Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
Day 1 of the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale saw 187 of the 280 lots offered sold, recording a clearance of 74 per cent. Currently, the passed-in rate sits at 26 per cent. The figure is slightly below Day 1 of the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where 206 of the 270 lots sold at a clearance rate of 85 per cent (final figure for Day 1) and a passed-in rate of 15 per cent.
Day 1's gross amount of $26,124,000 was below the 2023 Day 1 figure of $28,215,000.
The 2024 Day 1 average recorded is $139,701, with a median of $105,000. This figure is higher than last year's average and median figures of $136,966 and $100,000, respectively.
Lot 167, a filly by Snitzel from Charleston Dancer (Lonhro), achieved the top price of $650,000, selling to Moody Racing. The top price is below last year's Day 1 top price of $1.1 million for Lot 159, a filly by I Am Invincible out of Special Lover (Pins) purchased by TFI.
#1. Day 1 market steady on comparisons to 2023
On Sunday evening the clearance rate was at 74 per cent – slightly down on the 76 per cent at the same time on day one of 2023.
The average was $139,700 (from $142,500), median $105,000 ($110,000) and the gross $26.12 million ($28.215 million).
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said his immediate impression at the close of the day was “certainly ahead” of what his expectations had been from the start of the day.
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We expected demand for the popular horses to be strong but certainly felt like it was exceptionally strong on the popular horses,” he said.
“It’s been a selective market all year and the expectation was it would likely be more pronounced here.
“Most vendors will walk away from the day and reflect on the results and think things were better on the horses they expected to do well and as challenging as they thought it would be with the others.
“Most vendors will walk away from the day and reflect on the results and think things were better on the horses they expected to do well and as challenging as they thought it would be with the others.” - Sebastian Hutch
“I’m very comfortable that this is a true and fair market. There’s a lot of people looking to buy horses. There’s also a lot of people who didn’t buy horses; they were too dear on the ones they wanted to buy.
“You never go to a sale and say you have enough buyers. You always want more buyers, but there’s good Hong Kong interest, there’s good local involvement, there’s good interstate involvement.
“It’s just the reality of the market (that the buying bench has become more selective). I’m pleased to sell horses the way we have today.”
| 167 | Filly | Snitzel | Charleston Dancer | Blue Gum Farm | Moody Racing Pty Ltd, VIC | $650,000 |
| 2 | Colt | Written Tycoon | Talented | Yulong | Moody Racing Pty Ltd, VIC | $525,000 |
| 263 | Colt | Zoustar | Grasslands | The Chase | TFI / Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds, NSW | $500,000 |
| 226 | Colt | Written Tycoon | Everyday Lady | Rosemont Stud | McEvoy Racing / Belmont Bloodstock / YPL Racing, VIC | $480,000 |
| 140 | Colt | Zoustar | Bidii Babe | Yarraman Park Stud | Hong Kong Jockey Club, HONG KONG | $460,000 |
| 160 | Filly | Justify | Cavaco | Twin Hills Stud | Clinton McDonald Racing / S McGrath, VIC | $460,000 |
| 95 | Filly | Toronado | Alexana | Blue Gum Farm | SV Brown Racing, VIC | $420,000 |
| 98 | Colt | Toronado | Allez Sur le Gris | Crossley Thoroughbreds | Upper Bloodstock Pty Ltd, HONG KONG | $380,000 |
| 13 | Colt | All Too Hard | The Bride | Vinery Stud | R Yiu, HONG KONG | $360,000 |
| 34 | Filly | Ole Kirk | Tune Doubt | Gilgai Farm | Clinton McDonald Racing / S McGrath, VIC | $360,000 |
Table: Day 1's top 10 lots
#2. Moody comes in strong
Peter Moody set the benchmark for the top of the market, securing the top two horses of the day, headed by $650,000 for Blue Gum Farm’s Snitzel-Charleston Dancer (Lonhro) filly, a half-sister to Moody’s Group 3 winner She Dances (Street Boss {USA}).
Blue Gum Farm’s owner/principal Sean Dingwall said the sale justified the decision of the farm to hold the filly back from a sale earlier in the year and was above the mark they expected.
“We had two lovely Snitzel fillies we held back. There was a bit of consternation early days when we sent a draft for the first time to the Gold Coast,” he said.
Lot 167 - Snitzel x Charleston Dancer (filly) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We always had enough stock and we brought two lovely Snitzel fillies here (to Premier). The other one is in (Monday) and they are both going to sell really well because they are outstanding horses.
“It just goes to show the market is strong enough if you’ve got the right product.
