News

Another memorable day as Classic continues on upward spiral

8th Feb 2021

“I’m completely in shock, it’s just an incredible result. That’s life changing for us. It literally is life changing.’’

With these words, Scone-based vet and breeder Richard McClenahan summed up another extraordinary day of trade at Riverside as the 2021 Classic Yearling Sale continued to surge.

McClenahan and his partner Kim had just sold the day’s top lot – and the sale’s overall top lot which became the new Classic record at $625,000 – their Capitalist x Theatric colt (lot 374), under the Kitchwin Hills banner, to George Moore Bloodstock and Team Moore Racing.

McClenahan moved to Scone from Ireland a decade ago and “never in my wildest dreams’’ did he think he would experience a pay day like today.

“He’s always been an outstanding colt from the day he was born but this result, wow. Sorry, I’m just speechless, I can’t believe this has really happened. It’s unbelievable,’’ he said, fighting back tears.

“We bought the mare off Damon Gabbedy because I liked the family and know it well through Kitchwin Hills and we bred her to Capitalist.

“It’s been a really strong week, it’s a really strong sale, plenty of buyers here, we’ve sold a few others really well too so we’re delighted. And staggered!’’

The $625,000 made the colt (pictured) the most expensive yearling ever purchased at a Classic Sale, topping yesterday’s $600,000 for another Capitalist colt.

Kitchwin’s Mick Malone described the current Classic Sale as “a perfect storm’’ for those with the right product, like McClenahan.

“With a Capitalist winning the Millennium on Saturday and other good early horses he’s throwing, everybody wants a piece of him,’’ Malone said.

“There’s been huge interest all week with this bloke, he’s just been flat out. There’s just something special about him.

“We’ve been busy as hell. It’s a real ‘type’ sale now, if you’ve got the right product, they’ll launch in the buyers. They’ll even overlook the pedigree a bit.

“It’s not about the pedigree here, it’s about the type. If you’ve got a type with good X-Rays, good scope, you’re away. We’re rapt. Everyone’s winning here.’’

Day 2 ended with a sale average of $103,959 – an increase of 16% from the same stage last year – while the gross of just shy of $44,000,000 is up 21% year-on-year.

Most pleasingly, the clearance rate sits at 89%.

A total of 183 horses have so far sold for $100,000 or more – up from 137 at the same point in 2020 – while 40 have realised $200,000 or more, a 43% increase from the 28 horses after Day 2 last year.

Newgate Farm produced the day’s second and third-top lot, a Zoustar x Blazing Snitzel colt (lot 492) for $425,000 and a Capitalist x Tricky Zippy filly (lot 396) for $380,000.

It continued a phenomenal sale for Newgate, whose young stallion Capitalist continues to lead the way with all 15 offered, selling, for a combined $3,390,000, making him the No.1 stallion so far.

Newgate’s Jim Carey relished the successful opening two days.

“It’s been fantastic, Inglis has done a fantastic job, they brought up a huge crowd to the farm a couple of weeks ago and of that crowd, a lot of them have bought our horses here so that’s important and we’re very grateful to the Inglis team,’’ Carey said.

“And Capitalist, so the market should want him. He’s everything the Australian marketplace craves in a stallion.’’

On the Tricky Zippy filly – which Woodpark Stud purchased – Carey added: “She’s a quality, mature filly, everything you’d hope to get when you breed a mare of that quality to Capitalist.

“Hopefully she’ll be back here in the Millennium next year so we can win it again with a Capitalist, just as Profiteer did.’’

Newgate teamed up with China Horse Club to purchase the Blazing Snitzel colt who was offered on behalf of breeders Greg and Donna Kolivos.

The Kolivos’ have sold four horses at Classic the past two days and has been delighted with all four results, especially the Blazing Snitzel.

“We thought he’d come here and sell well, the inspections were beyond what we thought they would be which we figured would set it up for a positive sale but even saying that, to get that type of result, it’s well above our expectations,’’ Greg Kolivos said.

“We couldn’t be happier. It’s a terrific sale, very positive vibe all round and as a vendor, you can’t ask for more than that. The right people are here – full credit to Inglis to make that the case, as well as the huge online participation. All the trainers, all the agents, the syndicators, everyone you could hope for is here.’’

Woodside Park’s Written Tycoon x Ariaz filly (lot 461) equalled the Tricky Zippy filly as the most expensive at the sale to date at $380,000, selling to James Harron Bloodstock/Freedman Brothers.

It capped a great sale for Victoria’s Woodside Park, who sold all four of their offerings at an average of $220,000 – making them leading vendor by average (for three or more sold) at this stage.

“We’re absolutely stoked. We brought four horses here and the aim was to be in the top five vendors on average and at the moment we’re sitting top so if we finish there we’d be absolutely delighted,’’ Woodside’s James Price said.

“$380,000 is a lot more than we could have hoped for this filly. It’s amazing.’’

Lots 541-803 have been catalogued for Day 3 of the sale, which begins at 10am tomorrow at Riverside Stables.

The first 79 lots conclude Book 1 before the Highway Session begins at lot 620.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Day 3 action will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website, the Sky Racing Active app and on Sky 2 via our Sale Day Live broadcast.

Online Bidding and Make An Offer services will again be available.

To enquire on a passed in lot from the opening two days of the sale, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.

To view all statistics from the Classic Sale to date, CLICK HERE.

STATISTICS (last year in brackets)

Lots sold: 423 (408)

Clearance Rate: 89% (82%)

Average Price: $103,959 ($89,339)

Median Price: $80,000 ($75,000)

Top Price: $625,000 ($380,000)

Gross: $43,974,500 ($36,450,500)