Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The Sale average sits at a record level of $383,873, up from $361,604 last year, while the median jumped to $300,000 (from $260,000).
The daily gross of $66.41 million sits just adrift of the record $67.62 million on the opening day last year, while the clearance rate was the one area for improvement at 80 per cent (91 per cent last year).
I Am Invincible, who had the top-priced yearling of the day, is the leading sire on both aggregate and average, while Dundeel (NZ) had his first-ever $1 million yearling.
Arrowfield Stud leads vendors on aggregate, selling over $10 million worth of yearlings, including two seven-figure colts, while Vinery Stud, on $619,000, leads the averages for three or more lots sold.
Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier was the leading buyer, with three seven-figure purchases for a total of $3.8 million.
Cressfield sold the top lot, Lot 144, with its only sale of the day.
Maher gets his Vinnie colt
Ciaron Maher has been at the pointy end of the market at many of Australia's top yearling sales in recent years and he formed a partnership with Kia Ora Stud and TFI to pay $1.5 million for the opening day's top-priced yearling, Lot 144, an I Am Invincible colt from the draft of Cressfield.
Lot 144 - I Am Invincible x Egyptian Symbol (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The first foal of triple stakes-winning mare Egyptian Symbol (Stratum) was the centre of a strong battle between Maher, sitting at the Kia Ora table, and Coolmore, with the Group 1-winning trainer winning the day.
Maher's bloodstock manager Will Bourne said Maher had identified the son of I Am Invincible as one he was determined to go home with.
“He was a lovely animal, obviously we paid a lot of money for him. But Ciaron was in love with the horse, he was from great breeders and overall he was just a quality colt,” he said.
“He (Lot 144) was a lovely animal, obviously we paid a lot of money for him. But Ciaron was in love with the horse, he was from great breeders and overall he was just a quality colt.” - Will Bourne
It’s a pedigree that the stable knows well, with Egyptian Symbol's half-sister, the stakes-placed Cellsabeel (Hinchinbrook) having shown considerable talent for Maher and David Eustace.
“She had a ton of ability and he (Maher) knows that family quite well and was very keen to get his hands on this colt,” Bourne said.
“Ciaron thought he was the number one colt. He's always been a very aggressive guy in business and believes fortune favours the brave and he has done very well. It’s no exception here with this colt.”
Will Bourne and Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Inglis
It was an excellent result for Cressfield, who bred Egyptian Symbol and retained her after she passed in as a yearling. She rewarded them by winning eight races, including a G3 Toy Show H., G3 Nivison S. and a Listed Starlight S. for trainer Bjorn Baker.
She is out of Group 1 winner Our Egyptian Raine (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), who Cressfield secured for $900,000 back in 2006.
“This colt has a very good second dam, who was one of Australia's great racemares. I think she was second in about 10 Group 1s. Egyptian Symbol was a filly we tried to sell at Magic Millions many years ago and she didn't even make $80,000 as a reserve,” Cressfield owner Bruce Neill said.
“We kept her and raced her and she won $1.5 million and now she has a $1.5 million first foal, we are pretty happy about that.”
“We kept her (Egyptian Symbol) and raced her and she won $1.5 million and now she has a $1.5 million first foal, we are pretty happy about that.” - Bruce Neill
Neill said Egyptian Symbol was a mare that Cressfield was always going to be well supported at stud.
“The page justified going to a good stallion, I try not to breed Danehill over Danehill and therefore I Am Invincible was a perfect option, Stratum being by Redoute's Choice. It’s a good outcome. She missed the next year to I Am Invincible but she is foal to Deep Field now,” he said.
Cressfield only has four horses in the Sale, so to have the highest-priced lot on the first day is no mean feat. But Neill always held high hopes for Lot 144 in a market he felt was a bit uncertain.
Egyptian Symbol when racing | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“There was something like 27 x-rays and 10 vettings and that is stratosphere stuff, but I feel there's a ceiling to this market. I think the market is plateauing out a bit. Fortunately for us, he got through the ceiling,” he said.
“He goes to a good trainer, with good backers in Kia Ora. Hopefully they have bought him to be a stallion and that should help my family.”
