Cover image courtesy of Inglis

The highly anticipated release of the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling catalogue has arrived, with Inglis unveiling the entire catalogue on Sunday night.

In 2023, the sale grossed $139,290,000, with an average price of $386,917 and a median of $280,000. In 2022, the Inglis Australian Easter Sale recorded an average price of $399,700 and a median of $300,000, with an overall gross of $153,085,000.

The 2024 catalogue is once again a feast for eyes and pedigree aficionados. The 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale contains 500 lots, a figure slightly higher than the last three years, with the catalogues averaging 470 yearlings.

Inglis CEO - bloodstock and sales, Sebastian Hutch, caught up with The Thoroughbred Report ahead of the catalogue release, saying: “The 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling catalogue is made up of 500 lots, and ultimately, it just came down to demand for places in this sale.

“Inglis has been in a position where we’ve had far more applications from vendors to be in this sale. We have a number in our head as to what we think is a suitable number for the sale, but at the same time, we’re trying to facilitate the demands of people who are traditionally very good clients, not just for this sale, but the company as a whole.”

Table: Breakdown of relations to and from stakes winners catalogued in the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Despite the increased number, quality appears to have been maintained, with 41 lots the sons or daughters of Group 1 winners alongside siblings to 37 individual Group 1 winners. Obviously, it would be hard to look past the presence of Lot 391, offered by Coolmore. The Pierro filly is the first live foal from Champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).

However, the first foals from the G1 VRC Oaks victress Aristia (Lonhro) (Lot 427) and the 13-time Group 1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) (Lot 143), among others, also litter the catalogue.

Gallery: A selection of the Group 1-winning mares who have their first foals catalogued within the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

1. Winx filly steals the headlines

Hutch concedes the interest in the Pierro filly from Winx has been enormous since it was announced the filly would be sold in April.

“The Winx filly has attracted a tremendous amount of attention already; the volume of inquiry has been immense not just because of that filly but also because the interest in the sale seems very strong from people locally and internationally.

“We’ve had significant inquiries for her already, which can only be good for the sale as a whole. The market will decide what that filly is worth. There will be plenty of interest to see what happens with her, and I expect that many people are looking forward to seeing her on the farm inspections pre-sale and then at the Riverside complex.”

Hutch noted the rarity of the occasion that a filly from a mare of Winx’s status to be offered for public auction.

“Her sale is going to attract a lot of headlines and interest. It’s very unique. We have seen colts by great race mares offered at auction, but it’s unusual for a filly, particularly a first filly out of a mare like Winx.

“But it creates a great opportunity for people who want to invest in quality Australian bloodstock, and it will certainly be an exciting afternoon on April 8.”

2. Arrowfield positioned to retain crown

In eight of the past nine years (2015-2019), then from 2021-2023, Arrowfield Stud has been the leading vendor at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The Scone-based farm missed the sale in 2020.

Arrowfield Stud also holds the record for the highest-ever aggregate recorded at an Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when their draft finished with earnings of $30,355,000 in 2022.

John Messara’s operation is well-placed again in 2024, with 61 lots set to go under the hammer - the most catalogued, ahead of Widden (42) and Coolmore (39).

Possible stars of the Arrowfield draft include Lot 316, a filly by Written Tycoon from the G1 Thousand Guineas victress Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), a granddaughter of the great Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice).

Gallery: Sires of potential highlight lots catalogued in the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Other highlights include Lot 123, a half-sister to the promising Widden Stud-based Anders by four-time Champion Snitzel. A Written Tycoon colt (Lot 346) from the brilliant producer The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}), dam of the triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock).

“Arrowfield Stud has historically been a tremendous supporter of the sale, and such is the case again. They’ve got a really fantastic line of sires represented with Snitzel, Dundeel, Maurice among them,” Hutch said.

“The quality and sire power is felt through all the drafts. We’re blessed to have great drafts from Widden Stud, Newgate Farm, Coolmore Stud, Vinery Stud, Segenhoe Stud and many others. The quality and depth are certainly unprecedented in my time at the company, and I hope that’s reflected in what buyers see at the sale and the results vendors receive that have been good enough to support Inglis.”

3. Several new faces on show

The 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling will also facilitate the debut and return of several vendors.

Among those with debut drafts are Mick Malone and Pauline Alix’s North (13 lots), Aristia Park (2 lots), Glenbeigh Park (3 lots), Elsdon Park (3 lots), while Sam Hayes’ Cornerstone Stud (2 lots), including Lot 120 a filly by the superhorse Frankel (GB).

While among the returning vendors are New Zealand’s top breeders Waikato Stud (3 lots); elite South Australian producing farm Mill Park Stud (3 lots); Gilgai Farm (5 lots) and B2B (8 lots).

4. Vinnie and Snitzel lead from the top

The 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale catalogue has 65 individual stallions, headed by Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible, who has 44 lots (8.8 per cent of the catalogue) on offer, while four-time Champion Sire Snitzel has 40 yearlings listed (8 per cent of the catalogue).

