Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The aggregate for Day 1 (as at 7pm AEDT) was $26,375,000. Last year’s Day 1 figure finished up at $33,745,000, while in 2021, it was $29,120,500.
The clearance rate of 76 per cent was down on the remarkable 90 per cent in 2022 (82 per cent at day's end) and the 89 per cent in 2021. It is expected the aggregate and clearance rate will continue to lift as passed in lots are sold.
The average price of $142,568 was below last year’s figure of $156,227, but above 2021 ($140,002).
The Day 1 median was $110,000, which is less than last year ($130,000), but the same as 2021.
The top lot on Day 1 was a filly by I Am Invincible from the stakes performer Special Lover (NZ) (Pins), consigned by Noorilim Park and bought by TFI. She is the equal-second highest price ever and the most expensive filly sold at Inglis Premier.
The top-priced colt was an Exceed And Excel sold by B2B Thoroughbreds from stakes-winning mare Scarlet Billows (Street Boss {USA}), purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy for $600,000.
Not surprisingly, I Am Invincible was the leading sire, with all 10 of his yearlings selling for an aggregate of $3,680,000 (an average of $368,000).
TFI's $1.1 million purchase of Lot 159 makes them the leading buyer. Mick Price Racing and Breeding spent $980,000 on five yearlings, while Clinton McDonald Racing spent $720,000 on four yearlings.
Yulong is the leading vendor by aggregate after they sold 13 yearlings on Day 1 for a combined $2,620,000.
#1. Mixed results on Day 1
While this year's key metrics were all down on a benchmark 2022 sale, the day held up relatively well in comparison to 2021. It featured a record price for a yearling filly in Victoria and there were some fantastic stories associated with a number of the horses that exchanged hands.
Inglis Bloodstock CEO, Sebastian Hutch said they were prepared for a tough opening to the sale and the results have exceeded their expectations.
“We make no secret of the fact that our expectation of the sale would be significantly more challenging than it was 12 months ago. The environment in which we’re selling horses now is fundamentally different to what it was then,” Hutch said.
“So, to sit where we are now, at the end of Day 1 with the figures we have, we’re really very pleased."
“We make no secret of the fact that our expectation of the sale would be significantly more challenging than it was 12 months ago. The environment in which we’re selling horses now is fundamentally different to what it was then.” - Sebastian Hutch
“The first day of the sale is always tricky, it’s setting the market. As we’ve seen through the year, there’s been a little bit more variance in the market.
Sally Williams and Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
“I think you’ll find the clearance rate for today will improve significantly overnight and into the morning (on Monday) and through the balance of Monday; that was very much the case at Classic.
“Some of the prices we had were genuinely extraordinary and it would be fair to say the sale has significantly exceeded what our expectations would have been for this stage of the sale.”
Hutch is hopeful, and confident, the sale will go up a gear from Monday.
“I expect that the next couple of days there’ll be good demand for nice horses and buyers will find value in the middle to lower end of the market,” Hutch explained.
“I expect that the next couple of days there’ll be good demand for nice horses and buyers will find value in the middle to lower end of the market.” - Sebastian Hutch
“As has been well-promoted by Tom Reilly and the team at Aushorse, there’s a race for a million dollars every four days in Australia in 2023.”
#2. Sir Patrick's vision realised by Noorilim
On Sunday, the third foal from Special Lover (NZ) (Pins), a filly by I Am Invincible from the Noorilim Park draft, made $1.1 million, making her the most expensive filly ever to be sold at Premier.
Noorilim Park’s Carrick family bought Special Lover, whose second dam is Diamond Lover (Sticks And Stones), for NZ$160,000 from the Cambridge Stud consignment at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
Glen Carrick, business manager and son or Peter, recalls the moment: “I remember Sir Patrick Hogan telling us she would become our best broodmare. He’s 100 per cent right, that’s for sure."
“I remember Sir Patrick Hogan telling us she (Diamond Lover) would become our best broodmare. He’s 100 per cent right, that’s for sure.” - Glen Carrick
“He was a good judge.”
Special Lover’s first two foals - Easy Single (Not A Single Doubt) and Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel) - both city winners. Furthermore, the latter has scored in Group 3 company.
The $1.1 million sale is a career-best for the Carricks, whose farm is situated on the Goulburn River in Victoria, close by to Darley, Swettenham, Yulong and Widden.