Magnier's triple strike
Coolmore was always expected to be major players at this Sale and Coolmore Australia Principal Tom Magnier had a busy day signing for three of the six $1 million-plus lots.
The first was Lot 90, a Snitzel colt out of Listed winner C'Est Beau La Vie (Bernardini {USA}), offered by Arrowfield Stud and purchased for $1.4 million.
Lot 90 - Snitzel x C'Est Beau La Vie (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
That colt is a grandson of Group 3 winner Valkyrie Diva (Jade Robbery {USA}), the half-sister to triple G1 Melbourne Cup-winning champion Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), and dam of two other stakes winners in Jolly Banner (Lonhro) and Wales (Redoute's Choice).
The Snitzel colt is off to Chris Waller's yard and Magnier said he fitted the bill perfectly.
“He was a striking colt, probably one of the nicest Snitzels in the Sale. Obviously, Snitzel needs no introduction with what he has done out of a Bernardini mare, which is always a positive. We are here to find good colts that we want to turn into stallions,” he said.
“He (Lot 90) was a striking colt, probably one of the nicest Snitzels in the Sale. Obviously, Snitzel needs no introduction with what he has done out of a Bernardini mare, which is always a positive.” - Tom Magnier
One lot later, Magnier was back in action again, paying $1 million for Lot 91, an I Am Invincible colt out of Calming Influence (Commands) offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds.
Coolmore's success with I Am Invincible's multiple Group 1-winning son Home Affairs, purchased at this Sale for $875,000 two years ago, has emboldened their approach to his progeny and Magnier topped the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with a $1.9 million purchase of one of his colts earlier this year.
It was not surprising then to see them win out for Lot 91, who is a grandson of Listed winner Calming (Zeditave) and whose dam was purchased by Leneva Park on behalf of breeder Reg Ryan for $290,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman's Sale, when in foal to this colt.
Lot 91 - I Am Invincible x Calming Influence (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He was another lovely colt and a lovely moving horse. Again, he had a great pedigree, but this is why we come to Easter, to get those great pedigrees and hopefully we have a bit of luck with this guy, trying to find the next Home Affairs,” Magnier said.
That colt will also be heading to Waller's, as will Lot 198, a colt by Written Tycoon from the Vinery Stud draft that Magnier paid $1.4 million for.
Bred by Greg Perry, that colt is a half-brother to G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie), who is likely to line-up against Home Affairs at Royal Ascot in June.
Tom Magnier signing the docket for Lot 91 | Image courtesy of Inglis
It's a progressive page, backed up by the fact his dam, Gracie's Lass (Redoute's Choice), is a half-sister to G1 Darley Sprint Classic winner Delectation (Shamardal {USA}), out of stakes-winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Grace And Power (USA).
“When we head to Royal Ascot (with Home Affairs) he will give us a reason to be watching Artorius when we go over in the summer. We’ve bought Atlantic Jewel off Vinery in the past, they’re great producers and he was a horse that everyone liked a lot and, fingers crossed, we have a nice colt on our hands,” Magnier said.
“When we head to Royal Ascot (with Home Affairs) he (Lot 198) will give us a reason to be watching Artorius when we go over in the summer.” - Tom Magnier
“He is a horse that is mature, he looks strong and Chris was pretty keen on him, he thought he was a forward type of horse.”
Magnier said the first-day spree, which saw him spend $3.8 million across the three lots, was made possible by the broad support Coolmore had from its partners.
“The big thing is, we’ve got an unbelievable syndicate of owners, so we have to try and find the next Home Affairs for them,” he said.
Joy for Vinery
Vinery Stud had a banner first day at the 2022 Easter Sale and was celebrating another great day, selling five horses for an average of $619,000.
Lot 198 - Written Tycoon x Gracie's Lass (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Vinery Bloodstock Manager Adam White said Lot 198 always shaped as a star of its draft and it was good to see him get a price worthy of a colt of such quality.
“He had the pedigree, he had the looks and he’s been a gentleman all week, never put a foot wrong, just paraded in and out of his box all the time and it’s a great result for the farm again,” he said.