“We’ve been very fortunate and sold everything. At the end of the day, the farm has a great record, it’s running 20 per cent stakes horses to sale horses so people are happy to buy off us. They know the farm is successful, so that’s great.”
“We’ve been very fortunate and sold everything. At the end of the day, the farm has a great record, it’s running 20 per cent stakes horses to sale horses so people are happy to buy off us. They know the farm is successful, so that’s great.” - Sean Dingwall
Earlier Moody Racing went to $525,000 on Lot 2, a Written Tycoon-Talented (Snitzel) colt from the massive Yulong draft.
“He’s a lovely colt, typical of the Written Tycoons,” Moody said. “I would have loved to pay half that … the one thing I know about horse sales is they don’t get cheaper, they usually get dearer.”
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Inglis
#3. Strong start for Yulong
Yulong was predictably high on the leaderboard of both vendor and buyers at the end of the opening session.
“We’ve been pleased with our sale,” Yulong General Manager Vin Cox said.
Jemma Cutting and Vin Cox | Image courtesy of Inglis
“When you have a sale as big as ours, there’s some good, some bad, and some indifferent. You get a mixed bag and that’s what you get.
“The sale is okay. It’s been pretty solid right through.”
#4. Diamonds are McGrath and McDonald’s best friend
Thanks to flying filly Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Jpn}) and straight specialist Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner), Clint McDonald and Shane McGrath are enjoying a terrific season and at the opening day of this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale the pair looked to solidify the recent success with some key purchases.
McDonald and McGrath co-signed for three yearlings, headed by Twin Hills’ Justify (USA) filly from the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Cavaco for $460,000.
The filly’s third dam is the G1 Blue Diamond winner Midnight Fever (Luskin Star).
Earlier they secured Gilgai Farm’s Ole Kirk-Tune Doubt (Not A Single Doubt) filly for $360,000 and a Too Darn Hot (GB)-Zetelana (Toronado {Ire}) filly for $90,000 out of the Yulong draft.
Gallery: Yearlings purchased by Clinton McDonald Racing and Shane McGrath on Day 1, images courtesy of Inglis
“It’s been a really good sale, we feel we’ve bought the two best fillies in the sale – the Ole Kirk (Lot 34, ex Tune Doubt for $360,000) and (the Justify filly) and they are both sold and it’s a great result,” McDonald said.
“We don’t come here with a number, we come here to buy the horses we like and if we feel we can get them done, we will buy them.
“We don’t come here (Inglis Premier Yearling Sale) with a number, we come here to buy the horses we like and if we feel we can get them done, we will buy them.” - Clinton McDonald
“We normally walk away from 10 to 15 at this sale. It’s a sale we’ve had so much luck with. We bought Weekend Hussler here for $80,000, we bought Diamond Effort here for $100,000, Second Effort came out of here as well.
“We’ve had so much luck at this sale buying horses for not big money. It’s proven pound for pound some of the best horses in the land have come out of here.”
“We’ve had so much luck at this sale (Inglis Premier Yearling Sale) buying horses for not big money. It’s proven pound for pound some of the best horses in the land have come out of here.” - Clinton McDonald
McGrath noted he and McDonald had been “friends for 25 years” but their professional association has been enhanced over the past 18 months due to a tried horse he placed in the McDonald yard.
“I suppose the resurgence of the partnership was Star Patrol,” McGrath said.
Star Patrol | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We weren’t having a lot of luck with (Star Patrol) and I always wanted to send (McDonald) a project horse and I rang him and said this is a horse we’re pretty sure can gallop, but you do what you need to do with him.”
“There’s not much between being a genius and a mug in this game is there? Winners are grinners and losers can please themselves. We’re just fortunate they’ve had a terrific ride with Star Patrol and that sort of led into Hayasugi,” enthused McDonald.
“There’s not much between being a genius and a mug in this game is there? Winners are grinners and losers can please themselves.” - Clinton McDonald
McGrath spotted Hayasugi as a yearling and described her “as an absolute beauty” before putting together an all-female ownership team.
Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath pose for photos after Hayasugi's victory in the G1 Blue Diamond S. in February | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Daughter Ali was a key figure in making McDonald go an extra yard to secure the Justify filly on Sunday, telling her dad “I love her” when he looked like being beaten by the Gai Waterhouse team.
“I had to go again because my daughter said she loved her. I was just looking for any sign,” he said.
It was worth going the extra bid. McDonald said he had the filly sold within 15 minutes of the hammer falling.
#5. Maiden voyage a successful one for new vendor
As far as first days as a vendor go, Mitch Pearce’s Crossley Thoroughbreds had a dream start at the Oaklands complex on Sunday.