Lot 159 - I Am Invincible x Special Lover (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“That was very good, we’re very happy with that,” Carrick added.
“It definitely met our mark, we knew she would make good money, but you just never know. If there’s only one person on them, they stop, but if there’s a couple on them, they keep going, like she did.
“It’s a great result for the farm and the mare. The plan came to fruition and it all worked out for us.
“We would have loved to have kept her, but you can’t keep them all, you’ve got to pay the bills and she’ll definitely help do that.”
After missing to Snitzel in 2021, Special Lover is back in foal to I Am Invincible.
Don't miss the feature with Peter Carrick on Noorilim's rollercoster five months on Page 5.
#3. I Am Invincible maintains top billing
The progeny of Australia’s Champion Sire have been hugely popular in 2023, averaging $689,687 (before Day 1 at Oaklands). And the Yarraman Park Stud resident again held court on Day 1, with his 10 lots selling at 100 per cent clearance rate, grossing $3,680,000 at an average of $368,000.
In addition to Sunday’s sale-topper, Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $650,000 for Lot 210, the first foal of the Group 1 heroine Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), from the Yulong consignment.
Lot 210 - I Am Invincible x Unforgotten (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
A colt from the Group 3 winner Petty Cury (Not A Single Doubt) fetched $500,000, consigned by Yarraman Park Stud and bought by Rosemont Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and Moody Racing.
While a filly out of the Listed-winning Oratorio mare Private Dancer, who was consigned by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, realised $400,000. She was bought by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott / Bluebloods / Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA).
“I thought she was very feminine and moved very freely,” Waterhouse told TDN AusNZ.
“She looks to have that little bit of oomph about her that you look for when you’re buying a horse, something a bit special.”
“She (Lot 48) looks to have that little bit of oomph about her that you look for when you’re buying a horse, something a bit special.” - Gai Waterhouse
A filly - Lot 19 - from the Yarraman Park Stud draft was knocked down to Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) and Murray Thoroughbreds for $300,000. She is out of the Listed victress Peaceful (NZ) (Savabeel).
I Am Invincible finishes his sale on Sunday, with 10 sold from 10 offered, all on Day 1.
#4. Newgate and partners add to arsenal
Fresh from Group 1 glory on Saturday with Artorius (Flying Artie) in the Canterbury S., as well as Russian Revolution’s maiden elite-level success as a sire (courtesy of Communist in the Randwick Guineas), Newgate Farm, via its partnership with China Horse Club, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing, went to $600,000 for a future stallion prospect.
Consigned by B2B Thoroughbreds as Lot 105, the Exceed And Excel colt was knocked down after a spirited bidding war.
Henry Field | Image courtesy of Inglis
The colt is the third living foal from the Group 3 victress Scarlet Billows (Street Boss {USA}), making him a half-brother to the stakes performer Gleneagles (Capitalist).
Newgate Farm’s Henry Field said the colt looks “a really athletic horse”.
“He’s a very sharp colt, a very athletic colt,” Field said.
“He was the horse I kept thinking about the last few days I’ve been down here. He’s a beautiful-moving individual, very well put together.
“He (Lot 105) was the horse I kept thinking about the last few days I’ve been down here. He’s a beautiful-moving individual, very well put together.” - Henry Field
“He’s by a super stallion, out of a mare that I had a lot of time for. She in turn has already produced a really good horse, Gleneagles, who unfortunately died prematurely, but he was a proper horse.
“He’s off a farm that I think are really trying hard to raise good racehorses and they’re putting a lot of resources in and doing a great job.
“He ticked the boxes we like and he was an athlete, most importantly.
“We’re really delighted to get him and hopefully he can be an important part of our China Horse Club-Newgate-Go Bloodstock-Trilogy… and the whole partnership, it’s a very important partnership and I think he will be an important horse for us.
“I thought it was a fair price for what he stood for… hopefully, he can be lucky for us; I’m confident he’ll be a good racehorse, he’s a very sharp individual.”
Lot 105 - Exceed And Excel x Scarlet Billows (colt) with the B2B team | Image courtesy of Inglis
The alliance, which welcomed Trilogy Racing into the fold last December, bought 18 yearlings at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has enjoyed a successful season with their 2-year-olds.
