News

Fairhill fires on Day 1 of weanling sale

4th May 2022

A filly and colt from Fairhill Farm that sold late on Day 1 capped off a record opening to the Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside.

The day’s top lot was a Pierro x Now Now filly, which sold to Trilogy Racing for $400,000.

Less than an hour earlier, a colt by first season sire Too Darn Hot, ex Majesty – also offered by Fairhill - sold to Peter O’Brien Bloodstock for $320,000.

The late results were a highlight to a frenetic few days for Fairhill’s Mike O’Donnell, who was lost for words after the hammer came down on the Day 1 action.

“It’s been organised chaos,’’ O’Donnell said.

“We did 70 cards today which is phenomenal alone for a sale day but prior to that, we’ve done 2205 individual parades. It’s enormous, massive interest and it’s all thanks to Inglis. It really is.

“It’s been a fantastic couple of days, it was almost embarrassing because we couldn’t cope with the numbers that wanted parades, the demand was just overwhelming. It was as busy as humanely possible, busier actually.’’

Today’s top price of $400,000 came as a surprise to O’Donnell.

“This is our highest selling weanling. We were shocked with that price, to be honest. It was quite extraordinary,’’ he said.

“I didn’t think she’d land there. No way.’’

Sean Dingwall of Trilogy Racing also didn’t expect the price to reach the heights it did but was still willing to secure the filly (pictured).

“We had to go a bit further than we hoped but at the end of the day she was the one we wanted,’’ Dingwall, who was yet to decide whether the filly would be retained to race or re-offered as a yearling next year, said.

“For us, being the number one draft pick, we were happy to pay for her.

“She’s the dearest weanling I’ve bought but I loved her. From a Pierro perspective, I think she’s the best Pierro I’ve seen, she had more strength than a lot of what I see from a Pierro perspective and that gave me a lot of confidence.

“We love the stallion but it is always hard to find the horse that you like by him. She’s already a half sister to a Group 2 winner (Fiesta) and she’s a mare who has only just gone to stud, so there’s upside in the pedigree.’’

The filly was one of nine purchases for Trilogy, which saw them end Day 1 as leading buyer by aggregate ($821,000) as well as individual lots bought.

The day’s second-top lot was a significant result for first season sire Too Darn Hot, whose progeny offered today were the first seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

Peter O’Brien, who purchased the colt, is a big believer in the Darley-based stallion.

“I love the stallion [Too Darn Hot], we’ve got nine foals by him on the farm [Segenhoe] and I think he’s going to be a big chance to make it here in Australia,’’ O’Brien said.

“More importantly, this colt today is a magnificent type, great mover and from a great farm. For us he was a no-brainer.

“This fella will be right up there when he comes back to Segenhoe [with the other foals on the farm], he’s as good a foal as I’ve seen all year.

“At the end of the day we expected he’d make around $300,000, so we had to go a little more but we’re delighted to get him.’’

The Day 1 gross reached $8,650,000 at an average of $50,882 (up 17%) and median of $30,000 (up 25%).

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch described today’s trade as “exceptionally satisfying’’.

“Time and time again today there were weanlings that just soared past the expectations of vendors and it made for an excellent day,’’ Hutch said.

“Some of the prices achieved today were nothing short of extraordinary, which is confirmation that all the right buyers are here and really I just wish we had more really good weanlings here.

“The market knows what it wants and if your weanling doesn’t meet the necessary criteria, the market is unforgiving, but I expect clearance to improve as vendors look to meet the market tomorrow.

“There will be plenty more opportunities tomorrow for buyers and the expectation is for another day of robust trade with plenty of opportunities for buyers to get involved at all levels.’’

To view our Facebook Live review of today’s action, CLICK HERE.

To enquire about a passed in lot from Day 1, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.

The second and final day of the Australian Weanling Sale will begin at 10am tomorrow at Riverside, where 137 weanlings have been catalogued.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

The Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series then continues on Friday with The Chairman’s Sale from 4.30pm, where 100 elite fillies and mares will be offered in what is one of the nights of the year at Riverside.

The action then concludes on Sunday with the Australian Broodmare Sale.

To view The Chairman’s Sale or Australia Broodmare Sale catalogues, CLICK HERE.