News

Inglis Easter to be a Virtual Auction with Online Bidding

2nd Apr 2020

The circumstances of the past few weeks have required Inglis and our clients to show extreme versatility in terms of planning for the 2020 Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Following further significant consultation with our vendors, it has been agreed the Easter Sale will now take the format of a virtual auction with online bidding.

As a result, the sale format will be as follows:

• Day 1 of the auction will start at 10am on Tuesday April 7

• Day 2 of the auction will start at 10am on Wednesday April 8

• Our auctioneers will be present on the rostrum at Riverside Stables auctioneering each lot. Rather than a leader parading a yearling on the stage, a video of that particular yearling will be displayed on the big screens at Riverside and online

• All bidding will take place as online bidding – as has been available at physical Inglis auctions for more than a decade – or telephone bidding with an approved Inglis staff member. Buyers are encouraged to use the user-friendly online bidding platform, but for those who need to bid over the phone, it will be necessary to complete an appointment of agent form before the sale.

• The sale will be hosted on the Inglis home page – inglis.com.au. An online bidding example page is included in this release.

• As was previously the case, all prospective buyers must be pre-registered and have credit approval pre-authorised. To do these things, visit inglis.com.au/biddingateaster. Registrations processed since the announcement that the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale would go online remain valid.

• A test auction will still take place tomorrow, Friday April 3, between 2pm-3pm, for all registered bidders. This will include auctioneer audio and yearling videos.

“We have tremendous faith in our digital platform that has served us so well for many years and is a format we will continue to use not only for our twice-monthly Inglis Digital auctions but for future yearling or breeding stock sales when required, but in this instance a majority of vendors wanted a virtual auction with online bidding, rather than a fully digital auction, and we’re lucky enough to be in a position to facilitate that,’’ Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

“We have a mandate to achieve optimum results for our vendors and there is an overwhelming feeling the best way to realise that is with a virtual sale.

“We have been extremely encouraged by the response to the online Easter Sale, particularly in this past week, from both domestic and international participants and with five days remaining before the first lot is offered, I expect buyer registration to increase even more.

“These are hugely trying circumstances to hold a sale of any description but I am exceptionally proud having seen significant amount of international press in recent days highlighting the fact Inglis technology can and will facilitate this Easter Sale when it appears no other jurisdiction around the world has the facility or capability to hold a major bloodstock sale at the moment.

"Buyers still have five days to inspect these yearlings across Australia and New Zealand so I would urge those who are yet to see the yearlings to get to as many as possible in coming days.

“We absolutely appreciate the support of our vendors and as challenging as this situation is for our clients, there are certainly going to be many positive stories – and champion racehorses – to come from next week’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.’’