Winners have included Royal Entrance (Snitzel), Sovereign Fund (Capitalist), Don Corleone (Extreme Choice), Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and Empire Of Japan (Snitzel), while Go Bloodstock and Newgate Farm race one of the Golden Slipper favourites, the Group 3 winner Red Resistance (Russian Revolution).
Exceed And Excel has had quite the 2-year-old season himself and has sired eight Group 1-winning juveniles. Top Golden Slipper hope Cylinder in a son of his, as are the Group-winning stablemates Zulfiqar and Barber.
#5. First-Season Sire watch
A number of first-season sires had three or more yearlings sell on Day 1.
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance had four yearlings gross $640,000 at an average of $160,000, with his top-seller being Lot 256, which made $350,000. Offered by Vinery Stud, Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) went to $350,000 for the colt, who is from Absolemm (Pierro) and closely related to Glenfiddich.
Yulong’s Alabama Express had four yearlings gross $600,000 at an average of $150,000. His best result was Lot 264, a filly from All Of Me (Pierro), a half-sister to the stakes winners Solicit (Street Cry {Ire}) and Star Of Giselle (Reset).
Darley shuttler Blue Point’s (Ire) fine debut season continued, with six of his yearlings grossing $710,000 at an average of $118,333. Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $240,000 for Lot 231 - a colt from the Mill Park Stud draft, who is out of the winning Sepoy mare Watchmespin.
Aquis Farm’s Pierata had five yearlings make a combined $545,000 at an average of $109,000. Lot 115 realised $200,000. Consigned by Widden Stud, the filly is out of the Listed victress Shakespearean Lass (Written Tycoon).
#6. A good day for several pinhookers
Day 1 provided some profitable results for a host of pinhookers.
At last year’s Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, Fernrigg Farm and Avesta Bloodstock paid $160,000 for a So You Think (NZ) filly from the unraced Commands mare Premeditated, and on Sunday, she fetched $250,000, when offered as Lot 38. Offered by Fernrigg Farm, the filly was bought by Redgum Racing.
Lot 38 - So You Think (NZ) x Premeditated (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We’re really happy, that was a great result,” Fernrigg Farm’s Rae-Louise Kelly told TDN AusNZ.
“We’re really happy, that was a great result (Lot 38).” - Rae-Louise Kelly
“We really loved her. She was athletic, she’s tidy and compact.
“I know when the gavel went down, John McArdle was flooded with people wanting to take a share in her; she did have a lot of attention.”
Another purchase from the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale that made good money on Sunday was Lot 12 - a Cosmic Force colt out of the winning I Am Invincible mare Parjinka. He was purchased by New Zealand’s Regal Farm for $135,000, after his vendor, Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, paid $55,000 for him last year.
Rae-Louise Kelly
Lot 103 proved another good result for Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, with the Dundeel (NZ) colt realising $210,000 on Sunday. The colt, who is from the stakes performer Savvan (NZ) (Savabeel), was bought by his vendor for $85,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Lot 48, the ‘Vinnie’ filly from Private Dancer, made $400,000 after Trilogy Racing paid $280,000 for her at last year’s Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
The final word
Oaklands was absolutely heaving on Sunday, with the auditorium packed to the rafters at times.
The atmosphere and buzz was often electric, especially when Lot 159 - the I Am Invincible out of Special Lover filly was holding court.
It’s a far cry from 2020 and 2021 when the sales season was ravaged by COVID.
