Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The average for the Sale, previously known as the Scone Yearling Sale, jumped from $17,566 in 2020 and $15,797 in 2019 to $21,221 on Day 1.
The median also jumped to $14,000, having been $10,000 (2020) and $12,000 (2019) the previous two editions.
The overall Sale aggregate has already reached $2.589 million, $200,000 more than it was for the entire Sale in 2020 and just short of the overall aggregate in 2019.
The only statistical soft point was the clearance rate, which ended the day at 74 per cent, compared to overall Sale clearance of 86 per cent in 2020 and 90 per cent in 2019.
The Capitalist colt, Lot 156, which topped the Sale on the day was sold to Mitchell Williams Bloodstock and Peter Moffatt for $140,000 and is set to be pinhooked in to the breeze-up sales.
Merchant Bloodstock paid $85,000 for Lot 81, an Ocean Park (NZ) colt offered by Riversdale.
John Foote made his presence felt by buying four yearlings, two in partnership with Matthew Smith Racing, including the day's top-priced filly, Lot 40, by Russian Revolution, for $75,000.
Capitalist's son lights up the market
Lot 165, the bay colt by red-hot first-season sire Capitalist, looked the likely Day 1 headliner ever since he strode into the Riverside complex and lived up to the reputation with Mitchell Williams Bloodstock and Peter Moffatt combined to pay $140,000 for him on Sunday.
His dam, Glistening Light (Exceed And Excel), was purchased by Huntworth Stud's Peter Stewart and Bridget Woodford-Smith at the 2019 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. She cost $45,000 and was in foal with Capitalist in what proved a canny acquisition.
She delivered a colt in December 2019, and Huntworth, which has about eight mares of its own and another 10 in partnership with Redbank North, was able to capitalise on the current buzz on his sire, who is currently leading the First-Season Sires' table.
"In this sort of market and in this Sale, we were very happy with the result. There had been a lot of interest in him and he was a very tidy sort of a colt, everybody was happy to look at him and he performed quite well," Stewart told TDN AusNZ.
"There had been a lot of interest in him (Lot 165) and he was a very tidy sort of a colt, everybody was happy to look at him and he performed quite well." - Peter Stewart
Glistening Light is a daughter of Group 1 placegetter Glowlamp (Encosta De Lago) out of the extended family of eight-time Group 1 winner and star stallion Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire).
Williams purchased the partnership with breaker and pre-trainer Peter Moffatt, with ambitions to put the colt back through the breeze-up sales later this year.
“Peter Moffatt will be taking him to the breeze-up sales up here in October. Peter used to work with me at Tal Nolen’s but he’s doing his own thing now in Wangaratta, so hopefully he gets a good result with this horse,” Williams said.
“He’s a good-bodied and good-moving horse who has done everything right, so I think he will be a good breeze-up horse."
“He’s (Lot 165) a good-bodied and good-moving horse who has done everything right, so I think he will be a good breeze-up horse." - Mitchell Williams
With Capitalist on such an amazing run at the moment, including his first Group 1 winner in the Champagne S. with Captivant last month, Williams said the choice of stallion made sense.
“He’s the right horse if you want to get a hit out of one and make big money, he’s the flavour of the month," he said.
“It has been pretty tough. Everyone’s on the same sort of horses and they’re making a bit more money than they used to, those running types.”
Capitalist proved a popular sire at the Sale | Standing at Newgate
Glistening Light was given a year off after a late foaling in 2019, and last year visited Coolmore's Pride Of Dubai, who she is in foal with. Stewart said the decision to purchase her back in 2019 made perfect sense, even moreso after this result.
"She is a very nice mare and she is related to a very good mare in Glowlamp, who ran a lot of seconds to Samantha Miss," he said. "She is just a nice Exceed And Excel mare and at the time we needed to up our quality in our broodmare band."
Strong results defy sticky moments
After a yearling sales season which has been punctuated by record results after record results, the HTBA May Yearling Sale got off to a relatively demure start, with buyers seemingly hesitant as vendors looked to work out where the market was at.
It was a Sale which built momentum as the day progressed, with quality stock in demand, powering the jumps in average and median.
Inglis General Manager Bloodstock Sales & Marketing, Sebastian Hutch, said that while there were some sticky spots in the market, the overall results were pleasing.
