Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
At the close of trade on the first day the auction house reported that 204 (81 per cent) sold for an aggregate of $23,616,500, which is a dip on the extraordinary figures recorded 12 months ago when 226 (93 per cent) sold for total receipts of $27,418,500.
The average on the first day finished at $115,767, which is only marginally less than the impressive figure of $121,321 recorded at the end of the opening session 12 months ago.
The median dropped $10,000 on last year, having been recorded at the end of the action on Sunday as $90,000 having been $100,000 at the same point in 2022.
A colt by Written Tycoon was the top-billing on Sunday after he was purchased by TFI and Annabel Neasham for $550,000.
Yulong Investments finished the day as the leading buyer, securing three lots for a total spend of $690,000, which was marginally more than Mick Price’s MG Price Racing & Breeding banner who bought three yearlings for $570,000.
Leading the way on the sire front by average (with three or more sold) was Toronado (Ire), who had four yearlings sell for an aggregate of $960,000 and finished with an average of $240,000. The leading sire by aggregate was Written Tycoon who had 10 lots realise $1,855,000.
The leading vendor by aggregate was Newgate Farm who sold 15 yearlings for $1,995,000, while Kingstar Farm led the way by average (with three or more sold) having sold four lots at an average of $233,400.
#1. Cornerstone Stud make perfect start at Classic
South Australian-based nursery Cornerstone Stud were almost instantly repaid for their decision to offer their first draft at that the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA), working on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, purchased a colt by Toronado (Ire) for $420,000.
The farm’s General Manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon said the idea to offer a first draft at the Sydney sale was off the back of a suggestion from Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price and Bloodstock consultant Sinead Flannery.
Sam Pritchard-Gordon | Image courtesy of Inglis
“James Price and Sinead Flannery visited the farm in the middle of winter and they were really complimentary of the weanlings we had on the farm and they said we should have a draft here. He actually said the Toronado colt would sell well and he was right,” explained Pritchard-Gordon.
The $420,000 handed the farm it's second-best result ever, falling marginally short of their record of $425,000 which was provided when they sold a colt by Capitalist at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale in 2021.
“It is the second-best result we’ve ever had. He was a really good type with really clean x-rays and I think there are a lot of things that have to go right to get a good price. He was a big strong boy and the stallion is going so well in Hong Kong, so it all added up,” said Pritchard-Gordon.
“It is the second-best result we’ve ever had. He was a really good type with really clean x-rays.” - Sam Pritchard-Gordon
The good record helped Swettenham Stud-based sire Toronado finish with a leading average (with three or more lots sold) of $240,000, which is 8.7 times the stallion’s 2020 service fee which was set at $27,500 (inc GST).
It was no surprise to see the colt purchased for Hong Kong, given the stallion’s strong results in the Asian jurisdiction with 15 of his 19 of his starters being winners and they are headed by dual Group 3 winner Senor Toba and stakes-placed gelding Prince Of Sussex.
The colt is the second foal out of the Group 3-winning Sebring mare Art Series and Rounsefell was confident he will prove the perfect purchase for Hong Kong.
“He is an extremely athletic type with plenty of class and quality. I love the Toronado stock and this colt is out a tough Group 3-winning mare and from a proven nursery. He has a wonderful temperament and is a strong addition to the HKJC International Sale,” said Boomer.
Sires by aggregate
| Written Tycoon | 10 | $1,855,000 | $185,500 | $550,000 |
| Capitalist | 12 | $1,505,000 | $125,417 | $180,000 |
| Zousain | 10 | $1,186,000 | $118,600 | $320,000 |
| Toronado | 4 | $960,000 | $240,000 | $420,000 |
| Hellbent | 7 | $765,000 | $109,286 | $200,000 |
| Zoustar | 4 | $730,000 | $182,500 | $340,000 |
| Spirit of Boom | 4 | $640,000 | $160,000 | $250,000 |
| Nicconi | 5 | $560,000 | $112,000 | $160,000 |
| Ocean Park | 3 | $555,000 | $185,000 | $460,000 |
| Brutal | 7 | $542,500 | $77,500 | $150,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Toronado | 4 | $240,000 | $960,000 | $420,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 10 | $185,500 | $1,855,000 | $550,000 |
| Ocean Park | 3 | $185,000 | $555,000 | $460,000 |
| Zoustar | 4 | $182,500 | $730,000 | $340,000 |
| Spirit of Boom | 4 | $160,000 | $640,000 | $250,000 |
| Too Darn Hot | 3 | $153,333 | $460,000 | $280,000 |
| Deep Field | 3 | $141,667 | $425,000 | $250,000 |
| Written By | 3 | $136,667 | $410,000 | $150,000 |
| Magna Grecia | 3 | $133,333 | $400,000 | $200,000 |
| Cosmic Force | 3 | $131,667 | $395,000 | $150,000 |
#2. Kingstar shines on Day 1
Matthew Sandbolm’s Kingstar Farm made a strong start at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, finishing the opening session having sold five yearlings for an aggregate of $1,167,000 and finished the first day with a leading average (with three or more lots sold) of $233,400.
