Fastnet filly finishes fabulous week at Inglis Classic

13 min read
A $500,000 Fastnet Rock filly purchased by a group headed by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock highlighted the final day of a record-breaking Inglis Classic Sale, which saw the Book 1 average soar to a new best of $123,295.

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

At A Glance

Nearly all Book 1 metrics eclipsed anything seen before at this Sale, with the average at $123,295 (up from $102,792) last year, while the Book 1 aggregate reached $66.4 million, up over $14 million on 2021.

The clearance rate of 90 per cent was slightly below last year's very high Book 1 mark of 93 per cent, while the median jumped from $80,000 to $100,000.

The Highway Session averaged $50,161 (up from $48,475) with an aggregate of $5.77 million ($6.8 million), a clearance of 85 per cent (89 per cent) and a median of $40,000 ($35,000).

Newgate sires filled the top three spots by aggregate spend in Book 1, with Deep Field ($4.35 million) edging out Capitalist ($4.185 million) for top spot and Russian Revolution in third. Extreme Choice, who had the top two lots of the Sale, topped averages on $352,857 across seven sales.

Unsurprisingly given the dominance of its sires, it was Newgate which grossed the most of any vendor with $5.645 million in Book 1, clear of Sledmere Stud on $4.955 million. The leading vendor by average was Mane Lodge on $296,250.

The leading buyer was Kavanagh Racing, who spent $1.58 million across 14 yearlings in Book 1.

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock purchased 12 yearlings either on its own or in partnership, including the top lot on the final day, paying $500,000 for a Fastnet Rock filly from Coolmore's draft in partnership with Australian Bloodstock and Lustre Lodge.

The final two lots of Book 1, colts by Lean Mean Machine and Almanzor (Fr), sold for $380,000 and $340,000 respectively.

The Highway Session of the Sale was jointly topped on $200,000 by a Real Steel (Jpn) colt and a Showtime colt.

Fastnet filly fits for Maher-led partnership

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock teamed up with Australian Bloodstock to land, for $500,000, a Fastnet Rock filly from Dubai Destination (USA) mare Fiorentina, making Lot 558 a half-sister to G1 William Reid S. winner Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}).

Lot 558 - Fastnet Rock x Fiorentina (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis

Maher bloodstock manager Will Bourne said the pedigree presence of Silent Sedition, a $45,000 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale purchase that went on to make $1.5 million at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale to Katsumi Yoshida, put plenty of residual value into the filly.

“She’s a quality filly and she’s got a good page," Bourne said. “We bought her in partnership with Australian Bloodstock, Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell. Last year at the Magic Millions Sale with the Snitzel colt out of Silent Sedition, we went hard on, he’s a lovely colt, he’s in the system at the moment so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a pedigree update on the page in the next 12 months."

Will Bourne | Image courtesy of Inglis

That colt's name is Ringleader, and he cost the same ownership combination $600,000 through the Arrowfield Stud draft. This time they went to $500,000 for another member of that family, which also features Group 1 winners Porto Roca (Barathea {Ire}) and Monterosso (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

"Being a filly, she was a great physical, but they have great residual and I thought it was a good investment for our clients,’’ Bourne said. “To throw a quality horse like Silent Sedition isn’t an easy thing to do as a broodmare so we know she can get one. It’s a proven stallion so she ticked all the boxes."

“To throw a quality horse like Silent Sedition isn’t an easy thing to do as a broodmare so we know she can get one. It’s a proven stallion so she (Lot 558) ticked all the boxes." - Will Bourne

The filly sold from the Coolmore draft and principal Tom Magnier said she represented a great opportunity.

“She’s gone to a great home,’’ he said. “Australian Bloodstock, they’ve had a lot of luck over the years, they’re great buyers, they always pick a good horse on type and the Fastnet Rock filly is just that.

“They’re going to become a collector’s item, Fastnet Rock fillies. Ciaron Maher, he’s an excellent trainer and hopefully he has good luck.’’

“They’re going to become a collector’s item, Fastnet Rock fillies. Ciaron Maher, he’s an excellent trainer and hopefully he has good luck.’’ - Tom Magnier

Fiorentina, who has also produced the stakes-placed Perfect World (Pride Of Dubai), was secured by Magnier in partnership with Mark Pilkington for $850,000 in 2018. She produced a Merchant Navy filly last year and visited that stallion again.

Unprecedented growth and high expectations met

Final figures for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale would continue to change overnight Tuesday but the gross would land in excess of $72.6 million, taking the total growth of the Sale over the past two years beyond 50 per cent, something Inglis CEO - Bloodstock Sales, Sebastian Hutch said was unprecedented.

Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis

And a clearance rate of more than 90 per cent for the main book, and likely to creep close to that level for the Highway Session as passed in lots were squared away, was incredible albeit, in these times, expected.

“For the Sale to grow to that extent with no change to the catalogue numbers, I would say it surely would be unprecedented in the context of Australian sales,’’ Hutch said. “It’s just amazing.

“It says a lot for the standard of modern day sales if the expectation is that the clearance rate will start with a nine,’’ he said as that rate across the entire Sale did close in on 90 per cent, the Highway Session at 85 per cent at the close of play on Tuesday.

“For the Sale to grow (by 50 per cent) to that extent with no change to the catalogue numbers, I would say it surely would be unprecedented in the context of Australian sales.’’ - Sebastian Hutch

“It’s a testament to the opportunity we’ve been afforded by breeders with really nice horses. We went into the winter with the firm belief we had the capacity to sell really nice horses well at this Sale and have the market to sustain it.

“Breeders backed us with good horses, they believed in our conviction and it’s borne out with the results because the buyers came here and liked what they saw and were prepared to pay good money for them and that’s why we have the figures we have now.’’

“Breeders backed us with good horses, they believed in our conviction and it’s borne out with the results because the buyers came here and liked what they saw and were prepared to pay good money for them.’’ - Sebastian Hutch

Hutch said the whole Sale was not about beating a set of numbers, but more about sending people away with confidence in Inglis that they would provide the best service they possibly could to vendors and buyers.

“That should be our primary objective for any sale,’’ he said. “You can set objectives in terms of numbers whether it’s gross, or clearance or average or top lots or whatever but, fundamentally, we spoke before the Sale about creating a situation where buyers and vendors walked away from the Sale saying I want to do business with those people again and hopefully that’s the case with the majority of people leaving Riverside after this Sale.’’

He said he looked forward to the Premier Sale in Melbourne with a strong catalogue on offer and great support from Victorian vendors.

“Then we press on to Easter after that. It’s a busy few months but I think everybody’s confidence is rock solid after this,’’ he said.

Heys leaves it late

Bryce Heys and Ellerslie Lodge saved their biggest purchase for the week for the very last lot from Book 1, going to $380,000 for Lot 660, the colt by Aquis' first-season sire Lean Mean Machine out of stakes-winner Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel), offered by Sledmere Stud.

The colt is a half-brother to Macau stakes-performer Luen On Poseidon (Pierro) and two other winners from a family which has provided Group 1 winners Headwater, Captivant (Capitalist), Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and River Dove (Hurricane Sky).

Lot 660 - Lean Mean Machine x Kulgrinda (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis

The $380,000 pricetag was a record for the first crop of the Aquis sire, but Warwick Farm-based Heys said he was a colt that warranted that valuation.

"It’s been a long week having to wait for him. You are never quite sure where you end up with a horse of his quality, but we are ecstatic to be able to secure him," he said.

"He physically gives the impression he will go early. He's from a very fast family that has worked with a variety of stallions. It’s a very open pedigree in that regard."

"He (Lot 660) physically gives the impression he will go early. He's from a very fast family that has worked with a variety of stallions. It’s a very open pedigree in that regard." - Bryce Heys

"We just loved him and had to consider putting something together to be here today to try and get him."

It’s a standout result for Lean Mean Machine, whose three yearlings through Book 1 averaged $225,000 making him the leading first-season sire in that regard.

"He was a very good horse and he won good horse's races and beat good horses in the Group races he did win," Heys said. "He's every chance, the stallion himself has got an awesome colonial family, which is always important."

Bryce Heys | Image courtesy of Inglis

The colt was bred in a partnership by Aquis, G1G Racing and Fly Horse, with Kulgrinda, who was initially purchased by Aquis for $300,000 in 2019, sold to Harry McAlpine Bloodstock for $35,000 last year. She subsequently visited Spirit Of Boom.

Moroneys join Almanzor rush

Paul Moroney suggested he didn’t know a great deal about the Almanzor (Fr) produce, but he does know his trainer brother Mike loves the one filly in his New Zealand stable by the Cambridge Stud-standing sire who already has an early stakes winner to his name.

Paul Moroney | Image courtesy of Inglis

That was, in part, his reason for parting with $340,000 for Lot 659, an Almanzor filly from Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) mare Krsdahl (NZ), who was offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds on Cambridge's behalf, but it was her sheer power that ultimately won her favour with Moroney.