"With the turnover at $2.6 million and average of $21,000, it’s a significant upgrade on previous years of this Sale. The top price of $140,000 was a terrific result for Peter Stewart and Bridget Woodford-Smith," he said.
"With the turnover at $2.6 million and average of $21,000, it’s a significant upgrade on previous years of this Sale." - Sebastian Hutch
"For the horses that met the criteria of buyers and vetted well, and measured up, they generally sold well. There was good interest from traders and there was a broad spectrum of buyers involved.
"There were periods where the lower end of the market, the clearance wasn't quite as strong as we would have liked, but we have had good interest in passed in lots, and I think the clearance rate will continue to pick up overnight and into tomorrow."
Hutch said that despite periods of the day where selling was difficult, the numbers pointed to a positive day's trading.
Sebastian Hutch
"It certainly felt a bit lethargic early on, and that's not an experience that is alien to a Sale like this, where the market is trying to get a feel for where it's at. But this is a Sale which has traditionally averaged $15,000-$17,000. For the figures to be what they were at the end of the day, with the likelihood of further sales, it’s encouraging that we will end up in a very solid place in terms of turnover," he said.
Hutch said that sales at the more modest end of the market are also those most likely to be impacted by the rise to prominence of digital markets, such as the bi-monthly auctions conducted by Inglis Digital.
"Buyers have a very wide range of options as to where they source horses. Inglis Digital in particular, is now a true and conventional market," he said.
"A lot of people who participate in these sales are active with Inglis Digital as well, and if they didn't feel like they found value here, there are alternative places to shop. It’s not quite the same narrow marketplace it may have been three to five years ago. Buyers have genuine alternatives as to where they go to source their stock."
Waugh snaps up Ocean Park colt
The second top price of the day, $85,000, was paid by Kim Waugh on behalf of Merchant Bloodstock, for Lot 81, a colt by Ocean Park out of Brooklyn Roads (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}).
Offered by Riversdale, the colt is a half-brother to two winners, with his dam a six-time winning daughter of Listed winner Ethlen (NZ) (Hula Town {NZ}). He was bred by Monovale Stud.
Always a presence at a yearling sale, agent John Foote secured Lot 141, a Star Witness colt offered by Tyreel Stud, for $80,000, and also came together with Matthew Smith to pay $75,000 for a Russian Revolution filly from Fairview Park Stud, Lot 40.
The Star Witness colt is out of Elsewhere (Lonhro), the half-sister to Group 1 winner Long John (Street Cry {Ire}), while the Russian Revolution filly is out of Group 3 winner Adorabeel (NZ) (Savabeel).
Murrulla Stud got two strong results earlier in the day, with Lot 98, a Deep Field colt, selling to Dullingham Pty Ltd for $75,000, and Lot 34, a colt by Pariah, purchased by Upper Bloodstock for $70,000.
The HTBA May Sale resumes on Monday morning at 10am AEST, with 180 lots catalogued for sale.