With two days of trade still to go, the farm is already massively out-performing their results from 12 months ago when they sold seven youngsters for a gross of $710,000 which saw them finish with an average of $101,429.
Lot 166 - Extreme Choice x Top Billing (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The farm’s best result of the day came courtesy of a colt by Extreme Choice who was purchased by Brae Sokolski’s Yes Bloodstock and Mat Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $480,000, the second top-lot of the day.
Kingstar’s Adam Cook described the colt as a “standout’’ and one he had no doubt would develop into a talented racehorse.
“We’ve been going about seven years now and it takes a while to get a good reputation and to be totally honest, we’ve built up a strong reputation in a relatively short amount of time,” he said. “We want our horses going to good trainers and these good trainers are now starting to buy off us.
“We’ve been going about seven years now and it takes a while to get a good reputation and to be totally honest, we’ve built up a strong reputation in a relatively short amount of time.” - Adam Cook
“He’s a beautiful, strong, good-moving colt with an impeccable brain on him. I can see him handling 2-year-old training to a tee. I’m glad he’s going to a good trainer, I’m glad a good investor bought him so I think they’re going to have a great amount of success with that horse because I truly believe he’s going to be a proper racehorse.”
Vendors by aggregate
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | 15 | $1,995,000 | $133,000 | $400,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 11 | $1,355,000 | $123,182 | $260,000 |
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 5 | $1,167,000 | $233,400 | $480,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa | 9 | $1,095,000 | $121,667 | $240,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 8 | $1,017,500 | $127,188 | $200,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 5 | $840,000 | $168,000 | $460,000 |
| Widden Stud, Widden Valley | 11 | $831,000 | $75,545 | $150,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 6 | $805,000 | $134,167 | $205,000 |
| Arrowfield Stud, Scone | 9 | $770,000 | $85,556 | $200,000 |
| Valiant Stud, Aberdeen | 8 | $715,000 | $89,375 | $160,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Kingstar Farm, Denman | 5 | $233,400 | $1,167,000 | $480,000 |
| Silverdale Farm, Avoca | 3 | $195,000 | $585,000 | $280,000 |
| Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, SA | 4 | $173,750 | $695,000 | $420,000 |
| Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | 5 | $168,000 | $840,000 | $460,000 |
| Eureka Stud, Cambooya, Qld | 3 | $156,667 | $470,000 | $230,000 |
| Ridgmont Farm, Segenhoe | 5 | $138,000 | $690,000 | $230,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 6 | $134,167 | $805,000 | $205,000 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | 15 | $133,000 | $1,995,000 | $400,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone | 8 | $127,188 | $1,017,500 | $200,000 |
| Sledmere Stud, Scone | 11 | $123,182 | $1,355,000 | $260,000 |
#3. Written Tycoon colt hands breeders a memorable result
The sale’s highlight on the first day was a colt by Written Tycoon who was purchased by TFI and Annabel Neasham for $550,000 and the result provided the yearlings breeders, Rob and Pam Crosby of Kansas Livestock, a result to remember.
Offered by Berkeley Stud, the colt is the first foal out of the Crosby’s homebred mare Sylvia’s Mother (Snitzel), whose seven victories were spearheaded by her wins in the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. and G3 Frances Tressady S. and the $550,000 figure provided the longtime breeders with a record result.
“We’ve been breeding for 15 years and this is our best ever result in the ring. It's fantastic. I was a bit nervous, I was watching the Sale Day Live broadcast on our TV and I was a bit on edge but that’s only because we were expecting a top price and we got a top price, so we couldn’t be happier,” said Rob, who was watching the action unfold from home.
“We knew he’d do well, he’s by the right sire and his mother was a little champion who we bred and raced so it’s full circle for us.
“When he went through the ring, he was the calmest horse that sold all day and people take note of that, temperament is so important with these colts.”
“When he (Lot 130) went through the ring, he was the calmest horse that sold all day and people take note of that, temperament is so important with these colts.” - Rob Crosby
Last season, Sylvia’s Mother produced a colt by Coolmore Stud shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) and she has most recently been covered by Darley Stud shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB).
#4. Record results for Waikato Stud sires
The $460,000 Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid for a colt by Waikato Stud’s ever-popular sire Ocean Park (NZ) provided the stallion with a record result in a sales ring.
