At A Glance: Inglis Easter Day 1
>> Highest-ever grossing day of any Australian auction with a total spend of $61,725,000, average of $381,022 and median $280,000.
>> James Harron digs deeper than ever before to secure the highest-priced Snitzel yearling ever sold. He ends Day 1 as leading buyer, spending $5,275,000 on four colts.
>> Aquis Farm makes waves in the ring to land full-brother to domestic and international Group 1 winner Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock). They have ended up with seven lots for $4,420,000, second leading buyer.
>> A Deep Impact (Jpn) colt fulfils Arrowfield Stud’s lofty expectations when he sells to Spendthrift, Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock for $1.7 million.
>> Orbis purchased three million dollar yearlings - Brazen Beau. Zoustar and Not A Single Doubt colts.
>> Young stallion Brazen Beau makes a splash with his first yearling to break the seven figure mark.
>> Dean Hawthorne snaps up another quality filly to join GSA Bloodstock, paying $1 million for the Snitzel daughter of Lucky Raquie.
High-flying Harron goes all out for day’s top offering
Harron was never going to be denied the stunning youngster though, and outlaid more to secure Lot 49 than he’d ever parted with before. It was also the highest price ever paid at auction for a youngster by Arrowfield Stud’s champion stallion.
“He’s very, very special. I haven't slept too well since I saw him, I’ve been thinking about him a lot,” Harron said.
"He's the best yearling I've seen for years. He's a very unique and special horse, he was the one we wanted and you have to push for those ones.
“He's a very unique and special horse, he was the one we wanted and you have to push for those ones.” – James Harron.
"I'm very excited to get him, Beautiful pedigree, beautiful physique, a great attitude and a great demeanour to go with it.
“He's been very, very busy and very popular. He's a blood brother to Menari, so a lovely pedigree. He looks very precocious and is off a great farm in Corumbene. He really does tick all the boxes.”
Harron secured him for his colts’ syndicate and the youngster’s racing career will be guided by Peter and Paul Snowden.
It was the most paid for a yearling since a half-brother by Redoute’s Choice to the unbeaten champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) realised $5 million at Easter in 2013 and the fifth most expensive yearling sold in Australia.
“He looks very precocious and is off a great farm in Corumbene." – James Harron.
The Snitzel colt is out of the General Nediym mare Ichihara, who won the G2 Magic Night S. and three Listed races. Her first foal Omar (Snitzel) has won twice.
It is also the family of Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}), whose nine Group 1 wins featured four editions of the Chipping Norton S., and the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}).
The under-bidder was Jadeskye Racing’s Damion Flower, who initially purchased Snitzel for $260,000 and raced the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner.
James Harron inspecting during the Easter Yearling Sale
Harron in again
Harron also signed for an I Am Invincible colt for $1.2 million put forward by Torryburn Stud.
He is out of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Mrs Boxall, who is a half-sister to the stakes winner Miss Gai Flyer (Flying Spur).
They represent the family of the champion sire Rory’s Jester, former champion filly Ha Ha (Danehill {USA}), the G1 Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed (Southern Image {USA}) and the G1 Champagne S. winner Go Indy Go (Bernardini {USA}).
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was thrilled with the day’s trade.
“It’s been an outstanding day of trade, a great start to a refined Easter Sale format that was aimed at providing buyers with a more select offering,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to another big day where we can ideally see more great results on the board.’’ – Mark Webster.
“My team has worked extraordinarily hard to attract a diverse and deep buying bench and this effort is paying off. To end Day 1 with an increasing clearance rate of 81 per cent is a strong start and something that I’m confident will continue to climb overnight and into tomorrow’s action.
“The job is only half done. There have been some great results for vendors and breeders, too many to single out. I’m looking forward to another big day where we can ideally see more great results on the board.’’
Aquis flexes muscles
Aquis Farm outstayed rivals to secure the brother, Lot 88, to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and G1 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee S. winner Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) for $2.3 million out of Segenhoe Stud’s draft.
“We thought he was the pick of the sale. He’s got a great temperament and we knew what we would have to pay,” Aquis Chief Executive Officer Shane McGrath said.
“We joined in at $1.4 million. Everyone was there for him and there was always a queue to see him before the sale. In reality, if he’s as good as his brother he’s cheap – if he’s not he’s expensive. "
“In reality, if he’s as good as his brother he’s cheap – if he’s not he’s expensive.” – Shane McGrath.
