Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The average for the Sale, previously known as the Scone Yearling Sale, increased to $25,271 up from $19,202 in 2021 and $17,566 in 2020.
The median also climbed to $17,000, having been $14,000 (2021) and $10,000 (2020).
The overall Sale aggregate was $5.382 million from 213 horses sold, up from $5.05 million last year, where 263 horses sold.
The clearance rate stood at 82 per cent after the final lot went through the ring.
A filly by Extreme Choice became the highest priced purchase in the Sale's history when realising $300,000 to the bid of Michael Freedman.
The second highest price of the Sale was Lot 221, a colt by Epaulette, who was purchased by David Pfieffer and Oliver Koolman for $120,000, while it was a four-way tie for the third highest price of the Sale, with four colts by Harry Angel (Ire), Capitalist, Divine Prophet and Hellbent, respectively, each bringing $100,000.
Six yearlings, a filly and five colts, broke the three-figure barrier, up from two last year.
Freedman banking on a proven formula
Michael Freedman, who has experienced G1 Golden Slipper S. success with the progeny of Extreme Choice via Stay Inside’s victory in last year’s edition, has added another prospect by Newgate Farms’s sire of the moment to his arsenal. He went to a Sale-topping and Sale record-breaking $300,000 to secure Lot 57, a filly from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds.
Freedman said the filly was his number one priority going into the Sale and that she profiles like a late autumn 2-year-old that will furnish into a lovely 3-year-old.
Lot 57 - Extreme Choice x Dashie Diva (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
He believes the filly was well bought, saying she could’ve potentially sold for more money if entered in a more ‘high-profile’ sale.
“She was a good, athletic type, a good-moving filly and I think being an October foal she’s probably unlikely to necessarily be an early pre-Christmas type,” Freedman told TDN AusNZ.
“But once she physically fills into that frame of her she will be a nice individual and in the context of how the Extreme Choices have gone this year, I don’t think it was crazy type of money.”
"...once she (Lot 57) physically fills into that frame of hers she will be a nice individual and in the context of how the Extreme Choices have gone this year, I don’t think it was crazy type of money.” - Michael Freedman
Freedman, who is now based at Randwick after recently dissolving a successful partnership with his brother Richard, also secured a colt by Merchant Navy for $45,000.
He said Lot 48 was purchased for the right price and that he is a ‘good, strong colt’ who will come into his own as a 3-year-old.
“I’m still a believer in the stallion, I certainly think given the profile of the horse as a racehorse and his pedigree that I’m still happy to shop around for the right types by him,” Freedman said.
Michael Freedman | Image courtesy of Inglis
Extremely rewarding result
Bell River Thoroughbreds' Andrew Ferguson, who sold the Sale-topping Extreme Choice filly, was delighted by the outcome, after seeing the offspring of Dashie Diva (Dash For Cash) successfully overcome the removal of a chip from her hind fetlock that ruled her out of February’s Inglis Classic Sale.
“I always thought this filly was probably her (Dashie Diva’s) best foal, very similar to dad, and Luke Wilkinson, who bought Extreme Choice, and I were comparing their yearling photos this morning and saying how she’s just the same shape and make to him,” Ferguson told TDN AusNZ.
“Luke Wilkinson, who bought Extreme Choice, and I were comparing their yearling photos this morning and saying how she’s (Lot 57) just the same shape and make to him.” - Andrew Ferguson
“Sebastian Hutch assured me that he’ll get the buyers here, and said bring her to this Sale and you’ll get your money, so I trusted Sebastian and today we got the result, so it worked out well as she had some good judges on her and made her money.”
Ferguson, who bred Extreme Choice and purchased the dual-winning Dashie Diva for $13,000 as a weanling in 2005, said Sunday’s result was rather emotional, with Dashie Diva passing this year.
Extreme Choice | Standing at Newgate Farm
Dashie Diva, whose seven foals to race have all won, is responsible for the Listed Nitschke S.-winning East Indiaman (Hinchinbrook).
Ferguson said the decision to send Dashie Diva to Extreme Choice was based on the quality of the mare’s first foal Dee Dee Flyer, a city-winning son of Not A Single Doubt that never got to realise his true potential due to injury.
“It’s a little bit emotional today as Dashie Diva was one of the first mares that we had when we started and having bred Extreme (Choice) that no one really wanted to go to when he first started at stud,” Ferguson said.
Jock, Andrew and James Ferguson | Image courtesy of Bell River Thoroughbreds
“We lost the mare this year, so that’s her last foal and Michael (Freedman) has allowed us to keep a little share in her, so we’re going to enjoy racing the last one out of her.”
Ferguson reflected on Extreme Choice’s record breaking start to his stud career with immense pride.
