News

Curtain falls on 'Best Premier Ever'

1st Mar 2022

It’s official – the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale of 2022 has been the best ever.

The most buoyant renewal of the sale today concluded with significant growth in all key aspects as the unprecedented demand for quality bloodstock continued a record-setting Inglis Sales Season.

On a spectacular three days at Oaklands:

*The overall Premier Sale gross of $85,313,000 surged 20% on the then record-breaking 2021 figures, despite less horses being catalogued

*The Book 1 average of $158,094 was a 13% increase of a year ago while the median of $140,000 was a spectacular 33% jump, all at a fabulous and ever-increasing clearance rate of 90%

*In an undeniable show of middle-market strength, 150 horses sold for $200,000 or more - a stunning 72% year-on-year increase - while 47 sold for $300,000 or more, up 27% from the 37 last year

*Widden Stud – who only expanded into Victoria 12 months ago – ended Book 1 as leading vendor by aggregate, grossing $5,322,500, ahead of Blue Gum Farm who sold all 25 of their offerings for a combined $4,790,000. Leading vendor by average was Gilgai Farm who enjoyed a 100% clearance rate from their eight yearlings which sold at an average of $317,500

*The results for the sale feature over 360 individual listed buyers, with leading Book 1 buyers led by Ciaron Maher Racing, Mick Price/Michael Kent Jr, Clinton McDonald, Lindsay Park and Legend Racing

*The Showcase Session set its own new benchmarks, with a record gross ($8,163,000) and new record top price ($270,000).

The Day 3 top lot honours were shared between a Nicconi x Clearwater Bay colt (lot 430) of Maluka Thoroughbreds (purchased by Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy) and lot 572, a Zoustar x Honey Rider colt that Craig Rounsefell bought on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the Widden draft.

Both colts realised $340,000.

“That was a great result,’’ Maluka’s Luke Anderson said.

“He's just one of those beautiful bombproof colts that dealt with everything so well. His full brother (Lankan Star) did a great job as an early two-year-old, running a place in the Blue Diamond, so you match that up and the cross works.’’

For Rounsefell, the Honey Rider colt (pictured) was just one he “really wanted to take home’’.

“He’s a beautiful colt, really well balanced. He was high on the hit-list,’’ Rounsefell said.

“Premier always has high quality horses here… good horses come out of this sale, particularly into Hong Kong. There’s been a lot of people here, it hasn’t been easy to buy but I’m really happy with what I’ve been able to buy.’’

The result capped off a fruitful three days for Widden, who not only sold the overall top lot of the sale (an I Am Invincible x Fine Bubbles colt for $950,000) but also ended as Book 1 leading vendor.

“It’s a great honour to be leading vendor. We did have a large draft of horses and while it’s not something we specifically target, it’s definitely a great thrill for the farm and for the staff who have done a lot of hard work to get these yearlings here in the way that they have,’’ Widden’s Antony Thompson said.

“The job that the Inglis team has done assembling a buying bench of the highest order has been fantastic. They’ve really upped the ante with the vibe and the feel of the Oaklands complex, it’s been a lot of fun.

“There were so many people here, particularly on Sunday, and a lot of new faces which is always exciting to see.

“The atmosphere was great, it was a great vibe, the Sunday session here is exactly that and I’ve never given away as many Coronas at a sales complex as I did here on Sunday. It had that real buzz to it, people were having beers with their mates and taking shares in any horses the trainers had bought. It gives everybody confidence.’’

Today’s Showcase Session continued along the same upward trend as the Premier Session.

The top lot of $270,000 – a Preferment x Sea Spray colt from Rushton Park that Clinton McDonald purchased – set a new benchmark for an individual price for the session and is also the highest-priced yearling ever sold by the sire.

Other overall stats were also well increased – the average of $51,340 was up 11% while the gross of $8,163,000 was an 8% year-on-year rise.

Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price described the past three days at Oaklands as “exceptional’’.

“While setting new fiscal benchmarks is fantastic, what really stood out for me was the amount of and variety of buyers who were able to take horses home with them and the amount of vendors who enjoyed a 100% clearance rate or very close to,’’ Price said.

“We’re so grateful to the breeders and vendors who have again supported this sale and I’m very proud of the time and effort the staff at Inglis put into the sale to ensure it was the success that it was.

“For Premier to increase 26% last year and then back that up with a further 20% this year is really quite extraordinary and we can’t wait to do it all again next year.’’

To enquire about any passed in lot from this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, contact Will Stott on 0408 126 952.

To view our Day 3 Review Show from our Sale Day Live broadcast, CLICK HERE.

Buyers’ attention now moves to Inglis Digital, with the March (Early) Online Auction open for entries.

Entries close next Wednesday, March 9 at midnight, with the sale running from Friday March 11-Wednesday March 16.

To enter, CLICK HERE.

The focus then firmly centres on Riverside for the jewel in the crown of the Southern Hemisphere yearling sales season, the Easter Yearling Sale on April 5 and 6.

On-site inspections begin at Riverside from Wednesday March 30.

To view the Easter catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2022 PREMIER YEARLING SALE STATISTICS - BOOK 1 (2021 figures in brackets)

Lots Sold: 488 (456)

Clearance Rate: 90% (87%)

Average Price: $158,094 ($139,803)

Median Price: $140,000 ($105,000)

Top Price: $950,000 ($1,100,000)

Gross: $77,150,000 ($63,750,000)

SHOWCASE SESSION

Lots Sold: 159 (163)

Clearance Rate: 85% (84%)

Average Price: $51,340 ($46,273)

Median Price: $40,000 ($40,000)

Top Price: $270,000 ($175,000)

Gross: $8,163,000 ($7,542,500)