The Lime Country Thoroughbreds-consigned colt, who was offered on behalf of James Chapman’s Jamieson Park, soared passed the stallion’s former record of NZ$450,000 (AU$410,900) which was provided by trainer Peter Moody for Trelawney Stud-consigned filly by the sire at 2020 edition of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Lot 30 - Ocean Park (NZ) x Sacred Rhythm (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Meanwhile, Ocean Park’s young barnmate Ardrossan enjoyed brilliant results at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, including being represented by a colt who was purchased by Waikato Bloodstock (BAFNZ) for a record price of NZ$260,000 (AU$237,400).
However, that record proved short-lived with Mat Becker of Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) providing the sire with a new record result when he parted with $260,000 for a Sledmere Stud-offered colt by the son of Redoute’s Choice, which is 95 times the NZ$3000 he stood for during the 2020 season.
Lot 183 - Ardrossan x Vanilla Essence (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is a son of the unraced Pins mare Vanilla Essence (NZ) and his unraced 2-year-old brother sold to Cambridge trainer Tony Pike at Karaka last year for NZ$150,000.
Vanilla Essence is a sister to the Listed Lion Red Plate winner Raid (NZ), who was also placed in the G1 Diamond S., the R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO and the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S.
#5. Colts prove popular during the opening session
Colts dominated the opening session of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on Sunday, with only two fillies featuring inside the top 15 lots during the opening session.
The first five home in Saturday’s R. Listed Inglis Millennium were fillies, but the colts seemed the flavour of the day with Rock The Runway and Chris Waller Racing paying the most for a filly during the opening session when they parted with $340,000 for a daughter of Zoustar out of Group 3-winning Written Tycoon mare Written Dash.
Catalogued as Lot 206 and offered by Tyreel Stud, the youngster is half-sister to Group 2-placed Exceed And Excel gelding Osamu.
Lot 206 - Zoustar x Written Dash (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
At the end of last year’s sale, six fillies featured among the top 15 lots at the sale, so it will be interesting to see if they can make up ground over the next two days of trade in Sydney.
Top lots
| 130 | Colt | Written Tycoon | Sylvia's Mother | Berkeley Park Stud, Blandford | TFI / Annabel Neasham Racing QLD | $550,000 |
| 166 | Colt | Extreme Choice | Top Billing | Kingstar Farm, Denman | Yes Bloodstock / Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC | $480,000 |
| 30 | Colt | Ocean Park | Sacred Rhythm | Lime Country Thoroughbreds, Blandford | Belmont Bloodstock Agency Pty Ltd (FBAA) VIC | $460,000 |
| 200 | Colt | Exceed and Excel | Whispered Secret | Newgate Farm, Aberdeen | Ellerslie Lodge Racing / B Heys NSW | $400,000 |
| 206 | Filly | Zoustar | Written Dash | Tyreel Stud, Agnes Banks | Rock The Runway / Chris Waller Racing VIC | $340,000 |
| 89 | Colt | Zousain | Sonnenblume | Carramar Park, Grose Wold | Clarken Bloodstock Pty Ltd SA | $320,000 |
| 174 | Colt | Extreme Choice | Tweet | Kingstar Farm, Denman | Yu Long Investments VIC | $300,000 |
| 55 | Colt | Too Darn Hot | Sexy Siren | HP Thoroughbreds, Hilldale | Legend Racing Pty Ltd NSW | $280,000 |
| 141 | Colt | Written Tycoon | Taraji | Silverdale Farm, Avoca | Yu Long Investments / Waterhouse & Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds VIC | $280,000 |
| 183 | Colt | Ardrossan | Vanilla Essence | Sledmere Stud, Scone | Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC | $260,000 |
Top buyers
| Yu Long Investments | 3 | $690,000 | $230,000 | $300,000 |
| MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 3 | $570,000 | $190,000 | $200,000 |
| TFI / Annabel Neasham Racing | 1 | $550,000 | $550,000 | $550,000 |
| Hawkes Racing | 3 | $525,000 | $175,000 | $250,000 |
| Lindsay Park Racing | 4 | $510,000 | $127,500 | $230,000 |
| Yes Bloodstock / Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $480,000 | $480,000 | $480,000 |
| Belmont Bloodstock Agency Pty Ltd (FBAA) | 1 | $460,000 | $460,000 | $460,000 |
| Clarken Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 2 | $450,000 | $225,000 | $320,000 |
| Hong Kong Jockey Club | 1 | $420,000 | $420,000 | $420,000 |
| Legend Racing Pty Ltd | 2 | $420,000 | $210,000 | $280,000 |