“Us as a family, my wife Georgie and the boys (James and Jock), are bursting with pride that we bred something like that, and we are lucky enough to have a breeding right in him and four weanlings at home by him in the paddock,” Ferguson said.
“Us as a family, my wife Georgie and the boys (James and Jock), are bursting with pride that we bred something like that (Extreme Choice), and we are lucky enough to have a breeding right in him and four weanlings at home by him in the paddock.” - Andrew Ferguson
“It’s been a hell of a journey with him, I’m immensely proud, and proud of the job Newgate are doing with him under very difficult circumstances, and at this stage I have Prophet’s Thumb pencilled in to go to him this season.”
Hutch stoked by extremely successful Sale
Sebastian Hutch, Inglis Bloodstock CEO, was delighted by the strength of the Sale, which is beginning to grow in stature, saying they were pleased by the overall quality of the catalogue, bolstered by the $300,000 Extreme Choice filly who was initially set to make an impression at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February.
He said the current clearance rate of 82 per cent is a clear indication that buyers at a variety of different levels were impressed by the stock on offer.
“We were optimistic that we would run a good Sale, I don’t think you can ever expect as good a Sale as it turned out today but there was strong interest in the Sale and we were pleased with nature of representation,” Hutch told TDN AusNZ.
“To grow the vendor base to farms like Coolmore, Segenhoe and Widden added a level of strength that mightn’t have been there in the past to attract a really strong buying bench.
“To grow the vendor base to farms like Coolmore, Segenhoe and Widden added a level of strength that mightn’t have been there in the past to attract a really strong buying bench." - Sebastian Hutch
“It is a Sale that we have a lot of belief in and fortunately we’ve been able to generate some good results.”
Hutch said he is reluctant to speculate on whether the Sale can continue to trend upwards due to the ‘unpredictably of the business’.
“For as long as people want to sell at this Sale we will be doing everything we can to generate good results for them,” Hutch said.
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
“And on the back of the Sale that we’ve had this year, people can look at this Sale in 2023 as a Sale they can approach with a level of confidence that we will be managing it in the same professional manner that we do with any other Sale.”
Epaulette colt takes second position
The second top price of the day, $120,000, was paid by trainer David Pfeiffer and Oliver Koolman of Waratah Thoroughbreds for Lot 221, a colt by Epaulette.
Offered by Goodwood Farm, the colt is the third living foal out of the winning Sebring mare Rosa’s Magic, making him a brother to the city-winning filly Military Magic.
Lot 221 - Epaulette x Rosa's Magic (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Neil and Denise Osborne’s Mane Lodge, which recently set an Inglis Classic Sale record when a colt by Extreme Choice brought $825,000, struck gold again, with two of their colts each selling for $100,000.
Lot 92, a colt by Darley shuttle stallion Harry Angel (Ire) was knocked down to David Payne while Paul Perry secured the Capitalist colt for the same sum.
A colt by Divine Prophet from the draft of Bowness Stud also realised $100,000 when secured by Matt Chidgey, who has had success with the progeny of Divine Prophet, having bred G2 Skyline S. hero Promitto.
Lot 247, a colt by Yarraman Park’s first-season stallion Hellbent from the draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds, also realised three figures when knocked down to Kurrinda Bloodstock and Singleton Racing for $100,000.
Gallery: Mane Lodge struck gold with two yearlings selling for $100,000 at the HTBA May Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Inglis
Big week just beginning
Attention now turns to the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale which begins on Wednesday; Friday evening will then host the Inglis Chairman’s Sale and features an abundance of high-class race fillies and mares such as Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) and Daysee Doom (Domesday).
The Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale will conclude a big week of selling at Riverside next Sunday.
“We are very pleased with the number and variety of weanlings in the weanling catalogue, there’s 418 catalogued by 94 individual stallions and it gives buyers at all levels looking for a variety of different options a great range of choice,” Hutch said.
"...there’s 418 catalogued (in the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale) by 94 individual stallions and it gives buyers at all levels looking for a variety of different options a great range of choice.” - Sebastian Hutch
“The Chairman’s Sale looks very strong, there’s some high-quality mares and we’ve had some great supplementaries and there’s something there for people at all price levels.”
Hutch believes the scheduling of four sales within a seven day block works well.
“We’re conscious of trying to run a sequence of sales that is time and cost efficient for our vendors, as we appreciate that bringing horses to any sale is an expensive exercise,” Hutch said.
“The feedback we have had from vendors is that the schedule works well.”