“He (Lot 198) had the pedigree, he had the looks and he’s been a gentleman all week, never put a foot wrong, just paraded in and out of his box all the time and it’s a great result for the farm again.” - Adam White
“His pedigree was obviously going to get a lot of the big players around for him, we knew he was a quality colt and most of those stallion funds were on him and we knew Coolmore was certainly there and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the racetrack.”
Perry has had a terrific run of results of late, with his homebred I Am Invincible mare Marabi recently winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
“It is great for Greg Perry. Kudos to him, he puts a lot of effort into his matings and does his plans. He relies on us a little bit with the physical match-ups and he’s had a terrific run over the last half a dozen years,” White said.
Adam White | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He’s a quality breeder and a farm like Coolmore recognise that and it was great to see them get the colt.”
Gracie's Lass produced a Deep Field colt last year and returned to Flying Artie in 2021.
Awesome start for Arrowfield
Arrowfield's 22 sales for the day secured $10.085 million, making it the leading vendor, and it was also the only one to get two $1 million-plus results.
The leading vendor in six of the past seven Easter sales, Arrowfield looks well-placed to add to that record having averaged $458,409 on Day 1.
The Snitzel colt, Lot 90, was a marquee result for vendor, and it was no surprise for them to see him secure a $1.4 million pricetag.
“That was a great result, he was a beautifully balanced colt. Farms like Coolmore and all the stallion groups are trying to find those horses and he had everything going for him. He's a beautiful animal and I wasn't surprised that he fetched a big number,” Arrowfield's Paul Messara said.
Paul Messara | Image courtesy of Inglis
Later in the day, Arrowfield's Lot 214, the Dundeel (NZ) half-brother to G1 Spring Champion S. winner Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}), set a new mark for the stallion when selling to Hawkes Racing for $1 million.
Their dam, the Group 3 winner Honesty Prevails (Redoute's Choice), a one-time $720,000 yearling, has had seven-figure results with her first three yearlings, with Profondo a $1.9 million Magic Millions graduate and her current 2-year-old, Custodian (Shalaa {Ire}), costing $1.15 million on the Gold Coast last year.
“The first three out of the mare are very talented and that's why people are paying the money for them,” Messara said.
“The first three out of the mare (Honesty Prevails) are very talented and that's why people are paying the money for them.” - Paul Messara
“The Hawkes are great trainers, all three boys, maybe Wayne not so much, but certainly the other two. It’s a great team and he goes to a very good stable and he will get every chance.”
It followed, given that this was the crop of foals conceived off a price jump to $66,000 (inc GST), that Dundeel was able to break through the $1 million mark for the first time with one of his yearlings.
“This is the year he got a lot of very good mares, so we are expecting a bit of upshift in the performance out of the track coming out this draft, but also in the price of his stock,” Messara said.
Lot 214 - Dundeel (NZ) x Honesty Prevails (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“There are some really nice Dundeels throughout this complex. Walking around I could see them all over the place, It's good with the pedigree this one had, to fetch $1 million and push through that barrier.”
Fireworks again
Like fellow G3 Widden S. winner Honesty Prevails, Fireworks (Snitzel), owned by Fairway Thoroughbreds' John Camilieri, is proving a mare of the highest commercial quality.
Last year at this Sale, her Zoustar colt, the subsequent Listed winner Millane, was purchased from the draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds for $1.15 million, and this year, her I Am Invincible colt, Lot 169, went to the bid of James Harron and his colt partnership for $1.35 million.
The buzz on the colt had been strong around the sales grounds all week, with a pedigree that saw their dam a half-sister to Group 1 winner Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad), Group 2 winner Kosi Bay (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}) and Listed winner Striker (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Lot 169 - I Am Invincible x Fireworks (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Harron was very keen to get involved with such a quality colt from such a progressive pedigree.
“He is one of the talking horses of the Sale. He’s a magnificent animal, he has a fantastic pedigree,” he said.
“He is beautifully bred. The mare’s young and done a great job so far, he’s a very masculine horse, very mature horse, he carried himself very well and he absorbed all the pressure of the Sale.”