Top lots
| 159 | I Am Invincible | Special Lover | Filly | Noorilim Park, Arcadia | TFI QLD | $1,100,000 |
| 210 | I Am Invincible | Unforgotten | Filly | Yulong, Nagambie | Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) VIC | $650,000 |
| 105 | Exceed and Excel | Scarlet Billows | Colt | B2B Thoroughbreds, Mittagong, NSW | China Horse Club / Newgate / Go / Trilogy NSW | $600,000 |
| 27 | I Am Invincible | Petty Cury | Colt | Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | Rosemont Alliance / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) / Moody Racing VIC | $500,000 |
| 76 | Capitalist | Rekindled Choice | Colt | Yulong, Nagambie | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds NSW | $460,000 |
| 8 | Capitalist | Our Songbird | Colt | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW | MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd VIC | $410,000 |
| 48 | I Am Invincible | Private Dancer | Filly | Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Bluebloods / Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) NSW | $400,000 |
| 191 | Written Tycoon | Tetsuko | Filly | Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | Clarken Bloodstock / Ridgeport Holdings SA | $390,000 |
| 6 | Fastnet Rock | Oohood | Colt | Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW | PR Bloodstock VIC | $360,000 |
| 256 | Exceedance | Absolemm | Colt | Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | Griffiths de Kock Racing / Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) VIC | $350,000 |
| 19 | I Am Invincible | Peaceful | Filly | Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) / Murray Thoroughbreds VIC | $300,000 |
Top Buyers
| TFI | 1 | $1,100,000 | $1,100,000 | $1,100,000 |
| MG Price Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd | 5 | $980,000 | $196,000 | $410,000 |
| Clinton McDonald Racing | 4 | $720,000 | $180,000 | $250,000 |
| R Yiu | 4 | $695,000 | $173,750 | $260,000 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 2 | $650,000 | $325,000 | $460,000 |
| Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $650,000 | $650,000 | $650,000 |
| Busuttin Racing Pty Ltd | 4 | $600,000 | $150,000 | $220,000 |
| China Horse Club / Newgate / Go / Trilogy | 1 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Simon Zahra Racing / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock | 2 | $550,000 | $275,000 | $300,000 |
| Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $510,000 | $170,000 | $240,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Yulong, Nagambie | 13 | $2,620,000 | $201,538 | $650,000 |
| Widden Stud, Riddells Creek | 14 | $1,880,000 | $134,286 | $260,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 7 | $1,745,000 | $249,286 | $500,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW | 8 | $1,730,000 | $216,250 | $410,000 |
| Noorilim Park, Arcadia | 6 | $1,645,000 | $274,167 | $1,100,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 10 | $1,265,000 | $126,500 | $200,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 8 | $1,105,000 | $138,125 | $250,000 |
| Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East | 6 | $1,010,000 | $168,333 | $400,000 |
| B2B Thoroughbreds, Mittagong, NSW | 3 | $950,000 | $316,667 | $600,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $820,000 | $164,000 | $350,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more)
| B2B Thoroughbreds, Mittagong, NSW | 3 | $950,000 | $316,667 | $600,000 |
| Noorilim Park, Arcadia | 6 | $1,645,000 | $274,167 | $1,100,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 7 | $1,745,000 | $249,286 | $500,000 |
| Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Aust Pty Ltd, Scone, NSW | 8 | $1,730,000 | $216,250 | $410,000 |
| Yulong, Nagambie | 13 | $2,620,000 | $201,538 | $650,000 |
| Fernrigg Farm, Denman, NSW | 3 | $530,000 | $176,667 | $250,000 |
| Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Longwood East | 6 | $1,010,000 | $168,333 | $400,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock, Kialla East | 3 | $500,000 | $166,667 | $220,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $820,000 | $164,000 | $350,000 |
| Mill Park Stud, Meningie, SA | 4 | $605,000 | $151,250 | $240,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| I Am Invincible | 10 | $3,680,000 | $368,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Toronado | 12 | $1,745,000 | $145,417 | $250,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 7 | $1,415,000 | $202,143 | $390,000 |
| Capitalist | 5 | $1,320,000 | $264,000 | $460,000 |
| So You Think | 6 | $990,000 | $165,000 | $280,000 |
| Street Boss | 6 | $955,000 | $159,167 | $230,000 |
| Shamus Award | 8 | $920,000 | $115,000 | $180,000 |
| Dundeel | 6 | $735,000 | $122,500 | $240,000 |
| Blue Point | 6 | $710,000 | $118,333 | $240,000 |
| Brazen Beau | 4 | $680,000 | $170,000 | $300,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more)
| I Am Invincible | 10 | $368,000 | $3,680,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Capitalist | 5 | $264,000 | $1,320,000 | $460,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 7 | $202,143 | $1,415,000 | $390,000 |
| Brazen Beau | 4 | $170,000 | $680,000 | $300,000 |
| So You Think | 6 | $165,000 | $990,000 | $280,000 |
| Exceedance | 4 | $160,000 | $640,000 | $350,000 |
| Street Boss | 6 | $159,167 | $955,000 | $230,000 |
| Hellbent | 3 | $153,333 | $460,000 | $220,000 |
| Trapeze Artist | 3 | $151,667 | $455,000 | $175,000 |
| Alabama Express | 4 | $150,000 | $600,000 | $260,000 |
