News

Record price for a filly at Classic as momentum keeps rolling at Riverside

12th Feb 2024

The most expensive filly ever sold at Inglis Classic was the star of Day 2 as debut sale vendors North enjoyed the dream start to their new venture.

Mick Malone and Pauline Alix offered a Too Darn Hot x Hell It’s Hot filly (pictured) that resulted in stunning competition in the Riverside ring, eventually selling for a record $600,000 to YLP Racing.

Amid tears and hugs and an outpouring of emotion, Malone and Alix were staggered with the result of the filly, who is a half sister to dual G1-winning sprinter In Her Time.

“To get a result like that, it just means the world to Pauline and I. We couldn’t be happier, it’s terrific, unbelievable,’’ Malone said.

“She’s a lovely filly, she has the best brain on a horse I’ve had for a long, long time, she’s just a ripper.

“You get a bit worried when they’re as popular as she was in the lead-up, even though you feel you’re going to make the money you probably heighten expectations internally a bit but this just ticks off all the hard work you put in.’’

YLP Racing’s Vin Cox added: “These high profile, well-related lots who are good individuals, you’ve got to take a deeper breath when you’re trying to buy them.

“We own the full sister as is well known and she won a trial very impressively the other day with Kris Less and we also own In Her Time, a mare we’ve invested in very heavily.

“We’re well vested in the family in a lot of respects and we liked her as much, if not better than the full sister so it was an obvious play for us, but we probably had to dig a little deeper than we anticipated.’’

Today’s second-top lot was a Justify x Islay Inlet filly of fellow first-time Classic vendor Mullaglass Stud, which sold to Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys for $420,000.

Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud was thrilled with the outcome.

“It’s been quite a journey to get to this point of selling here under our own name but we’re so pleased to be here,’’ McClenahan said.

“The week has been really exciting, very busy, a lot of foot traffic all week, the horses have been going down well and now thankfully selling well.

“This is a great result. She’s a quality filly, she was very busy all week, never put a foot wrong, everyone seemed to like her so you get a little excited and you hope, but the result was fantastic.’’

Heys described the filly as “outstanding’’.

“She certainly made her money but you need to back your judgement and she was just such a beautiful filly,’’ Heys said.

“Physically we couldn’t fault her in terms of how we assess a yearling and where we think they’re at and where we think they might get to.

“Her physical presence and how she carried herself was impressive.

“She’s just gorgeous, the nicest horse I’d seen so far this year and it’s been hard to buy a Justify so I wanted to really bid strong on this one.’’

At the end of Day 2 the sale is clearing 83% at an average of $97,295 and median of $80,000.

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was delighted with today’s action at Riverside.

“The momentum generated by the first day was continued today and if anything, the top end was stronger than day 1, with intense competition for the most popular lots, which made for great theatre,” Hutch said.

“While there is a selectivity to the market, this has created fantastic buying opportunities for those people who have worked through the catalogue and found suitable horses.

“The sale has had a good feel to it throughout and we are looking forward to rounding it out with another healthy day of trade tomorrow.”

To enquire about a passed in lot from the sale so far, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.

The third and final day of the 2024 Classic Yearling Sale will begin at 10am and will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website and Facebook page via our Sale Day Live coverage.

Coverage begins daily at 9.30am with the Preview Show.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.