Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
There were 12 million-dollar lots on the second day of the sale, as the average dropped slightly on the first day to stand at $390,283 by the end of trade. That figure compares to $399,700 from last year’s edition and $368,945 in 2021.
The median was also down on Day 2, finishing the sale on $280,000. That’s the same figure as 2021, whilst it was $300,000 last year.
The aggregate was $137,770,000, down from $153,085,000 at last year’s edition but up on the 2021 figure of $134,665,000.
With 353 horses sold at the end of trade on Tuesday, the clearance rate stood at 84 per cent, down from 87 per cent last year and 90 per cent in 2021.
A new sale-topper came late in the day when Silverdale Farm's The Autumn Sun filly (Lot 440) sold to Arrowfield Stud for $1.8 million - breaking a record for her sire and Steve Grant’s relatively young farm.
Yarraman Park’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible became a back-to-back leader of the Easter sale by both aggregate ($24.5 million) and average ($788,871). With both metrics up slightly on his performance last year, he was responsible for nine million-dollar yearlings.
Arrowfield Stud dominated the vendors by aggregate, selling 54 youngsters for a total of $22,260,000, over $9 million clear of Widden Stud. By average (with three or more sold), Silverdale Farm finished in top spot, selling seven of their eight yearlings offered at a rate of $664,286 apiece.
Yulong continued as the sale’s leading buyer, adding six yearlings to their Day 1 haul of 17 to bring spend to $11,685,000, whilst over the two days they also partnered on two more yearlings for an additional $1.46 million.
#1. A healthy finish
Twelve fresh seven-figure lots were added to the first-day haul to bring up a total of 26 millionaire yearlings across this year’s Easter sale - making it the second-highest such total in the history of the sale, just behind the 28 achieved in 2008.
Whilst the top-end trade no doubt aided the healthy metrics, Inglis will be pleased with the variety of players at that level. Eight separate vendors sent through the nine most expensive yearlings (five yearlings shared the tenth spot, represented by three separate vendors) - and the variety of top-end buyers was similar.
“For it to have played out the way it has, I would say has been a pleasant surprise,” Inglis’ CEO Bloodstock Sales, Sebastian Hutch said after the sale. “I expected we could run a good sale, we didn’t expect it to be easy as such, but I think it would be fair to say it’s exceeded our expectations.
“For it to have played out the way it has, I would say has been a pleasant surprise. I expected we could run a good sale, we didn’t expect it to be easy as such, but I think it would be fair to say it’s exceeded our expectations.” - Sebastian Hutch
“I’m not necessarily surprised by the demand (at the top end), but to have as many horses dragged into that market as it feels there has been, has been a surprise. There were plenty of anecdotes over the past two days of vendors taking horses up to the ring and having them realise many multiples of the reserve - that’s been great.
“The middle to value parts of the market have their challenges, but even independent of that it felt like there was good competition on horses at all levels and it’s going to wash out to be a very healthy sale.”
#2. Sun shines on Silverdale
The Riverside auditorium was lit up late in the day when Lot 440, a filly from Silverdale Farm, made a slice of sales history as the biggest pinhook in Australian history, and a new sale topper for the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Purchased for $600,000 as a Magic Millions Weanling Sale weanling, the three-quarter sibling to In The Congo broke all barriers when she was picked up for $1.8 million by Arrowfield Stud.
Not only was it a new top lot for this year’s Easter sale, but it was also a record yearling price for her sire and Silverdale Farm - for whom she was a remarkably bold pinhook.
Lot 440 - The Autumn Sun x Via Africa (SAf) (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Grant appeared a mix of bewilderment and delight after the sale, not only delivering an historic pinhook but also landing such a result for his farm.
“Tremendous,” Steve Grant told TDN AusNZ. “We do a lot of business together and it’s just wonderful for us to have such a good partner buy the horse.”
“They did as sillier a thing as I just did there,” Arrowfield supremo John Messara said. “They paid huge money for her as a weanling. I paid huge money for her as a yearling - so, we’ve both obviously fallen in love with her at different times.
“They paid huge money ($600,000) for her (Lot 440) as a weanling, I paid huge money ($1.8 million) for her as a yearling - so, we’ve both obviously fallen in love with her at different times.” - John Messara
“He’s got everything you look for in a sire,” Messara said of The Autumn Sun.