With their first ever Inglis Premier draft, Crossley had five through the ring and all five sold, including two lots by Toronado (Ire) that were among the highest sellers of the day.
The bay filly from Algadon Miss (Equiano {Fr}) - Lot 96 - sold to Matt Laurie Racing and Wilannah Park Bloodstock for $340,000, before two lots later, the grey colt from the Puissance De Lune (Ire) mare Allez Sur Le Gris was knocked down to Hong Kong’s Upper Bloodstock for $380,000.
A Toronado colt from Dowager Princess (NZ) sold later in the session for $200,000 as Lot 211, while a Written By colt - Lot 47 - made $120,000 and Loy 56, a Hellbent filly, for $80,000 to give the farm a clean sheet on the opening day.
“We sold five lots and we’re rapt with the results. I’ve had really good support and had a good product to sell, which makes my life a lot easier,” Pearce said.
“We sold five lots and we’re rapt with the results. I’ve had really good support and had a good product to sell...” - Mitch Pearce
“We’re really ecstatic. We couldn’t have done it without the staff and everyone back at home. It just shows what we do at home works in the sales ring.
“This is our first draft here at Melbourne Premier and it’s pretty exciting.”
Crossley is located at the farm formerly known as Chatswood Stud.
Gallery: Yearlings sold by Crossley Thoroughbreds on Day 1, images courtesy of Inglis
“It wasn’t getting used and we took over the lease on December 1 (last year),” he said. “The name Crossley is a family name that’s been passed down.
“I thought it was a nice catchy name and I wanted to dedicate something to my dad (Martin), because I wouldn’t be where I am without his support.
“He got me into horses and I thought it was a good name.
“Dad does all the bookwork for me and makes my life a lot easier. His background is in finance and that allows me to concentrate on the horses.”
Crossley has a Brazen Beau colt to sell on Monday and then 10 catalogued for Tuesday’s Showcase session.
Lot 504 - Brazen Beau x Savsenga (colt) will be offered on Day 2 (Monday) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pearce said the transition to his own business had been made possible by strong support from the local industry.
“I had great support pretty quickly. Swettenham Stud sent me six horses and Inglis were really good in pointing a few breeders my way,” he said.
“I had great support pretty quickly. Swettenham Stud sent me six horses and Inglis were really good in pointing a few breeders my way.” - Mitch Pearce
Swettenham Stud’s Adam Sangster said it was terrific to see young people like Pearce making their way and being successful in the industry.
“We need young people to be successful and we’re delighted to be able to support up-and-coming vendors,” Sangster said.
#6. Lindsay Park active early
Lindsay Park was up and about early on Day 1 of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, securing four yearlings in the first 56 lots.
“We think we’ve bought great value today and we’re filling what certain clients are looking for. They all have a different angle and a different clientele they will suit,” Lindsay Park Bloodstock Manager Josh Rix said.
Lindsay Park bought 14 youngsters on the Gold Coast in January and Rix said there was no intention to be that busy in Melbourne, but anywhere up to eight horses during the sale would be a good result for the stable.
“The market is a little sticky at the moment,” he said. “We weren’t here to be bullish, we didn’t come with a number we had to have. It was just to try and get our hands on some nice horses for the stable and so far we’ve been thrilled with the value we’ve got.”
The first purchase was Lot 22, a colt from the first crop of Fierce Impact (Jpn) from the Galileo (Ire) mare Tinga (Ire) for $310,000 from the draft of Newhaven Park.
“We look for athletic animals, he’s a really good mover and we know the family and know they’re quality horses, so we were thrilled to get our hands on him.”
Then in a short stretch Lots 50, 53 and 56 fell the way of the Hayes family operation.
Gallery: Yearlings purchased by Lindsay Park Racing on Day 1, images courtesy of Inglis
Lot 50, Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic-Vinni Rose (I Am Invincible) filly was secured for $150,000 before Lot 53 made $160,000 from the draft of Tarcoola Stud.
“We’ve got a half-sister to a Group 1 winner by Brazen Beau, who we had a great stakes winning filly (Bold Bastille) at Flemington yesterday by. We picked her up for $160,000 so that was like a gift we thought,” Rix said.
“And the Hanseatic filly. He’s a first-season sire, Rosemont, Victorian Stud, it’s great to be able to support them and get our hands on a yearling by one of their stallions.
Josh Rix and Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of Inglis
“It’s out of a Vinnie mare. I Am Invincible mares put a lot of strength and quality in. We really like her and she will end up being a girls’ horse, we will syndicate her.”