“She would be one of the most powerful fillies I have seen in any horse sale," Moroney said. “Her hindquarters were exceptional. She had the widest, squarest hindquarters I have seen on a horse for a long time.

"You could probably have a glass of beer and put it on top of her hindquarters and it would sit there and not move. That’s how square and wide her hindquarters were. She had gaskin to go with it, she had forearm to go with it. She had great body, she was balanced. She had a lot of quality.’’

"You could probably have a glass of beer and put it on top of her (Lot 659's) hindquarters and it would sit there and not move. That’s how square and wide her hindquarters were." - Paul Moroney

Moroney said the signs were good for Almanzor with the stakes winner Dynastic (NZ) in New Zealand.

"You wouldn’t really expect that this early in his career. One thing I have heard from a lot of people is that they’ve got great temperaments and make the job easier," he said.

“I just absolutely love this filly. She’s from a high-class family that everyone knows can produce a top-flight Group 1 horse."

Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud

Moroney said he saw the filly to be probably the quickest Almanzor he’s seen and out of a pedigree that is known to get a very fast 2-year-old type. Unraced Krsdahl is a daughter of Group 1 winner Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA)) and granddaughter of influential broodmare Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).

Recent G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) winner Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel) is from the Eight Carat family, and juvenile Group 1 winners Octagonal (NZ), Viscount, Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Kaapstad (NZ) and La Luna Rossa (NZ) (Written Tycoon) also descend from the blue hen.

“That blood comes through all the time and I just thought she was quality. Out of that family, it is hard to buy into and we paid a bit of money for her, but I thought she just oozed class and strength and all the attributes that I look for in a good filly," Moroney said.

“That blood comes through all the time and I just thought she (Lot 659) was quality." - Paul Moroney

Krsdahl, who has produced the winner Milano (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), was originally an NZ$800,000 yearling purchase for now Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay. Her 2-year-old Almanzor filly Lomanza (NZ) is yet to race, while she didn't produce a foal last year.

Bhima’s Mike Fleming said Cambridge Stud had been very supportive of Bhima and Almanzor had started well and the yearlings were well found and well sought-after.

“Everyone seems to want to buy one. A good result for a nice filly,’’ said Fleming said. “There’s no better judge around than Paul Moroney. He knows the breed and buys nice horses and not much gets past him."

Lot 659 - Almanzor (Fr) x Krshdal (NZ) (filly)

“As good as what it is to get the money, it’s always nice to know they’re going to go into a nice system, find nice homes and give the stallion every chance for Cambridge."

Filly Ready made for Wong and Chu

In other results, Eden Wong and Anita Chu stepped up for a quality filly from the final Australian crop of More Than Ready (USA), paying $310,000 for Lot 569 from the draft of Highgrove Stud.

The Hong Kong buyers prevailed in a bidding battle for filly out of Fracture (Fastnet Rock), who is a sister to G1 Newmarket H. winner Wanted, and dam of recent impressive Pakenham winner Snapped (Not A Single Doubt).

Lot 569 - More Than Ready (USA) x Fracture (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis

Highgrove Stud-bred Fracture from Fragmentation (Snippets), who was a stakes winner on the track and as well as being the dam of Wanted, has also produced the Group 2 winner Shrapnel (Charge Forward) and is the grandam on Listed Canberra Guineas winner Interspersed (Sebring).

Fracture foaled a Capitalist filly last year before visiting Kia Ora Stud's Farnan.

$200,000 colts top Highway

The Inglis Classic Sale rounded out the busy days of record-setting sales with the Highway Session. The top price of $200,000 was reached twice, firstly for a Real Steal (Jpn) colt from French mare Zerkella (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}). With a string of European Group level winners in the family, the Arrowfield Stud-offered colt was sold to Duncan Ramage Thoroughbreds in partnership with John Thompson Racing.

He hails from the Aga Khan family highlighted by Champion filly Zarkava (Fr) (Zamindar {Fr}) and will be headed to Thompson's stable.

Ramage said he was a quality colt from a family of champions.

“Think Big Racing will start with a share and there will be some old friends and some new friends in him,’’ he added.

The price was equalled with the final lot of the Sale, Lot 810, a Showtime colt purchased by Richard and Chantelle Jolly from the draft of Rheinwood Pastoral.

