News

Stunning Easter Sale concludes as second-best ever

10th Apr 2019

The Australian Easter Yearling Sale further cemented itself as the southern hemisphere’s premier equine auction with a stunning two days of trade at Riverside.

At the sale’s conclusion $122,235,500 had been traded, making it the second-best Easter Sale ever behind only the 2008 phenomenon.

Over a huge two days at Riverside in front of an energetic buying bench from all corners of the globe:

*A total of 19 lots realised $1m or more, purchased by 13 different buying groups and represented by 11 different sires (Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Deep Impact, Exceed And Excel, I Am Invincible, Lonhro, Redoute’s Choice, Not A Single Doubt, Zoustar, Pierro and Brazen Beau).

*75 lots sold for $500,000 or more, up from 72 last year

*Seven stallions recorded their highest ever individual sale price – Snitzel ($2,800,000), Exceed And Excel ($1,700,000), Lonhro ($1,400,000), Brazen Beau ($1,150,000), Vancouver ($950,000), Rubick ($900,000) and Time For War ($800,000)

*Arrowfield Stud was again leading vendor by aggregate ($21,470,000)

*The Day 1 trade of $63,990,500 was a southern hemisphere record for an individual day’s yearling sale turnover

Today’s top lot doubled as Tyreel’s first $1m yearling, an Exceed And Excel x Written Dash colt (lot 337) they offered which Aquis Farm purchased for $1,700,000 (pictured).

“He was an exceptional yearling and the busiest horse we have ever presented at the sales, people were just coming back day after day to come and see him,” Tyreel’s Linda Monds said.

“This is my first horse over $1 million - it is quite remarkable. For a small boutique business like ours, to have an athlete like him that we have bred and raised and then to have been bought by the best judges in the industry for me is just phenomenal.’’

Aquis Farm CEO Shane McGrath described the colt as “a horse we just had to have’’.

“It’s a credit to Tyreel for producing a horse of this quality. He’s an absolute star,’’ McGrath said.

“He was high on everyone’s list, he looked like a fast, sharp, running Exceed to me.

“I had a chat with [Exceed And Excel’s trainer] Tim Martin this morning and he said it’s the closest he’d seen to Exceed And Excel at the same stage.’’

The colt was one of 13 outright acquisitions for Aquis which resulted in them being the sale’s leading buyer by both lots purchased and aggregate ($8,375,000), while they also purchased five in partnership.

“We didn’t have a specific target in terms of numbers, we just wanted to come here and secure some nice horses,’’ McGrath said.

“We’ve got the system that seems to be working for us and it’s a big team effort. It’s been a big week for us.’’

The sale’s overall leading vendor was Arrowfield Stud, whose principal John Messara described it as “a great sale’’.

“The buying bench has absolutely been as good as in years previous. Everyone seemed to be here,’’ Messara said.

“With a smaller number of stock, there was some real pressure from the buyers.

“The smaller catalogue worked well. There was a sense of urgency knowing there weren’t as many horses and knowing that if you wanted one you better buy it because you mightn’t get a chance to buy another one.’’

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster believed the results of the past two days again showed vendors and breeders where their best yearlings should be sent for sale.

“Inglis Easter is the best place to sell your best yearlings. That has been proven yet again,’’ Webster said.

“I’m extremely proud of my team for collating the right catalogue and then collating a strong and diverse buying bench which saw buyers come from Asia, the UAE, UK, USA and of course Australia and New Zealand purchase yearlings.

“To the vendors and breeders who supported us and achieved some remarkable results, thank you and congratulations and to the buyers – and there were a lot of you – good luck with your purchases and we look forward to seeing them winning many big races around the world from later this year.’’

To view our Inglis TV story on Chris and Jane Barham’s remarkable journey to the top of the breeding game, CLICK HERE.

To view our Inglis TV story on Redoute’s Choice groom Jarryd Stennett, CLICK HERE.

To view our Facebook Live review of Day 2 of the Easter Sale, CLICK HERE.

To enquire on any passed in lot from the Easter Sale, contact Matt Scown on 0481 989 661.

Buyers’ attention now turns to Oaklands for the Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, which will take place on Sunday April 28.

To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.

It is followed by a big few days of action at Riverside for the Chairman’s Sale (Friday evening, May 3) and the Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale (May 2,5,6).

To view the Chairman’s Sale catalogue, CLICK HERE.

To view the Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2019 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE STATISTICS

Lots sold: 343

Clearance Rate: 84%

Average Price: $356,372

Median Price: $260,000

Top Price: $2,800,000

Gross: $122,235,500

OVERALL TOP LOTS $2,800,000 – Snitzel x Ichihara colt (lot 49) Vendor: Corumbene Stud. Buyer: James Harron Bloodstock

$2,300,000 – Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay colt (lot 88) Vendor: Segenhoe Stud. Buyer: Aquis Farm

$1,700,000 – Deep Impact x Grito colt (lot 38) Vendor: Arrowfield Stud. Buyer: Spendthrift/Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock

$1,700,000 – Exceed And Excel x Written Dash colt (lot 337) Vendor: Tyreel Stud. Buyer: Aquis Farm

$1,400,000 – I Am Invincible x Captivating Claire colt (lot 396) Vendor: Segenhoe Stud. Buyer: Tom Magnier/Hermitage Bloodstock

$1,400,000 – Lonhro x Dancing Heather filly (lot 416) Vendor: Newhaven Park. Buyer: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum

LEADING BUYERS (by total spend)

Aquis Farm - $8,375,000 (13 lots plus 5 in partnership)

Orbis Bloodstock - $7,400,000 (8 lots)

James Harron Bloodstock - $5,275,000 (4 lots)

Dean Hawthorne - $4,805,000 (9 lots)

Hermitage Thoroughbreds - $3,810,000 (8 lots)

LEADING VENDORS (gross)

Arrowfield Stud - $21,470,000

Coolmore Stud - $13,142,500

Segenhoe Stud - $8,670,000

Yarraman Park Stud - $5,100,000

Sledmere Stud - $4,860,000

LEADING STALLIONS (by average, 3+ sold)

Deep Impact - $850,000 (4 sold)

Lonhro - $603,333 (3 sold)

Snitzel - $537,292 (24 sold)

Not A Single Doubt - $528,333 (15 sold)

Exceed And Excel - $524,583 (12 sold)