“I’ve seen a lot of Fastnet Rocks and he’s as good as I’ve seen. We’re thrilled to be able to buy the horse.”
The colt will be trained by Ciaron Maher, these days operating partnership with David Eustace, who prepared Merchant Navy before his transfer to Aidan O’Brien in Ireland.
“It’s hard not to give him to Ciaron. Who knows, we might be going to Royal Ascot again.”
The bay is a son of the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Legally Bay (Snippets), who has also produced the G2 Roman Consul S. runner-up Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), and the family of the G1 Myer Classic winner Bonaria (Redoute’s Choice).
“It’s hard not to give him to Ciaron. Who knows, we might be going to Royal Ascot again.” – Shane McGrath.
Ciaron Maher with Aquis CEO Shane McGrath
Spendthrift making a impact
John Messara’s expectations were fulfilled after Arrowfield Stud’s son of sire sensation Deep Impact (Jpn) left the Riverside Stables ring with a $1.7 million price tag around his elegant neck.
“He’s a lovely colt from an outstanding family and by what is probably the world’s best sire in Deep Impact,” Messara said.
The striking-looking youngster, Lot 38, was atop the pre-sale wish list of Spendthrift and they took the boldest of approaches to securing him, a single bid late in the piece enough to ward off the opposition.
“He’s a lovely individual and jumped all the hurdles leading up to this and had clean x-rays,” Messara said.
“He’s a lovely colt from an outstanding family and by what is probably the world’s best sire in Deep Impact.” - John Messara .
“He’s from a great family. I thought he’d make around $1.5 million and the word around here was between $1.5 and $2 million so I’m very, very happy.
“Spendthrift has got an international outlook. Good luck to the buyers.”
B. Wayne Hughes’ powerful Kentucky-based operation first signalled its interest in the Australian market with three yearlings bought at Easter in 2014. Their long-term presence was confirmed the following year with the purchase in Victoria of the former Yallambee Stud, home to six stallions.
Spendthrift Australia General Manager Garry Cuddy said sons of Deep Impact were rare commodities and they were prepared to spend accordingly.
"There's not many to choose from and he's the best stallion in the world, so we had to give a bit to get him, but we are definitely happy to have him in our stable," he said.
"I think the colt would be sick of seeing us. We would have looked at him close to ten times in the last few days.” – Garry Cuddy.
"Easter is where you come to buy these big pedigrees and this horse definitely fits that description. It’s a great Woodlands family, it's a fantastic running female family, so it was well worth it."
Cuddy and his team were regular visitors to the Arrowfield barn in the days leading up to the sale.
"I think he'd be sick of seeing us. We would have looked at him close to ten times in the last few days,” he said.
The Deep Impact colt will be heading to the yard of Lloyd Kennewell.
“We are looking forward to him being part of Lloyd’s team now that he's established himself in Melbourne,” Cuddy said.
“We are looking forward to him being part of Lloyd’s team now that he's established himself in Melbourne.” - Garry Cuddy.
The Deep Impact colt is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Grito, a half-sister to the former champion sprinter Yell (Anabaa {USA}) and his sister Sung, the dam of the top 2-year-old and G1 Sires’ Produce S winner and G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Microphone (Exceed And Excel).
Brazen results
The career of young Darley stallion Brazen Beau went to a new level when his son offered by Mill Park Stud, Lot 73, was knocked down for $1,150,000 to Hong Kong trainer Peter Ho on behalf of Orbis Bloodstock.
It was a result to savour for Darley and Head of Sales Alistair Pulford was thrilled for all concerned.
“I’m delighted for the vendor and breeder David Peacock, who has been a long-time supporter of Darley,” he said.
“It’s the first $1 million yearling for Brazen Beau. The market seems to love them and he’s started his career in tremendous fashion.”
“It’s the first $1 million yearling for Brazen Beau. The market seems to love them and he’s started his career in tremendous fashion.” – Alistair Pulford.
The colt is the second foal of the G3 Spring S. winner Just Discreet (Exceed And Excel), a half-sister to the G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}) and a three-quarter sister to the Listed Promenade S. winner and G1 Goodwood H. placegetter Very Discreet.
Orbis flying high
A united approach by Orbis and trainers John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes also beat off the opposition for Lot 106, a Zoustar colt from the Milburn Creek consignment.
They went to $1 million to secure the son of Madamesta (Estambul {Arg}), the dam of three winners including the Listed Queen Adelaide S. winner Bullpit (Speed ‘n’ Power {NZ}).