“Every stud in the country was trying to get him, but I just had to get him. He’s got a magnificent physique, he’s got an unbelievable pedigree and he was a champion on the track. He’s not missing anything.”
With his first crop of 2-year-olds making a good impression on the track this season, it’s been an excellent Easter sale for The Autumn Sun. On the first day of trade he secured his first millionaire yearling when Arrowfield Stud’s filly out of Grisi (Street Cry {Ire}) (Lot 157) sold to Emirates Park for $1.2 million.
Overall, he had 20 yearlings sell for a total of $7,535,000, averaging $376,750 each.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
#3. Vinnie atop millionaire’s row
Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible topped the sale by both aggregate and average (three or more sold) for the second year running and posted improved numbers for both metrics as he did so.
Last year his aggregate was $22.5 million, which he upped to just under $24.5 million this year, and his average went from $725,806 to $788,871. Last year he had a total of six millionaire yearlings, though this year he matched his 2021 haul of nine yet again.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
He was followed in the millionaire count by Arrowfield’s Snitzel, who had seven, whilst The Autumn Sun, Written Tycoon and Zoustar each had two.
#4. Russian Revolution’s first millionaire
Whilst his own sire was enjoying an excellent sale, Snitzel’s son Russian Revolution was handed his own first million-dollar lot on Tuesday. Mick Wallace and Gandharvi went to $1.1 million for the Bhima Thoroughbreds-consigned son of the Group 2-placed Our Libretto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) - Lot 283.
Unlike his own sire who landed a seven-figure yearling in his second crop, Russian Revolution had to wait until his third crop, with his profile no doubt raised by achieving his first Group 1 winner this season with Randwick Guineas winner Communist.
Lot 283 - Russian Revolution x Our Libretto (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Wallace and Kuldeep Singh Rajput’s Gandharvi operation were partnered in their purchase by the Victorian Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). With the colt to be sent to Michael Freedman, it’s a new association for the two parties.
“We really rated the horse very highly in our inspections, and we thought he resembled his sire more than anything else we’ve seen this year,” Hedge told TDN AusNZ.
“We really rated the horse (Lot 283) very highly in our inspections, and we thought he resembled his sire (Russian Revolution) more than anything else we’ve seen this year.” - Suman Hedge
“Obviously Michael (Wallace), who I respect a lot, bought Russian Revolution, and his feedback that this was the colt who reminded him the most of the sire as well.”
Hedge and the Victorian Alliance struck up another new partnership on the first day of the sale when teaming up with Lindsay Park Racing to bring home Lot 41, a colt by Per Incanto (USA) who’s a half-brother to Group 2 winner Campionessa (Contributer {Ire}).
“It was a horse that we loved, and they felt the same way. We had some discussions leading into the sale and they’ve obviously had success with the sire,” Hedge added, referencing the Hayeses' G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Little Brose - also by Per Incanto.
Suman Hedge | Image courtesy of Inglis
#5. Yulong spending spree continued
Yulong’s domination of the buyers by aggregate spend continued on Tuesday. By the end of trade, they had bought 23 yearlings for $11,685,000 and partnered on two more for a further $1.46 million.
Last year the leading buyer was Tom Magnier and, although he ran up a similar total spend of $10.3 million, he spent that on just six yearlings.
Mr Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments | Image courtesy of Inglis
In fact, Yulong’s total number of purchases far surpasses previous leading buyers by volume at this sale in the last few years.
Last year there were two leading buyers who bought 11 apiece, the same as the leading buyer in 2021 whilst that number was 10 in 2020.
This year, Yulong purchased 25 for an average spend was $525,800 on 11 colts and 14 fillies.
Yulong secured four seven-figure lots, headed by Lot 223, a colt by Written Tycoon out of the Group 3 winner Meryl (Epaulette) who cost $1.4 million from Fairview Park Stud.
Lot 223 - Written Tycoon x Meryl (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yulong purchased 12 yearlings by Written Tycoon; a strong nod to their stallion support for the future.
#6. Colts and fillies even up on Day 2
At the end of the first day of trade there was a significant $76,687 gap between the fillies and colts’ average price. Whilst the fillies still led the way at the end of Day 2, the gap had closed considerably to a $407,355 fillies’ average against the colts’ $382,021.