Widden Stud’s Zoustar has 36 lots catalogued (7.2 per cent), Written Tycoon 31 lots (6.2 per cent), and Coolmore’s Wootton Bassett (GB) has 27 representatives (5.4 per cent).

All up, the progeny of these stallions makes up 35.5 per cent of the catalogue.

The local hand is strong with proven Group 1-producing sires So You Think (NZ), Extreme Choice, Exceed And Excel, Toronado (Ire) and Proisir among those with representation.

Emerging stars such as Justify (USA), Satono Aladdin (NZ) and Harry Angel (Ire) are also represented in this year’s Easter lineup.

5. A big 'Gun' heads up quality international sires

Adding an intriguing element to the sale is Lot 332; Newgate Farm offers the colt and has the unique distinction of being the first ever yearling by the North American sire sensation Gun Runner (USA) to be offered in Australia.

The brilliant Horse of the Year was retired to Three Chimneys, where his first crop produced six Group 1 winners, including Early Voting (USA), who claimed the G1 Preakness S. and Echo Zulu (USA), who was victorious in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Gun Runner has sired 26 individual stakes winners of 63 stakes races.

Commenting on the Gun Runner colt, Hutch said, “Gun Runner looks to be a phenomenon and certainly in the United States. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our market and for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to facilitate the sale of the first Gun Runner in Australia is fantastic.”

Gallery: some of the international domiciled stallions with progeny catalogued in the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

Gun Runner isn’t the only sire bringing an international flavour to Riverside stables; Siyouni (Fr), Kingman (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Frankel and Night Of Thunder (Ire) have stock on offer.

Interestingly, all the above have sired a Group 1 winner in Australasia. Meanwhile, New Bay (GB), a son of Dubawi (Ire), will be represented by Lot 160, a colt on offer from the debut vendor Glenbeigh Farm.

6. An elite selection by emerging sires

Leading First-Season Sire in Australia, Yulong’s Alabama Express, will not be represented by any yearlings, however Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB), who sits second in the current premiership, has six lots catalogued.

The fifth-placed Tassort, who also stands at Newgate Farm and has already been represented by the winner of the G3 Gimcrack S., is represented by one lot, Lot 408, a colt offered by Emirates Park.

Leading second-season sire Trapeze Artist has ample representation, with the G1 Caulfield Guineas-producing sire listed with 10 lots.

The second-placed Justify (USA) - one of the world's most exciting emerging sires, has nine lots on offer, while Darley’s Harry Angel, who holds third place, is represented by one lot, Lot 380, a filly consigned by Sledmere Stud.

Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun, fourth in the premiership, is the most represented second-season stallion with 22 yearlings catalogued.

7. Excitement across first-season sires

Wootton Bassett, the leading freshman sire at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is the most represented stallion of his category at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with 27 lots.

Farnan, who was the second among the debut sires, has 16, followed by Ole Kirk with 10 and Bivouac with eight as the debut sires with most representatives.

Table: First-season sires represented at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale

8. Have last year's leading buyers been active this year?

Yes, all the leading buyers hit the 2024 sale circuit strongly on the Gold Coast.

Yulong finished as the leading buyer at the 2023 Inglis Australian Yearling, buying 23 lots at a gross of $11,685,000. Although active at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Yulong, buying in the name of Highway Farm, had a much more subdued sale, purchasing 13 yearlings for $4,710,000.

China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy signed for six for $5,590,000 and finished second in the leading buyers' tab. The combination was active on the Gold Coast, spending $6,520,000 on 12 yearlings - however this is well down on the 18 purchased at Magic Millions in 2023.

Gallery: A selection of buyers who were active at the 2023 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and have also been active at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Inglis

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock was ninth on the buyers' list in 2023, purchasing six lots for $2,240,000 and had a considerable impact in January, buying 23 lots for a gross of $8,145,000, well up from his 12 yearlings from the Gold Coast in 2023.

Other leading buyers from the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, who figured prominently, were Curran Bloodstock and Tom Magnier.

Curran Bloodstock purchased nine lots from for $3,780,000 in 2023. So far this year they have bought 13 for $4,560,000, two more than in 2023.

Tom Magnier was responsible for signing for three lots at a gross of $3,700,000 and was active at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, purchasing five lots for $5,800,000, two more than the year prior.

9. There's room for those on a budget

Despite the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale often having the ‘bluest of all bluebloods on offer’, there is no shortage of value to be found in the catalogue.

Hutch was keen to emphasise buyers doing their due diligence can find those who slip through the cracks. Hutch’s assertion can be backed up by examples with over 120 yearlings that could have been bought at the sale for $200,000 or less in 2023. Also, past graduates who were purchased for less than $200,000 have succeeded on the racetrack.

Gallery: Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduates who were purchased for less than $200,000

“Traditionally, the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale has been the primary showcase of the best yearlings in Australasia, but it’s not a catalogue exclusive to $500,000-plus yearlings. The very best buying range can come at $200,000 or less.

“Inglis just puts together a catalogue that we feel is the most suitable for the sale. We’re not trying to assemble the most elitist or exclusive catalogue in Australia. Buyers can find value in certain parts of the market, and they do so each and every year. Inglis has no doubt they’ll do it again in 2024.”