud, Scone | DGR Thoroughbred Services Pty Ltd / Mick Price Racing NSW | $150,000 |
Top buyers
| G Ryan | NSW | 3 | $880,000 | $293,333 | $700,000 | $130,000 |
| Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock | NSW | 2 | $540,000 | $270,000 | $400,000 | $270,000 |
| Colm Santry Bloodstock Pty Ltd | NSW | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| I Yamazumi | JAPAN | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Snowden Racing Pty Ltd | NSW | 2 | $350,000 | $175,000 | $200,000 | $175,000 |
| Aquis Farm | QLD | 1 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Darby Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock | NSW | 3 | $270,000 | $90,000 | $150,000 | $75,000 |
| Nat McCall Racing | QLD | 2 | $250,000 | $125,000 | $200,000 | $125,000 |
| Swettenham Stud / John Foote Bloodstock | VIC | 1 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Mark Newnham Bloodstock | NSW | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
Top vendors
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | 1 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 | $700,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 3 | $500,000 | $1,200,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 |
| Edinburgh Park Stud, Wingham | 2 | $400,000 | $540,000 | $270,000 | $270,000 |
| Highgrove Stud, Darling Downs, Qld | 2 | $300,000 | $430,000 | $215,000 | $215,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 5 | $200,000 | $535,000 | $107,000 | $85,000 |
| Macquarie Stud, Wellington | 2 | $200,000 | $275,000 | $137,500 | $137,500 |
| Jazcom Thoroughbreds, The Oaks | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone | 3 | $150,000 | $350,000 | $116,667 | $150,000 |
| Marquee Stud, Willow Tree | 2 | $150,000 | $280,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 2 | $150,000 | $226,000 | $113,000 | $113,000 |
Top vendors by average (2 or more)
| Yulong, Nagambie, Vic | 3 | $400,000 | $1,200,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Edinburgh Park Stud, Wingham | 2 | $270,000 | $540,000 | $400,000 | $270,000 |
| Highgrove Stud, Darling Downs, Qld | 2 | $215,000 | $430,000 | $300,000 | $215,000 |
| Marquee Stud, Willow Tree | 2 | $140,000 | $280,000 | $150,000 | $140,000 |
| Glastonbury Farms, Scone | 2 | $137,500 | $275,000 | $140,000 | $137,500 |
| Macquarie Stud, Wellington | 2 | $137,500 | $275,000 | $200,000 | $137,500 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone | 3 | $116,667 | $350,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 2 | $113,000 | $226,000 | $150,000 | $113,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 5 | $107,000 | $535,000 | $200,000 | $85,000 |
| Corumbene Stud, Dunedoo | 4 | $92,500 | $370,000 | $135,000 | $102,500 |
Top sires by average (2 or more)
| I Am Invincible | 5 | $310,000.00 | $1,550,000.00 | $700,000.00 | $150,000.00 |
| Snitzel | 3 | $280,000.00 | $840,000.00 | $400,000.00 | $300,000.00 |
| Fastnet Rock | 2 | $175,000.00 | $350,000.00 | $200,000.00 | $175,000.00 |
| Pierro | 2 | $135,000.00 | $270,000.00 | $200,000.00 | $135,000.00 |
| Capitalist | 5 | $128,000.00 | $640,000.00 | $200,000.00 | $135,000.00 |
| Written Tycoon | 3 | $110,000.00 | $330,000.00 | $150,000.00 | $135,000.00 |
| American Pharoah (USA) | 4 | $103,750.00 | $415,000.00 | $130,000.00 | $102,500.00 |
| Exceed And Excel | 3 | $91,667.00 | $275,000.00 | $140,000.00 | $75,000.00 |
| Star Turn | 2 | $75,000.00 | $150,000.00 | $100,000.00 | $75,000.00 |
| Extreme Choice | 2 | $52,500.00 | $105,000.00 | $55,000.00 | $52,500.00 |