“He’s a lovely colt and we really liked him,” Orbis’ Paul King said. “John, Michael and Wayne really loved him as well so we went for it.
“Zoustar is flying at the moment and this is a really athletic colt.” – Paul King.
“Zoustar is flying at the moment and this is a really athletic colt.”
Orbis later outlaid $1,100,000 for a Not A Single Doubt colt, Lot 128, from the Arrowfield Stud consignment.
He is a brother to the Listed Mode Plate winner Pretty Fast with their dam Miss Sharapova (NZ) (Ustinov) successful four times and Group placed.
The subject colt is also closely related to the G2 Challenge S. winner Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt) and the family of the former champion 2 and 3-year-old filly and G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Ha Ha (Danehill {USA}).
If you don’t succeed at first, try, try again was an approach that was successfully followed by David O’Callaghan, who signed for a Snitzel colt on behalf of Sun Stud.
“He’s a lovely, big, strong, precocious type and he may be a stallion – that’s the plan.” – David O’Callaghan.
Presented by Sledmere Stud as Lot 158, the youngster is a son of Ocean Of Tears (NZ) (Minardi {USA}) and a half-brother to the G3 Mr Tiz Trophy S. winner No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
“We’ve been under-bidders on five or six and we really liked this colt,” O’Callaghan said.
“He’s a lovely, big, strong, precocious type and he may be a stallion – that’s the plan.”
Dean Hawthorne, chief buyer for Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, had to hit the six figure mark to claim Arrowfield Stud’s daughter of Snitzel, Lot 100, from the family of Redoute’s Choice for $1,000,000.
"If you have been following GSA for the past couple of years, we have been putting together a nice collection of fillies, accumulating them and obviously they go into the race system,” Hawthorne said.
“They are good fillies we can fall back on, with good residual pedigrees.” – Dean Hawthorne.
“They are good fillies we can fall back on, with good residual pedigrees.
"It's the same cross as Meuse, who has won her past two in Victoria. It’s really working really well and she has come out running well as a 2-year-old.
“She's a sharp filly, a nice autumn 2-year-old type. When you see who is at the bottom of the page (Shoals), you can see why we are attached to her.
Big money for Asian Bloodstock Services
Asian Bloodstock Services made an early statement and closed strongly with the $1 million purchase of a relative of the multiple Group 1 winner and producer Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).
Early in the day, it went to $900,000 to secure Lot 3, a son of Fastnet Rock out of the Northern American stakes winner Fastongrass (USA) (Forest Wildcat (USA) presented by Widden Stud.
Toward the end of the opening day, the Hong Kong-based operation topped that with a successful $1 million bid for Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock filly, Lot 185, out of the Encosta de Lago mare Port Augusta.
She is a half-sister to Holy Roman Emperor and his sister Milanova (Danehill {USA}), a G3 Tokyo City Cup winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter.
Lot 185 Fastnet Rock x Port Augusta
Leaderboards - Day One
Top lots overall
| 49 | Snitzel | Ichihara | C | $2,800,000 | James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Corumbene Stud, Dunedoo |
| 88 | Fastnet Rock | Legally Bay | C | $2,300,000 | Aquis Farm Pty Ltd | Segenhoe Stud, Scone |
| 38 | Deep Ipact (Jpn) | Grito | C | $1,700,000 | Spendthrift/ Kennewell Racing/ Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | Arrowfield Stud, Scone |
| 137 | Exceed And Excel | More Than Real (USA) | F | $1,200,000 | Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | Kia Ora Stud, Scone |
| 141 | I Am Invincible | Mrs Boxall | C | $1,200,000 | James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Torryburn Stud, Torryburn |
| 73 | Brazen Beau | Just Discreet | C | $1,150,000 | Orbis Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Mill Park Stud, Meningie |
| 128 | Not A Single Doubt | Miss Sharapova (NZ) | C | $1,100,000 | Orbis Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Arrowfield Stud, Scone |
| 158 | Snitzel | Ocean Of Tears (NZ) | C | $1,100,000 | Sun Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Sledmere Stud, Scone |
| 100 | Snitzel | Lucky Raquie | F | $1,000,000 | Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock | Arrowfield Stud, Scone |
| 106 | Zoustar | Madamesta | C | $1,000,000 | Orbis Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow |
Top vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Corumbene Stud, Dunedoo | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $3,220,000 | $1,073,333 | $2,800,000 | $320,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $2,325,000 | $775,000 | $1,200,000 | $600,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | $2,290,000 | $572,500 | $1,200,000 | 500,000 |
| Cressfield, Scone | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $2,290,000 | $560,000 | $660,000 | $590,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | $5,575,000 | $557,500 | $2,300,000 | $310,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 55 | 21 | 2 | 4 | $9,550,000 | $454,762 | $1,700,000 | $300,000 |
| Yarraman Park, Scone | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | $1,330,000 | $443,333 | $750,000 | $380,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerry's Plains | 43 | 13 | 4 | 2 | $5,417,500 | $416,731 | $1,000,000 | $340,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | $2,903,000 | $362,875 | $950,000 | $242,500 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 17 | 8 | 2 | 2 | $2,8000,00 | $350,000 | $1,100,000 | $295,000 |
Top vendors by aggregate
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 55 | 21 | 2 | 4 | $9,550,000 | $454,762 | $1,700,000 | $300,000 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone | 22 | 10 | 3 | 1 | $5,575,000 | $557.50 | $2,300,000 | $310,000 |
| Coolmore Stud, Jerrys Plains | 43 | 13 | 4 | 2 | $5,417,500 | $416,731 | $1,000,000 | $340,000 |
| Corumbene Stud, Dunedoo | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | $3,220,000 | $1,073,333 | $2,800,000 | $320,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 22 | 9 | 1 | 4 | $3,105,000 | $345,000 | $900,000 | $360,000 |
| Bhima Thoroughbreds | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 | $2,903,000 | $362,875 | $950,000 | $242,500 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 17 | 8 | 2 | 2 | $2,800,000 | $350,000 | $1,100,000 | $295,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | $2,800,000 | $350,000 | $1,100,000 | $295,000 |
| Torryburn Stud, Torryburn | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | $2,290,000 | $572,500 | $1,200,000 | $500,000 |
| Cressfield, Scone | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $2,240,000 | $560,000 | $660,000 | $590,000 |
Top buyers
| James Harron Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 4 | $1,318,750 | 5275000% | $2,800,000 |
| Aquis Farm Pty Ltd | 7 | $631,429 | $4,420,000 | $2,300,000 |
| Orbis Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 3 | $1,083,333 | $3,250,000 | $1,150,000 |
| Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock | 4 | $713,750 | $2,855,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | 5 | $498,000 | $2,490,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse Racing/ Adrian Bott | 6 | $321,667 | $1,930,000 | $400,000 |
| Asian Bloodstock Services | 2 | $950,000 | $1,900,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Keyhinge | 5 | $359,000 | $1,795,000 | $580,000 |
| China Horse Club/ Newgate Bloodstock/ WinStar | 4 | $438,750 | $1,755,000 | $525,000 |
| Spendthrift/ Kennewell Racing/ Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 | $1,700,000 |
Top sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Not A Single Doubt | 5 | $3,295,000 | $659,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Snitzel | 13 | $8.335.000 | $641,154 | $2,800,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 14 | $8,057,500 | $575,536 | $2,300,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 4 | $2,000,000 | $500,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Rubick | 3 | $1,450,000 | $483,333 | $900,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 11 | $5,290,000 | $480,909 | $1,200,000 |
| Redoute's Choice | 4 | $1,630,000 | $407,500 | $600,000 |
| Zoustar | 7 | $2,810,000 | $401,429 | $1,000,000 |
| Medaglia d'Oro | 12 | $3,683,000 | $306,917 | $750,000 |
| Dundeel (NZ) | 6 | $1,750,000 | $291,667 | $525,000 |
Top sires by aggregate
| Snitzel | 13 | $8.335.000 | $641,154 | $2,800,000 |
| Fastnet Rock | 14 | $8,057,500 | $575,536 | $2,300,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 11 | $5,290,000 | $480,909 | $1,200,000 |
| Medaglia d'Oro | 12 | $3,683,000 | $306,917 | $750,000 |
| Not A Single Doubt | 5 | $3,295,000 | $659,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Zoustar | 7 | $2,810,000 | $401,429 | $1,000,000 |
| Sebring | 11 | $2,710,000 | $246,364 | $500,000 |
| Vancouver | 10 | $2,685,000 | $268,500 | $600,000 |
| Deep Impact (Jpn) | 2 | $2,650,000 | $1,325,000 | $1,700,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 4 | $2,000,000 | $500,000 | $1,200,000 |
