News

$3 MILLION COLT 'ROCKS' DAY TWO

10th Apr 2007

The William Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale’s bountiful run continued at Newmarket tonight with 71 lots sold for a gross of $25,225,000 and an average of $355,282, an increase again on last year. By the close of tonight’s second session, 244 yearlings had been sold overall, grossing $75,580,000 and averaging $309,754 up 10% on last year’s figure.

The highlight of the sale so far is the record-equalling $3 million colt, Lot 270, the Rock Of Gibraltar three quarter brother to multiple Group One winner, Holy Roman Emperor. The winning nod came from the typically effervescent Gai Waterhouse who didn’t falter, bidding confidently to secure the “best stallion’s pedigree” in the catalogue: “This colt has such an incredible presence and has ‘stallion’ written all over him. Being a grandson of Danehill and by Rock of Gibraltar who is the best second crop sire in the southern hemisphere, I look forward to him joining my team. After all, Rock of Gibraltar had the favourite for the Golden Slipper (Murtajill) and he quinellaed today’s Keith Mackay Quality-LR at Randwick .

Easter is, indeed, proving to be the ideal ‘nursery’ for producing stallion potential with Exceed And Excel, Reset and Elvstroem all sold or syndicated to stud at a combined value of more than $50 million. In fact, this trio were all graduates of the 2002 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale: a year where the cumulative sales gross for colts came to approximately $37 million. Other ‘studs’ who graduated from the William Inglis sales ring were Lucky Owners (by Danehill), Reset (by Zabeel), Thorn Park (by Spinning World), Choisir (by Danehill Dancer), God’s Own (by Redoute’s Choice) and Bel Esprit (by Royal Academy) who, between them and the other trio, have a combined value of well over $100 million.

Other highlights of the evening included Lot 271 a colt by Redoute’s Choice and full brother to two stakes winners, which was eventually knocked down to Renata Coleman. A fine judge who has earlier tasted Group One success in Australia as part owner of Golden Slipper winner and champion sire Flying Spur, AJC Oaks winner, Kenbelle and Australian Guineas winner, Baryshnikov.

“There is nothing to quite match the atmosphere of Easter’s night session and it was standing room only throughout the auditorium,” William Inglis Acting Managing Director, Jamie Inglis enthused.

“While it’s very exciting to see $3 million yearlings being sold, it is equally important that the crowd, many new faces among them, understand that there is plenty of value at the other end of the scale. During the past two days we have sold 52 yearlings for $100,000 or less and it’s worth remembering that many of our Easter graduates have raced at the elite level without a price tag to match.

“William Inglis sale graduates won 23 Group One races last season and the majority of them being sold at Easter. Bearing in mind that three of the Group One winners from this season - Red Dazzler, Mentality and Teranaba were all sold at Easter for $100,000 or less, while 4-time Group One winner, Racing To Win, was knocked down for just $40,000 and has subsequently won over $2.8 million.”

The third session of the 2007 William Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale commences tomorrow at 10.30am.