The top-end colts from Day 2 appear to have played their part in closing that gap - as eight colts joined the millionaire’s list on the second day compared to just four fillies. Assessing the top 10 per cent of sales over both days, 19 colts averaged $1,223,684 whilst 16 fillies averaged $1,146,875.
Did buyers miss a mark for fillies by current hot sire Dundeel (NZ)?
Whilst 15 of his 16 colts on offer sold for an average of $338,750, of the 13 fillies up for sale, seven passed in and the six to sell averaged $190,000.
Why the discrepancy? Recently his fillies have been headed by Hope In Your Heart winning the G2 Guy Walter S. then twice G1 placed. There's also John O’Shea’s smart juvenile maiden winner Captain Amelia. Is he the next High Chaparral, who’s fillies were those who sprung from later crops?
#7. Relocation brings luck for Lime Country
Lime Country Thoroughbreds achieved their highest-ever yearling sale on Tuesday, having broken their own record only the previous day. Selling on behalf of breeder Paul Jelfs, their Snitzel colt (Lot 427) went to Coolmore for $1.6 million.
Lot 427 - Snitzel x Ultimate Fever (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
A brother to two stakes winners and G3 Canonbury S.-placed sire Stratosphere, he is out of the 22-year-old mare Ultimate Fever, a juvenile Listed winner in her racing days.
With three seven-figure results, Lime Country achieved an average of $574,500 across their 10 lots on offer. Although some passed in, by the time their headline horse went through the ring they had achieved a 100 per cent clearance rate, Jo Griffin admitting that they ‘adjusted expectations’ to do so.
“I think one of the best things is that all of these horses that we’ve sold were the first foals born on the new farm… it’s a lovely endorsement,” Griffin said in reference to the Hunter Valley property they relocated to from the Southern Highlands in July 2021.
“I think one of the best things is that all of these horses that we’ve sold were the first foals born on the new farm… it’s a lovely endorsement.” - Jo Griffin
“What about Snitzel?,” she added. “What a great result for the sire, he’s left a beautiful run of horses.”
#8. Trainer spend drops away
There was an absence of some big-name trainers on the buyer’s sheet at this year’s Easter sale.
Last year, Hawkes Racing were the second-leading buyer by aggregate, spending $8,605,000 on 10 yearlings. Those purchases included four million-dollar lots, however this year they spent just $870,000 on four.
Wayne Hawkes | Image courtesy of Inglis
In 2022, Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed for 11 for a total of $3,635,000, purchasing a further seven in conjunction with others for total receipts of $3,655,000. That total of $7.29 million compares to $5.09 million spend this year.
John O’Shea signed for eight yearlings for a total of $4 million at the Easter sale last year and spent $985,000 on five this year. You might remember that he spent quite a bit more at Karaka in January this year than last ($1.33 million compared to $420,000).
In contrast, Australia’s Champion Trainer, Chris Waller, increased his spend by over a million to just under $5.7 million for the 13 he signed for this year.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of Inglis
#9. Street Cry leads damsires
Street Cry (Ire) came out on top of the damsires at this year’s Easter sale by average (of those with three or more sold). He was represented by five mares in the sale, with their yearlings selling for an average of $738,000.
They were headed by Lot 164, Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible filly which sold to Glentree Thoroughbreds and Badgers Bloodstock for $1.35 million.
Lot 164 - I Am Invincible x Heavens Above (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
He was followed by Beneteau who also had five representatives which sold for an average of $630,000, and close behind in third was O’Reilly (NZ) who had 10 in the sale and hit an average of $629,375.
#10. Hong Kong spend up on last year
Hong Kong-based buyers took home 23 yearlings at this year’s sale for a total of $7.97 million at an average of $346,522. In 2022 and 2021 the total Hong Kong spend was around $6 million on 14 yearlings.
However, jump back to 2020 and Hong Kong buyers bought 32 for a total of $13.53 million.
That exceptional spend was largely driven by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who forked out around $5.15 million on nine yearlings that year of the COVID-19 outbreak. Craig Rounsefell, who runs Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) had begun his role as the licenced yearling buyer for the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the Southern Hemisphere and North America at that time.
Craig Rounsefell | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresge foresaw what was going to happen as COVID took hold,” Rounsefell said to TDN AusNZ.