“He (Lot 169) is beautifully bred. The mare’s young and done a great job so far, he’s a very masculine horse, very mature horse, he carried himself very well and he absorbed all the pressure of the Sale.” - James Harron
Harron said Camilleri's reputation as a breeder, including as the man behind the superstar Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), spoke for itself.
“He is a terrific breeder and, of course, John has all his stock at Segenhoe. We’ve had a lot of luck over the years (buying from Segenhoe), most notably with King’s Legacy recently. We have a lot of confidence in buying off Segenhoe and John’s obviously a terrific breeder,” he said.
“Things came together for us to be able to get him.”
James Harron | Image courtesy of Inglis
Harron had earlier paid $975,000 for Lot 139, a colt from the final crop of Not A Single Doubt out of Di Lusso (Lonhro), offered by Amarina Farm. He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars).
“We really fell in love with this colt through the sale parades through the week. He was a horse that arrived on ground and really took to his job, got into his work and had a great action on him, and that's very true of a lot of the Not A Single Doubts,” he said.
Kia Ora fills up on quality fillies
In perhaps a lightly unexpected trend, the top seven yearlings in price were colts. The top-priced filly was Lot 236, a daughter of Zoustar out of Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), which was secured from the Segenhoe draft by Cambridge Stud for $950,000 late in the day.
Lot 236 - Zoustar x Jolie Bay (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kia Ora, a co-signor on the top lot, also paid $900,000 for a pair of fillies, Lot 145, by I Am Invincible out of Grade 2 winner Ektifaa (More Than Ready {USA}) out of the Yarraman Park draft, and Lot 154, a Justify (USA) filly out of Group 3 winner Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) from Coolmore.
“It is just such a beautiful family. You look down through the page, it is just stakes winner after stakes winner, and you have a stallion in there now at Coolmore with Acrobat,” Kia Ora's bloodstock manager Shane Wright said of the Justify filly.
“It’s one of the best families in Australia, so to get into it now, we are very, very happy.”
“It’s one of the best families in Australia, so to get into it now, we are very, very happy.” - Shane Wright
Of the I Am Invincible filly, Wright said she was from a family they know a lot about.
“We purchased Ektifaa in foal last year to I Am Invincible, so we have a full brother at home we absolutely love. We love the pedigree all the way through and More Than Ready mares it just writes itself,” he said.
“These are two of our top picks of the fillies of the Sale, so to pick up both of them, we are very happy.”
Shane Wright | Image courtesy of Inglis
I Am Invincible leads all stallions on aggregate and average, with $10.365 million across 16 sales on the opening day, at an average of $647,812.
Banner day for Inglis
With the aggregate sales approaching the record daily trade for Easter of $67 million and averages tracking some $22,000 higher than the opening day last year, it was an understandably pleased Inglis Bloodstock CEO, Sebastian Hutch, after the conclusion of trading.
“Any day you can come out of the sale day with figures we have today, it’s hard to be anything other than pleased,” Hutch said. “There were a lot of nice horses in the Sale and they sold well.
“Any day you can come out of the sale day with figures we have today, it’s hard to be anything other than pleased.” - Sebastian Hutch
“I think it’s a really good reflection on the strength of the day that the median is up 15 per cent on the same day last year. I think that is probably the best way of demonstrating the strength and depth of the market.
“Time and time again, we saw people frustrated and not even being able to get close on the horses they wanted to buy and horses were making significantly more than vendors' expectations.”
The second and final day of selling for the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale will commence on Wednesday, April 6 at 10am AEST.