Lot 56 was purchased in conjunction with Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) for $80,000 being a Hellbent filly from the Artie Schiller (USA) mare Voyant from the draft of Crossley Thoroughbreds.
“It’s a good price range ($80,000) that’s affordable for people at the moment with the way the economy is. We’re trying to look for some value out there.”
Day 2 of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale kicks off at 10am AEDT on Monday with Lots 281 to 560.
Top buyers
| Moody Racing Pty Ltd | VIC | 3 | $1,375,000 | $458,333 | $650,000 | $525,000 |
| Clinton McDonald Racing / S McGrath | VIC | 3 | $910,000 | $303,333 | $460,000 | $360,000 |
| Busuttin Racing Pty Ltd | VIC | 6 | $870,000 | $145,000 | $250,000 | $135,000 |
| MG Price Racing and Breeding Pty Ltd | VIC | 4 | $850,000 | $212,500 | $300,000 | $190,000 |
| Lindsay Park Racing | VIC | 5 | $805,000 | $161,000 | $310,000 | $150,000 |
| Matt Laurie Racing / Wilannah Park Bloodstock | VIC | 2 | $640,000 | $320,000 | $340,000 | $320,000 |
| R Yiu | HONG KONG | 2 | $620,000 | $310,000 | $360,000 | $310,000 |
| Winning Stud / Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) | JAPAN | 2 | $540,000 | $270,000 | $320,000 | $270,000 |
| TFI / Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | NSW | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| David Ellis CNZM Te Akau Australia | NEW ZEALAND | 3 | $480,000 | $160,000 | $280,000 | $120,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Yulong, Nagambie | 21 | $3,233,000 | $153,952 | $525,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 8 | $2,035,000 | $254,375 | $480,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 9 | $2,020,000 | $224,444 | $650,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $1,260,000 | $252,000 | $460,000 |
| Crossley Thoroughbreds, Seymour | 5 | $1,120,000 | $224,000 | $380,000 |
| Widden Stud, Riddells Creek | 12 | $1,111,000 | $92,583 | $250,000 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | 7 | $960,000 | $137,143 | $360,000 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 7 | $945,000 | $135,000 | $310,000 |
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra, NSW | 3 | $800,000 | $266,667 | $460,000 |
| Gilgai Farm, Nagambie | 4 | $720,000 | $180,000 | $360,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra, NSW | 3 | $800,000 | $266,667 | $460,000 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 8 | $2,035,000 | $254,375 | $480,000 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 5 | $1,260,000 | $252,000 | $460,000 |
| Springmount, Romsey | 2 | $480,000 | $240,000 | $260,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 9 | $2,020,000 | $224,444 | $650,000 |
| Crossley Thoroughbreds, Seymour | 5 | $1,120,000 | $224,000 | $380,000 |
| Kia Ora Stud, Scone, NSW | 3 | $590,000 | $196,667 | $250,000 |
| Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 3 | $570,000 | $190,000 | $300,000 |
| Gilgai Farm, Nagambie | 4 | $720,000 | $180,000 | $360,000 |
| Sullivan Bloodstock, Kialla East | 3 | $525,000 | $175,000 | $260,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Written Tycoon | 12 | $2,395,000 | $199,583 | $525,000 |
| Toronado | 8 | $1,915,000 | $239,375 | $420,000 |
| Zoustar | 6 | $1,800,000 | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| Snitzel | 5 | $1,290,000 | $258,000 | $650,000 |
| Alabama Express | 8 | $1,255,000 | $156,875 | $250,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 4 | $1,080,000 | $270,000 | $300,000 |
| Justify | 3 | $800,000 | $266,667 | $460,000 |
| Farnan | 4 | $760,000 | $190,000 | $250,000 |
| Shamus Award | 6 | $700,000 | $116,667 | $200,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $670,000 | $223,333 | $280,000 |
Sires by average (3 or more sold)
| Zoustar | 6 | $1,800,000 | $300,000 | $500,000 |
| I Am Invincible | 4 | $1,080,000 | $270,000 | $300,000 |
| Justify | 3 | $800,000 | $266,667 | $460,000 |
| Snitzel | 5 | $1,290,000 | $258,000 | $650,000 |
| Toronado | 8 | $1,915,000 | $239,375 | $420,000 |
| Capitalist | 3 | $670,000 | $223,333 | $280,000 |
| Written Tycoon | 12 | $2,395,000 | $199,583 | $525,000 |
| Farnan | 4 | $760,000 | $190,000 | $250,000 |
| Ghaiyyath | 3 | $510,000 | $170,000 | $200,000 |
| Fierce Impact | 3 | $480,000 | $160,000 | $310,000 |