Top lots

558Fastnet RockFiorentinaFCoolmore Stud, Jerrys PlainsCiaron Maher Bloodstock/ Australian Bloodstock/ Lustre Lodge VIC$500,000
660Lean Mean MachineKulgrindaCSledmere Stud, SconeEllerslie Lodge/ B Heys NSW$380,000
659AlmanzorKrsdahlFBhima Thoroughbreds, SconePaul Moroney Bloodstock/ Mike Moroney NSW$340,000
569More Than ReadyFractureFHighgrove Stud, Darling Downs, QLDE Wong/ A Chu HONG KONG$310,000
575Trapeze ArtistFurtherCWidden Stud, Widden ValleyMcEvoy Mitchell Racing/ Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC$260,000
589Extreme ChoiceGood Looking MareFBell River Thoroughbreds, Glen WilliamWattle Bloodstock (FBAA)/ Cliff Brown Racing VIC$260,000
591SavabeelGot ItCSledmere Stud, SconeTFI Ladies QLD$240,000
573So You ThinkFrilly CurtainCBell River Thoroughbreds, Glen WilliamPaul Moroney Bloodstock/ Mike Moroney NSW$220,000
587PierroGolden HoovesFRidgmont Farm, AberdeenAndrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA)/ Andrew Forsman Racing NEW ZEALAND$220,000
578Ocean ParkGeniusFSledmere Stud, SconeChampion Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd NSW$210,000

Top buyers

Kavanagh Racing14$1,580,000 $112,857 $220,000
Darby Racing Pty Ltd10$1,360,000 $136,000 $230,000
James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership3$1,360,000 $453,333 $775,000
Legend Racing6$1,360,000 $226,667 $550,000
Annabel Neasham Racing / B McGuire9$1,240,000 $137,778 $200,000
McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA)6$1,180,000 $196,667 $260,000
G Waterhouse / A Bott / Kestrel8$1,155,000 $144,375 $320,000
Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA)7$1,150,000 $164,286 $240,000
Trilogy Racing / CB Bloodstock7$1,065,000 $152,143 $330,000
Roughwood Park3$1,040,000 $346,667 $460,000

Vendors by aggregate

Newgate Farm, Aberdeen48$5,645,000 $117,604 $550,000
Sledmere Stud, Scone29$4,955,000 $170,862 $380,000
Widden Stud, Widden Valley38$4,455,000 $117,237 $320,000
Yarraman Park Stud, Scone22$3,645,000 $165,682 $480,000
Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William14$2,945,000 $210,357 $775,000
Arrowfield Stud, Scone20$2,820,000 $141,000 $320,000
Vinery Stud, Scone21$2,395,000 $114,048 $430,000
Valiant Stud, Aberdeen19$2,265,000 $119,211 $550,000
Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford14$1,750,000 $125,000 $280,000
Newhaven Park, Boorowa13$1,715,000 $131,923 $280,000

Vendors by average (3 or more sold)

Mane Lodge, Sutton4$296,250 $1,185,000 $825,000
Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William14$210,357 $2,945,000 $775,000
Torryburn Stud, Torryburn7$197,143 $1,380,000 $460,000
Highgrove Stud, Darling Downs, Qld6$185,000 $1,110,000 $320,000
Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains8$184,375 $1,475,000 $500,000
Sledmere Stud, Scone29$170,862 $4,955,000 $380,000
Ridgmont Farm, Segenhoe5$170,000 $850,000 $360,000
Yarraman Park Stud, Scone22$165,682 $3,645,000 $480,000
Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks9$161,667 $1,455,000 $250,000
Silverdale Farm, Avoca6$160,000 $960,000 $390,000

Sires by aggregate

Deep Field29$4,350,000 $150,000 $550,000
Capitalist29$4,335,000 $149,483 $390,000
Russian Revolution25$3,805,000 $152,200 $320,000
Trapeze Artist17$2,860,000 $168,235 $430,000
Extreme Choice7$2,470,000 $352,857 $825,000
Hellbent23$2,390,000 $103,913 $220,000
Pariah16$2,236,000 $139,750 $280,000
So You Think14$2,105,000 $150,357 $280,000
Written By17$2,041,000 $120,059 $280,000
Harry Angel 15$1,962,000 $130,800 $460,000

Sires by average (3 or more sold)

Extreme Choice7$352,857 $2,470,000 $825,000
I Am Invincible6$251,667 $1,510,000 $480,000
Lean Mean Machine3$225,000 $675,000 $380,000
The Autumn Sun7$195,000 $1,365,000 $550,000
Pierro9$188,889 $1,700,000 $330,000
Trapeze Artist17$168,235 $2,860,000 $430,000
Shamus Award7$163,571 $1,145,000 $380,000
Per Incanto3$160,000 $480,000 $320,000
Russian Revolution25$152,200 $3,805,000 $320,000
Dundeel 11$151,364 $1,665,000 $320,000
Inglis
Classic Yearling Sale