Top lots
| 144 | I Am Invincible | Egyptian Symbol | C | Cressfield, Scone | Kia-Ora Stud/ TFI/ Ciaron Maher Bloodstock VIC | $1,500,000 |
| 90 | Snitzel | C'Est Beau La Vie | C | Arrowfield Stud, Scone | T Magnier NSW | $1,400,000 |
| 198 | Written Tycoon | Gracie's Lass | C | Vinery Stud, Scone | T Magnier NSW | $1,400,000 |
| 169 | I Am Invincible | Fireworks | C | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Oty Ltd, Scone | James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership NSW | $1,350,000 |
| 91 | I Am Invincible | Calming Influence | C | Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | T Magnier NSW | $1,000,000 |
| 214 | Dundeel | Honesty Prevails | C | Arrowfield Stud, Scone | Hawkes Racing NSW | $1,000,000 |
| 136 | Not A Single Doubt | Di Lusso | C | Amarina Farm, Denman | James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership NSW | $975,000 |
| 181 | Justify | Formality | C | Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | TFI/ Kia-Ora Stud/ D Farrington QLD | $950,000 |
| 236 | Zoustar | Jolie Bay | F | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Oty Ltd, Scone | Cambridge Stud NEW ZEALAND | $950,000 |
| 5 | Zoustar | Vergara | C | Newhaven Park, Boorowa | China Horse Club/ Newgate Bloodstock/ Trilogy Racing NSW | $900,000 |
Top buyers
| T Magnier | 3 | $3,800,000 | $1,266,667 | $1,400,000 |
| Hawkes Racing | 4 | $2,380,000 | $595,000 | $1,000,000 |
| James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership | 2 | $2,325,000 | $1,162,500 | $1,350,000 |
| Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock | 6 | $2,310,000 | $385,000 | $650,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 7 | $2,305,000 | $329,286 | $500,000 |
| Kia-Ora Stud Pty Limited | 3 | $2,300,000 | $766,667 | $900,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 5 | $1,880,000 | $376,000 | $475,000 |
| China Horse Club / Newgate Bloodstock / Trilogy Racing | 2 | $1,750,000 | $875,000 | $900,000 |
| John O'Shea Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $1,700,000 | $566,667 | $750,000 |
| Kia-Ora Stud / TFI / Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 1 | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 22 | $10,085,000 | $458,409 | $1,400,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 20 | $6,820,000 | $341,000 | $950,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone | 12 | $5,955,000 | $496,250 | $1,350,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 11 | $4,105,000 | $373,182 | $900,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | 9 | $3,260,000 | $362,222 | $850,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 8 | $3,185,000 | $398,125 | $850,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 5 | $3,095,000 | $619,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 7 | $2,960,000 | $422,857 | $900,000 |
| Kitchwin Hills, Scone | 5 | $1,830,000 | $366,000 | $600,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 4 | $1,825,000 | $456,250 | $900,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 5 | $619,000 | $3,095,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn | 3 | $586,667 | $1,760,000 | $900,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone | 12 | $496,250 | $5,955,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 22 | $458,409 | $10,085,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 4 | $456,250 | $1,825,000 | $900,000 |
| Ridgmont Farm, Segenhoe | 3 | $423,333 | $1,270,000 | $450,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 7 | $422,857 | $2,960,000 | $900,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 8 | $398,125 | $3,185,000 | $850,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 11 | $373,182 | $4,105,000 | $900,000 |
| Kitchwin Hills, Scone | 5 | $366,000 | $1,830,000 | $600,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 16 | $10,365,000 | $647,812 | $1,500,000 |
| Zoustar | 16 | $8,330,000 | $520,625 | $950,000 |
| Snitzel | 14 | $7,465,000 | $533,214 | $1,400,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 7 | $3,965,000 | $566,429 | $1,400,000 |
| Dundeel | 10 | $3,895,000 | $389,500 | $1,000,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 11 | $3,715,000 | $337,727 | $750,000 |
| Justify | 8 | $3,320,000 | $415,000 | $950,000 |
| Pierro | 9 | $2,305,000 | $256,111 | $675,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 6 | $2,195,000 | $365,833 | $700,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 7 | $2,025,000 | $289,286 | $475,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 16 | $647,812 | $10,365,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 7 | $566,429 | $3,965,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Snitzel | 14 | $533,214 | $7,465,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Zoustar | 16 | $520,625 | $8,330,000 | $950,000 |
| Lonhro | 4 | $453,750 | $1,815,000 | $625,000 |
| Justify | 8 | $415,000 | $3,320,000 | $950,000 |
| Dundeel | 10 | $389,500 | $3,895,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 6 | $365,833 | $2,195,000 | $700,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 11 | $337,727 | $3,715,000 | $750,000 |
| So You Think | 3 | $336,667 | $1,010,000 | $400,000 |
