THE 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale concluded on Thursday, echoing the gains made in all major yearling sales this year across Australia and New Zealand.
The first session receipts amounted to A$102,110,000, an increase of 23% from 2014, as 350 of the 464 yearlings sold at a clearance rate of 83%. As a consequence the average rose 17% to $291,743, and the median, 11% to $180,000.
Many factors contributed to these bold figures but of note is the fall in the Australian dollar against the US which a year ago fetched around US0.92c. This week it hovered at 77c. Also telling this week was the level of competition for the top lots which drove the market to spend $500,000 or more on 57 yearlings compared to 37 hitting that mark or better last year.
Heading the sale was the Snitzel colt out the General Nediym mare Admirelle, A full-brother to the Group 1 winner Sizzling, the colt sold on day two for A$2.2 million to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum from the draft of Milburn Creek.
Just seven lots later, Snitzel again hit the heights with former Hong Kong broadcaster David Raphael and trainer Gerald Ryan going to $1.8 million for the colt out of the Encosta De Lago four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi, making him the second top lot of the sale.
FASTNET FIRST
By the end of the sale only Fastnet Rock would surpass Snitzel’s aggregate of $11,740,000 for 31 sold at an average of $378,710. The son of Danehill had a whopping aggregate of $22,410,000 from 47 sold of 52 offered, that averaged $476,809, the sales best.
Street Cry was second on average at $451,875 (eight sold of 13 offered) with Medaglia d’Oro capitalising on the strength of Vancouver’s Golden Slipper win to average $425,714 (six sold of seven offered).
Sepoy was clearly the leading first season sire, and fourth overall, with his 11 sold from 15 offered averaging $379,091. In all, five stallions provided the 10 yearlings that made $1 million or greater; they being; Fastnet Rock (five yearlings), Snitzel (two), Redoute’s Choice, Sepoy and Street Cry.
“It’s fantastic to achieve this at the top of the market,” said Inglis’ managing director Mark Webster. “More than half the spend came from Australian investors but it was great to have 22% of the spend from Asia, 11% from the Middle East, 6% from Europe, 6% from New Zealand and 3% from North America. I’d estimate 90% of the yearlings will stay here and fill the stables of local trainers, which is excellent and a real win-win for our industry, which is in great shape.”
Buyers across the globe were in attendance with Dermot Farrington Bloodstock and BBA Ireland making their presence felt buying six and two yearlings respectively for a gross of $1.385 million and $1.6 million respectively.
ANGUS GOLD
For the third year in a row Angus Gold, representing Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Australia, was the single leading buyer securing 16 yearlings at an aggregate of $5,795,000 and average of $362,188. “I was happy to a level,” Angus Gold told Inglis TV of the yearlings he had bought. “I was under-bidder nine times yesterday (on day two) on four of the top colts and normally, with a decent budget, you’d expect to buy at least one of them. It was frustrating, but I try and put a value on them and stick to it where possible but we just met a very, very strong market.”
Notable too was the influence of China Horse Club. In conjunction with Michael Wallace they bought 12 yearlings, but that number swelled to 21 when accounting for their various partnerships with Coolmore, Stonestreet Stables and WinStar Farm.
Of the vendors, Arrowfield Stud headed the field selling 26 of their 31 offered for an aggregate of $10,465,000, just ahead of Coolmore who sold all 26 of their draft for an aggregate of $9,640,000.
TOP 10 LOTS
B C SNITZEL - ADMIRELLE Bought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa (UAE) $2,200,000
B C SNITZEL - ALINGHI Bought by David Raphael/G Ryan (NSW) $1,800,000
B F FASTNET ROCK - CANDLELIGHT Bought by Coolmore Australia (NSW) $1,750,000
B F FASTNET ROCK - PERFECT PERSUASION Bought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa (UAE) $1,600,000
Ch C SEPOY - ANCIENT SONG Bought by James Harron Bldst (NSW) $1,600,000
B C FASTNET ROCK - WIENER Bought by Waterhouse/Coolmore/Stonestreet (NSW) $1,350,000
B F FASTNET ROCK - MENNETOU Bought by BBA Ireland (IRE) $1,300,000
B F REDOUTE’S CHOICE - WEEKEND BEAUTY Bought by Japan Health Summit (JPN) $1,100,000
B C STREET CRY - NOESIS Bought by Scone/George Moore Bldst (HK) $1,000,000
B F FASTNET ROCK - HIPS DONT LIE Bought by Aquanita Racing (VIC) $1,000,000