“There’s a number of horses running now from that crop where we went strong at Easter that are in Hong Kong. They went through the sale last year, and now they-re coming out - in the last couple of weeks there’s been some winners amongst them.
Lot 23 - So You Think (NZ) x Andresa (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
This year at Easter, the Hong Kong Jockey Club signed for three yearlings totalling $2.13 million, led by Lot 23, a So You Think (NZ) colt out of a sister to Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) for $900,000 from the draft of Davali Thoroughbreds.
Top buyers
| Yu Long Investments | 23 | $11,685,000 | $508,043 | $1,400,000 |
| China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy | 6 | $5,590,000 | $931,667 | $1,300,000 |
| G Mulcaster / Chris Waller Racing | 11 | $4,470,000 | $406,364 | $750,000 |
| Curran Bloodstock | 9 | $3,780,000 | $420,000 | $725,000 |
| T Magnier | 3 | $3,700,000 | $1,233,333 | $1,500,000 |
| K Yoshida | 4 | $2,860,000 | $715,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Cambridge Stud | 5 | $2,775,000 | $555,000 | $800,000 |
| Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 4 | $2,355,000 | $588,750 | $1,300,000 |
| Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | 6 | $2,240,000 | $373,333 | $800,000 |
| Legend Racing Pty Ltd | 9 | $2,145,000 | $238,333 | $425,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 54 | $22,260,000 | $412,222 | $1,500,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 36 | $12,940,000 | $359,444 | $1,300,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 30 | $11,910,000 | $397,000 | $1,750,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 15 | $8,475,000 | $565,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone | 23 | $8,455,000 | $367,609 | $800,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud Australia Pty Ltd, Scone | 19 | $6,340,000 | $333,684 | $1,100,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | 12 | $6,070,000 | $505,833 | $1,400,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 10 | $5,745,000 | $574,500 | $1,600,000 |
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca | 7 | $4,650,000 | $664,286 | $1,800,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow | 13 | $4,415,000 | $339,615 | $1,000,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca | 7 | $4,650,000 | $664,286 | $1,800,000 |
| Highgrove Stud, Darling Downs, Qld | 5 | $2,960,000 | $592,000 | $1,300,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 10 | $5,745,000 | $574,500 | $1,600,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 15 | $8,475,000 | $565,000 | $1,350,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn | 5 | $2,545,000 | $509,000 | $900,000 |
| Cressfield, Scone | 6 | $3,035,000 | $505,833 | $1,300,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | 12 | $6,070,000 | $505,833 | $1,400,000 |
| Kitchwin Hills, Scone | 8 | $3,630,000 | $453,750 | $950,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone | 7 | $2,970,000 | $424,286 | $800,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | 9 | $3,775,000 | $419,444 | $1,100,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 31 | $24,455,000 | $788,871 | $1,550,000 |
| Snitzel | 34 | $21,270,000 | $625,588 | $1,600,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 29 | $10,230,000 | $352,759 | $1,400,000 |
| Zoustar | 21 | $9,650,000 | $459,524 | $1,300,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 21 | $7,655,000 | $364,524 | $1,800,000 |
| Dundeel | 22 | $6,560,000 | $298,182 | $800,000 |
| Pierro | 21 | $6,405,000 | $305,000 | $1,750,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 14 | $5,780,000 | $412,857 | $900,000 |
| Deep Field | 12 | $4,940,000 | $411,667 | $1,050,000 |
| So You Think | 14 | $4,445,000 | $317,500 | $900,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| I Am Invincible | 31 | $788,871 | $24,455,000 | $1,550,000 |
| Snitzel | 34 | $625,588 | $21,270,000 | $1,600,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 7 | $475,714 | $3,330,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Zoustar | 21 | $459,524 | $9,650,000 | $1,300,000 |
| Russian Revolution | 5 | $423,000 | $2,115,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 14 | $412,857 | $5,780,000 | $900,000 |
| Deep Field | 12 | $411,667 | $4,940,000 | $1,050,000 |
| Extreme Choice | 5 | $375,000 | $1,875,000 | $675,000 |
| The Autumn Sun | 21 | $364,524 | $7,655,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 29 | $352,759 | $10,230,000 | $1,400,000 |
