News

Capitalist colt tops HTBA Yearling Sale

23rd Apr 2023

A colt by hot young sire Capitalist became the second most expensive yearling to sell at a HTBA Sale, with Darby Racing securing the Kingstar Farm-consigned colt for $280,000.

The first foal from Sebring mare Princess Joy Joy – a sister-in-blood to Criterion – will likely be trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

“We’ve had a good couple of weeks and he was the stand out colt obviously on pedigree and type here today,” Scott Darby said.

“He’s an A1 physical, athletic, just quality and really stood out here.

“You know you get those horses that when they come out and stand, they just go bang, that was this colt, he had great balance.”

Darby Racing’s Mark Holland reflected on the success the team has enjoyed from the HTBA Sale.

“This has been a dream sale for Darby Racing, we love this sale,” Holland said.

“We’ve purchased Stakes winners Time For War ($56,000) and Look to the Stars ($26,000) from here, plus Metro winners True Crime ($25,000), Crazy Train ($3,000), Mr Tickets ($6,500), Star Sensation ($20,000), Wingardium ($35,000).

“We’ve bought six today from $9,000 up to the $280,000 for the Capitalist, a yearling the whole team loved and one we waited literally all day for!” Holland added.

“He is a great shape, good head, athletic walk, the first foal from a Sebring mare that’s related to four individual Stakes performers, he was just an absolute standout for us.”

Kingstar Farm’s Adam Cook was thrilled with the result.

“He is a lovely colt by a very good sire and was entitled to sell very well,” Cook said.

“He was very popular during inspections and while I was a little worried that he was selling at the end of the day, it didn’t make a difference – everyone waited for him!

“That result capped off a good day for Kingstar, we brought 10 here and we’re leaving with a 100% clearance rate.

“Historically this has been a very good sale for us and it has been again today, so we are very pleased and are looking forward to offering our draft at the Inglis Weanling Sale next week."

Today’s second top lot was a Deep Field x Danica colt from Widden Stud, bought by City Gold Bloodstock’s Ben Kwan for $135,000.

“The horse will have a spell first and then we’ll make a decision on the trainer,” Kwan said.

“We are open to both keeping the horse here to race in Australia or he could go to Hong Kong, it will depend on the feedback we receive.

“This is our first time to the HTBA Sale, we saw an opportunity for value.”

Widden Stud offered the equal third top lot – a Supido colt from Northern Glory – bought by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr for $100,000.

“He was a lovely horse, obviously he was meant to head to the Inglis Classic Sale and had a little setback but he certainly blossomed as the stallion has done,” Widden Stud’s Matt Comerford said.

“Supido had a big day yesterday with three winners from four runners – including Fasuta at Mornington – and he had another winner today, so he’s a stallion we’ve got a lot of faith in and this colt will get every chance with the Price Kent stable.”

A Justify filly offered by Coolmore Stud also sold for $100,000 to the bid of Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

“She was actually handpicked by my boss in Hong Kong, he really liked what he saw viewing her parade and she was his pick of the sale,” Hermitage representative Shannon Clarke said.

“We didn’t expect to pay quite that much, the underbidder was quite determined, but my boss likes the Justify's and this filly had a nice demeanour and big engine, plus the mare has done a good job producing six individual winners including two black type performers.

“This is our first HTBA Sale, we were encouraged by results out of this sale in the past and didn’t want to miss out.”

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was pleased with the day, highlighting the demand for quality stock as a significant feature of trade.

“The yearlings that buyers considered to be of real quality were generally very popular and across the day there consistent examples of yearlings realising prices way above and beyond the expectations of vendors,” Hutch said.

“There was a very broad cross section of buyers for the sale and it was great to see the buying bench of local trainers supplemented by interstate and international buyers, especially considering how many options that buyers now have to acquire stock thanks to the ever-growing digital market.

“We are very grateful to the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association and it’s members for their support of the sale and we look forward to developing this sale further in years to come.”

To enquire about a passed in lot from today’s HTBA Yearling Sale, contact Harry Bailey from the Inglis bloodstock team on 0420 997 417.

Buyers’ attention now switches to Inglis Digital for the April (Late) Sale, which is now open for bidding.

The huge catalogue of 669 lots is the biggest in Inglis Digital history and features notable reductions from the likes of Bowness Stud, Arrowfield Stud and Woodpark Stud, as well as significant broodmare and racehorse offerings.

The final countdown of bidding for the April (Late) Sale begins at the earlier time of 10am this coming Wednesday, April 26, to facilitate the larger catalogue.

To view the catalogue, organise credit or participate in the sale CLICK HERE.

Focus then reverts back to Riverside for Inglis’ Breeding Stock Sales Series in the week of May 1-5. It begins with the two-day Australian Weanling Sale on Monday May 1 and Tuesday May 2, for which 447 weanlings have been catalogued.

The jewel in the crown of the elite Southern Hemisphere broodmare sales then takes centre stage with the Chairman’s Sale, to be held on the evening of Thursday May 4.

The Chairman’s catalogue features a myriad of high-class fillies or mares off the track including Montefilia, Icebath, Nimalee, Graceful Girl, Inspirational Girl, Swats That, Electric Girl, Elizabeel, Elusive Express, Pantonario, Jal Lei, Mileva, Get In The Spirit, La Rocque, Joviality, Easifar, Nicci’s Fling, Splendiferous, Tralee Rose, Amasenus, How’s The Serenity, Scorched Earth, Dashing Legend etc.

There are also mares carrying pregnancies to some of the most highly sought-after stallions globally including Frankel, Gun Runner, I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Extreme Choice, Exceed And Excel, Zoustar, So You Think, Capitalist, Pierro, Maurice, Russian Revolution, Wootton Basset, Per Incanto, The Autumn Sun, Farnan and Bivouac, as well as first crop pregnancies for the likes of Home Affairs, Stay Inside, Pinatubo, St Mark’s Basilica, Palace Pier, Wild Ruler and Portland Sky.

Final supplementary entries for the sale will be announced in coming days.

The week of action wraps up with the Australian Broodmare Sale on Friday May 5, which has 156 entries lotted.

To view any of the Breeding Stock Sales Series catalogues, CLICK HERE.

2023 HTBA YEARLING SALE (2022 stats in brackets)

Catalogued: 300 (287)

Sold: 207 (210)

Clearance: 77% (82%)

Average: $21,254 ($25,499)

Median: $12,500 ($17,000)

Gross: $4,399,500 ($5,354,750)