Top lots
| 165 | Colt | Capitalist | Glistening Light | Huntworth Stud, Exeter | P Moffatt / Mitchell Williams Bloodstock VIC | $140,000 |
| 81 | Colt | Ocean Park | Brooklyn Roads | Riversdale, Scone | Merchant Bloodstock NSW | $85,000 |
| 141 | Colt | Star Witness | Elsewhere | Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | John Foote Bloodstock QLD | $80,000 |
| 40 | Filly | Russian Revolution | Adorabeel | Fairview Park Stud, Grose Wold | John Foote Bloodstock / Matthew Smith Racing NSW | $75,000 |
| 98 | Colt | Deep Field | Chinner Street | Murrulla Stud, Wingen | Dullingham Pty Ltd QLD | $75,000 |
| 34 | Colt | Pariah | Watchful Eyes | Murrulla Stud, Wingen | Upper Bloodstock HONG KONG | $70,000 |
| 69 | Colt | Dissident | Bee Neata | Clarke & Croft Bloodstock, Uralla | Scone Bloodstock Services Pty Ltd NSW | $65,000 |
| 58 | Filly | Capitalist | Artstrum | Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds, Meroo Meadow | D L Freedman Racing Services Pty Ltd QLD | $60,000 |
| 21 | Colt | Deep Field | Two Hearts | Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi | S Chan HONG KONG | $55,000 |
| 154 | Filly | Star Turn | Filomena's Grace | Vinery Stud, Scone | Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock NSW | $55,000 |
Top buyers
| P Moffatt / Mitchell Williams Bloodstock | VIC | 1 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 |
| T Martin | NSW | 6 | $134,000 | $22,333 | $40,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock | QLD | 2 | $104,000 | $52,000 | $80,000 |
| Joseph & Jones Racing | NSW | 3 | $96,000 | $32,000 | $48,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock / Matthew Smith Racing | NSW | 2 | $90,000 | $45,000 | $75,000 |
| Merchant Bloodstock | NSW | 1 | $85,000 | $85,000 | $85,000 |
| Dullingham Pty Ltd | QLD | 1 | $75,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Darby Racing | NSW | 2 | $73,500 | $36,750 | $50,000 |
| Upper Bloodstock | HONG KONG | 1 | $70,000 | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Scone Bloodstock Services Pty Ltd | NSW | 1 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 10 | $250,000 | $25,000 | $55,000 |
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen | 6 | $223,500 | $37,250 | $75,000 |
| Huntworth Stud, Exeter | 2 | $180,000 | $90,000 | $140,000 |
| Fairview Park Stud, Grose Wold | 5 | $151,500 | $30,300 | $75,000 |
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 6 | $134,000 | $22,333 | $40,000 |
| Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone | 7 | $108,000 | $15,429 | $32,000 |
| Jazcom Thoroughbreds, The Oaks | 5 | $103,000 | $20,600 | $38,000 |
| Riversdale, Scone | 3 | $99,000 | $33,000 | $85,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 6 | $92,500 | $15,417 | $24,000 |
| Ashleigh Thoroughbreds, Scone | 2 | $80,000 | $40,000 | $48,000 |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Murrulla Stud, Wingen | 6 | $37,250 | $223,500 | $75,000 |
| Riversdale, Scone | 3 | $33,000 | $99,000 | $85,000 |
| Fairview Park Stud, Grose Wold | 5 | $30,300 | $151,500 | $75,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 10 | $25,000 | $250,000 | $55,000 |
| Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | 3 | $22,333 | $67,000 | $54,000 |
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 6 | $22,333 | $134,000 | $40,000 |
| Jazcom Thoroughbreds, The Oaks | 5 | $20,600 | $103,000 | $38,000 |
| Davali Thoroughbreds, Luskintyre | 3 | $20,333 | $61,000 | $48,000 |
| Gooree Park Stud, Mudgee | 4 | $17,250 | $69,000 | $50,000 |
| Middlebrook Valley Lodge, Scone | 7 | $15,429 | $108,000 | $32,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Capitalist | 4 | $231,000 | $57,750 | $140,000 |
| Star Turn | 7 | $189,000 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| Deep Field | 3 | $178,000 | $59,333 | $75,000 |
| Flying Artie | 7 | $167,000 | $23,857 | $50,000 |
| Press Statement | 6 | $115,500 | $19,250 | $42,000 |
| Star Witness | 3 | $106,000 | $35,333 | $80,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 3 | $105,000 | $35,000 | $75,000 |
| Dissident | 5 | $95,500 | $19,100 | $65,000 |
| Pariah | 2 | $90,000 | $45,000 | $70,000 |
| Invader | 2 | $88,000 | $44,000 | $50,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Deep Field | 3 | $59,333 | $178,000 | $75,000 |
| Capitalist | 4 | $57,750 | $231,000 | $140,000 |
| Star Witness | 3 | $35,333 | $106,000 | $80,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 3 | $35,000 | $105,000 | $75,000 |
| Star Turn | 7 | $27,000 | $189,000 | $55,000 |
| Exosphere | 3 | $24,000 | $72,000 | $32,000 |
| Flying Artie | 7 | $23,857 | $167,000 | $50,000 |
| Press Statement | 6 | $19,250 | $115,500 | $42,000 |
| Dissident | 5 | $19,100 | $95,500 | $65,000 |
| Real Impact | 3 | $14,667 | $44,000 | $35,000 |