Top lots
| 57 | filly | Extreme Choice | Dashie Diva | Michael Freedman Racing Pty Ltd NSW | Michael Freedman Racing Pty Ltd NSW | $300,000 |
| 221 | Colt | Epaulette | Rosa's Magic | Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi | David Pfieffer Racing / Oliver Koolman / Dragon Bloodstock NSW | $120,000 |
| 92 | Colt | Harry Angel | Fervent Delight | Mane Lodge, Sutton | Payne Racing Pty Ltd NSW | $100,000 |
| 101 | Colt | Capitalist | For Me Dad | Mane Lodge, Sutton | Paul Perry Horse Training Pty Ltd NSW | $100,000 |
| 199 | Colt | Divine Prophet | Pediment | Bowness Stud, Young | M Chidgey NSW | $100,000 |
| 247 | Colt | Hellbent | Spurs and Sashes | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone | Kurrinda Bloodstock / Singleton Racing NSW | $100,000 |
| 69 | Colt | Bull Point | Dollhouse | Kingstar Farm, Denman | Trilogy Racing Pty Ltd NSW | $85,000 |
| 143 | Colt | Russian Revolution | Lady Antebellum | Kingstar Farm, Denman | Arrow Park Bloodstock NSW | $80,000 |
| 162 | Colt | Headwater | Madame Zara | Vinery Stud, Scone | Paul Moroney / Catheryne Bruggeman / CJG Racing NSW | $75,000 |
| 168 | Colt | Dundeel | Marquardt | Kingstar Farm, Denman | Tal Nolen VIC | $75,000 |
Top buyers
| Paul Perry Horse Training Pty Ltd | 8 | $391,500 | $48,938 | $100,000 |
| Michael Freedman Racing Pty Ltd | 2 | $345,000 | $172,500 | $300,000 |
| Joseph & Jones Racing | 8 | $229,000 | $28,625 | $57,500 |
| M Chidgey | 2 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Trilogy Racing Pty Ltd | 3 | $195,000 | $65,000 | $85,000 |
| T Bateup | 9 | $179,000 | $19,889 | $32,000 |
| Arrow Park Bloodstock | 2 | $160,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Moffatt Breaking & Pre Training | 3 | $155,000 | $51,667 | $62,500 |
| Paul Moroney / Catheryne Bruggeman / CJG Racing | 2 | $150,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Tal Nolen | 2 | $150,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 16 | $703,500 | $43,969 | $85,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 21 | $653,500 | $31,119 | $75,000 |
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra | 12 | $480,500 | $40,042 | $70,000 |
| Mane Lodge, Sutton | 9 | $476,000 | $52,889 | $100,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone | 9 | $369,000 | $41,000 | $100,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 16 | $362,500 | $22,656 | $57,500 |
| Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Scone | 16 | $348,500 | $21,781 | $62,500 |
| Bowness Stud, Young | 17 | $337,000 | $19,824 | $100,000 |
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William | 3 | $328,000 | $109,333 | $300,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 10 | $318,000 | $31,800 | $70,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Bell River Thoroughbreds, Glen William | 3 | $328,000 | $109,333 | $300,000 |
| Mane Lodge, Sutton | 9 | $476,000 | $52,889 | $100,000 |
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 16 | $703,500 | $43,969 | $85,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone | 9 | $369,000 | $41,000 | $100,000 |
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra | 12 | $480,500 | $40,042 | $70,000 |
| Ashleigh Thoroughbreds, Scone | 4 | $128,500 | $32,125 | $42,500 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 10 | $318,000 | $31,800 | $70,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 21 | $653,500 | $31,119 | $75,000 |
| HP Thoroughbreds, Hilldale | 6 | $176,000 | $29,333 | $50,000 |
| Riversdale, Scone | 9 | $256,500 | $28,500 | $42,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Divine Prophet | 10 | $448,000 | $44,800 | $100,000 |
| Headwater | 12 | $429,500 | $35,792 | $75,000 |
| Capitalist | 8 | $397,000 | $49,625 | $100,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 1 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Super One | 17 | $291,000 | $17,118 | $50,000 |
| Press Statement | 14 | $283,000 | $20,214 | $36,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 7 | $271,000 | $38,714 | $80,000 |
| Bull Point | 12 | $255,000 | $21,250 | $85,000 |
| Rubick | 16 | $250,250 | $15,641 | $37,500 |
| Smart Missile | 7 | $245,000 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Dundeel | 2 | $150,000 | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Harry Angel | 3 | $194,500 | $64,833 | $100,000 |
| Ribchester | 2 | $120,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 |
| Per Incanto | 2 | $100,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Capitalist | 8 | $397,000 | $49,625 | $100,000 |
| Divine Prophet | 10 | $448,000 | $44,800 | $100,000 |
| Hellbent | 4 | $178,000 | $44,500 | $100,000 |
| Exosphere | 3 | $130,000 | $43,333 | $55,000 |
| Epaulette | 4 | $172,000 | $43,000 | $120,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 7 | $271,000 | $38,714 | $80,000 |
