News

Fillies steal the limelight in Classic opener

9th Feb 2019

Fillies dominated the opening night of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, featuring in five of the top six lots at Riverside Stables.

On a night where six lots sold for $300,000 or more – up one from the same time last year – the sale average closed at $110,766.

The Gold Riband session was again a big hit with buyers, averaging $150,581.

Of the top 10 lots of the night only Yarraman Park featured on the vendor list twice, the others being Bhima Thoroughbreds, Carramar Park, Fairhill Farm, Woodside Park Stud, Ashleigh Thoroughbreds, Torryburn Stud, Fairview Park Stud and Tyreel Stud.

The top lot of the night was a Snitzel x Racing Nadine filly from Bhima, selling to Jadeskye Racing and Brad Widdup Racing for $370,000.

Widdup and Jadeskye’s Damion Flower also race the filly’s sister, who is undefeated in two barrier trials.

“She’s very much in the good Snitzel mould – not an overly big filly but great attitude and a great action on her - she’d been well received all week and she’s gone to a good home which always helps,’’ Bhima’s Mike Fleming said.

“She’s been professional all week, hasn’t missed a beat.’’

The second-top lot was a Dissident x Sonnenblume filly, which Blandford Bloodstock in conjunction with Mr An of Mongolia purchased for $340,000 off Carramar Park Stud.

Coincidentally, the filly’s I Am Invincible half brother, who races as Garibaldi and is undefeated for Tony Gollan, was the second-top lot at last year’s Classic Sale, also for Carramar Park.

“Sonnenblume has been a good mare to us, this sale has been a great sale for us,’’ Carramar’s Wayne Alchin said.

“This filly was always a nice filly with a lot of interest. She had 66 viewings on Friday alone.’’

The same combination that teamed up to buy an I Am Invincible filly – now known as Fiesta - at the Classic Sale two years ago again joined forces tonight.

Just hours after Fiesta won the $1m Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm, Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds, this time in conjunction with Randwick Bloodstock, paid $330,000 for an I Am Invincible x Limbo Down filly from Fairhill Farm.

“She’s the next Fiesta for sure,’’ Fairhill Farm’s Mike O’Donnell said.

“She’s always been a lovely filly. What she lacks in size she definitely makes up for in strength.’’

To view our Inglis TV story on the inaugural Inglis Millennium winner Castelvecchio, CLICK HERE.

To view our Facebook Live end of Day 1 review video, CLICK HERE.

Inglis’ Managing Director Mark Webster was looking forward to seeing an increase in buyer activity as the sale continues over the next few days.

“There have been some great sales tonight but there’s also no shying away from the fact we would like a stronger clearance rate than what we have at the moment,’’ Webster said.

“We have assembled more buyers than last year but many are yet to appear on the results sheet.

“There are plenty of nice horses still to offer and I look forward to seeing the momentum of the sale build over the next few days.’’

To make an offer on a Passed In lot from tonight or at any stage throughout the sale, contact Matt Scown on 0481 989 661.

To view all the statistics from tonight’s opening session of the Classic Sale, CLICK HERE.

The remaining three days of Book 1 of the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale begin at 10am and will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website and Facebook page, while Online Bidding and Make An Offer facilities will again be available.

The Highway Session (Book 2) begins at 10am Thursday.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2019 CLASSIC YEARLING SALE DAY 1 STATISTICS

Lots sold: 77

Clearance rate: 68%

Average Price: $110,766

Median Price: $80,000

Top Price: $370,000

Gross: $8,529,000

GOLD RIBAND

Lots Sold: 43

Clearance Rate: 73%

Average Price: $150,581

Median Price: $130,000

Top Price: $370,000

Gross: $6,475,000