News

2006 Classic Yearling Sale Day 1

11th Feb 2006

The 2006 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale got off to a healthy start at Newmarket on Sunday posting a big leap in average and seven six-figure lots.

The auction gathered momentum throughout the day’s trading to close with 186 lots selling for gross receipts of $7,302,500 and an average of $39,261. At the corresponding session last year 216 yearlings sold for $7,723,955 and an average price of $35,759 - the latter figure representing a ten per cent increase.

“The sale has made a very good start,” said Managing Director Reg Inglis. “There is a lot of competition for the good horses, which sold very well. We are particularly pleased with the Galileo filly making $200,000 and are looking forward to selling again tomorrow.”

The highlight horse of the opening session was lot 162, a filly by the promising young Coolmore sire Galileo out of the Marauding mare Queen’s Suite. She was bought by owner-breeder Dr Edmund Bateman for $200,000 and will head into training with Clarry Connors at Warwick Farm.

“We thought she was a very good sort to race with potential to breed from her afterwards,” said Bateman.

The attractive bay was offered by Fred Peisah’s Lomar Park Stud who has enjoyed countless success selling at Inglis over the past 39 years.

“After so many years I always enjoy the challenge,” he said. “She was outstanding and created a lot of interest which I guess is a vindication of all the work you put in, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a measure - it’s nice for them to go on and win a race.”

Lee Freedman, fresh from Group 1 success at Caulfield on Saturday with Perfect Promise, claimed the $170,000 second top-price of the day for Broadwater Farm’s Danehill Dancer colt, lot 140. Out of the Octagonal mare Portrait the colt is a three-quarter brother in blood to the exciting sprinter Jet Spur.

“I’ve been trying to buy a couple of the nicer colts today and have missed out, so I’m really pleased to get him,” said Freedman afterwards. “He’s a perfect specimen just like Choisir, by the same sire and being from a very fast family he’s a good buy.”

Gai Waterhouse has been a great supporter of the Classic Sale over the years so it was no surprise to see her in action early, securing several new recruits in the first hour’s trading including the first six-figure lot of the day for $135,000.

Her most expensive buy was a good looking Choisir colt for the Star Thoroughbreds syndicate and was sent up by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock as Lot 34. He is out of the Woodman mare La Minita, from the family of prolific stakes-winning mare Mapperley Heights.

Waterhouse was underbidder on Choisir at the 2001 Classic and after signing for the August born colt she was full of praise for the first crop sire saying:

“I think Choisir is the best sprinter Australia has seen for quite some time, he was a Champion two-year-old and three-year-old, then went to Europe and won there too. I think he is perhaps the most attractive first season sire in standing in Australia.”

The sale continues at 10am tomorrow.

TOP TEN LOTS INGLIS CLASSIC YEARLING SALE DAY 1