News

Classic Sale concludes with significant growth

11th Feb 2020

The Classic Yearling Sale ended today with significant increases across the board, not only in Book 1 but the popular Highway Session as well.

Book 1 closed with an average of $87,833 - a 16% year-on-year increase – while the Highway Session’s healthy average of $38,178 was a 51% jump on the inaugural session of 2019.

All told, 168 horses across the catalogue realised $100,000 or more, up from 150 in 2019, despite over 200 less horses being catalogued for the sale.

The final 73 lots of the main book kick-started Day 3 with lot 563 topping the day, a Deep Field x Wind Shift colt from Canning Downs Stud selling to Regal Farm Partnership/Upper Bloodstock/Teng Long and McKeever Bloodstock for $230,000.

The colt (pictured) will likely be pinhooked back through the Inglis Ready2Race Sale at Riverside in October.

Shane Crawford of Regal Farm revealed the partnership of mates came together during the week as the desire to land a Deep Field colt grew.

“Deep Field is definitely a sire on the move, I’ve looked at a few and I am happy to finally get one. It hasn’t been easy,” Crawford said.

“He has a good scope, clean x-rays, so he ticked all those boxes. He looks like a real runner as he is a really nice mover.

“We weren’t confident of being able to get him, but we were hopeful, and we went quite hard on the horse. We went a little bit over budget.”

It ended an outstanding sale for the Newgate Farm-based stallion Deep Field, who not only provided the overall sale topper but was the leading sire by aggregate with $2,832,000 worth of his progeny selling in Book 1.

The leading sire by average was Arrowfield’s Not A Single Doubt at $206,250 while Coolmore’s American Pharoah led the First Season Sires by average at $151,000.

Leading vendor by average was Mike O’Donnell’s Fairhill Farm ($170,667), while Yarraman Park Stud was on top of the aggregate list at $2,425,500, selling all 22 of their yearlings offered.

The buyer market was extremely well diversified with major buyers including Ciaron Maher Racing and partners, Darby Racing and partners, Matthew Smith Racing and partners and John Foote and partners.

The broad buying bench came from all over Australia as well as China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States of America.

The Highway Session, which followed Book 1, was again an overwhelming success in just its second year.

The session was topped by a Scissor Kick x Phaedra colt from Arrowfield (lot 727), selling to John Foote for $160,000.

“He’ll go to Hong Kong,’’ Foote said.

“I bought his half brother a few years ago and he went to Hong Kong and has done well and this colt is a really nice horse.

“I’ve purchased over 20 horses this week, a lot more than I thought I would, quite a few for Hong Kong and the rest for people in Melbourne and Brisbane.’’

The Highway Session was also a huge result for Kitchwin Hills’ First Season Sire Sooboog, topping both the leading sire by average (for 3 or more sold) and aggregate stats.

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was thrilled with the Classic sale overall, especially considering the at-times extraordinary weather clients faced.

“It has been an extremely challenging week for a lot of our clients and I thank them for their patience and dedication to getting the job done,’’ Webster said.

“The yearling handlers and the leaders and stud staff especially have shown incredible horsemanship this past week.

“The sale has been extremely well supported by local and international buyers, many of whom bought a significant number of yearlings and as always most of the major syndicators such as Star Thoroughbreds, Darby Racing and Triple Crown have been very active.

“Yarraman, Arrowfield, Newgate and Newhaven all grossed in excess of $2m in Book 1 which is a fantastic result for them and special mention to Torryburn for topping the sale with their Deep Field x Raheights colt.

“When reviewing the results of the Classic Sale it is worth reflecting on its rapid growth over the past five years. In 2015 this sale grossed just $19m and a $41,000 average; the gross is more than double that now ($47m), as has the average at $88,000 for Book 1.’’

To enquire about any Passed In lot from this year’s Classic Yearling Sale, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.

To view our Day 3 Facebook Live wrap, CLICK HERE.

Buyers’ attention now moves to Inglis Digital, where a catalogue of 168 is currently selling in the February (Early) Online Sale.

The Final Countdown of lots begins at 3pm tomorrow, Wednesday February 12.

To register for bidding, to view the catalogue or to bid, CLICK HERE.

The focus then switches to Oaklands Junction in Melbourne for the Premier Yearling Sale on March 1-3, for which 784 yearlings have been catalogued.

On-site inspections begin Tuesday February 25.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2020 CLASSIC YEARLING SALE STATISTICS - BOOK 1 (2019 figures in brackets)

Lots catalogued: 613 (808)

Lots Sold: 473 (599)

Clearance Rate: 85% (83%)

Average Price: $87,833 ($75,782)

Median Price: $75,000 ($52,500)

Top Price: $380,000 ($550,000)

Gross: $41,650,500 ($45,393,250)

HIGHWAY SESSION

Lots catalogued: 195 (205)

Lots Sold: 132 (144)

Clearance Rate: 75% (85%)

Average Price: $38,178 ($25,264)

Median Price: $30,000 ($22,000)

Top Price: $160,000 ($85,000)

Gross: $5,039,500 ($3,638,000)