News

Tassort colt tops HTBA Sale at Riverside

28th Apr 2024

A “natural 2YO from a fast family’’ topped today’s HTBA Yearling Sale at Riverside in a result that was “far and away more’’ than the vendor was expecting.

Lot 85, a Tassort x Raahiyah colt, sold for $150,000 to Mathew Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock and Victorian trainer Lloyd Kennewell, who flew up to Sydney for a matter of hours today with one mission – to buy the yearling.

The colt (pictured) was offered by Riversdale’s Nick Hodges, on behalf of his breeder Jock Mackay of Cangon Stud.

Kennewell is a big fan of Tassort and has been doing all he can throughout the sales season to get as many of the stallion’s progeny into his stable as possible.

“We’ve been shopping all year for Tassorts, he looks a stallion with a really bright future and he’ll probably be crowned Champion First Season Stallion,’’ Kennewell said.

“I flew up for the very reason I thought he was the colt of the sale and he was exactly what I wanted to see when I got here on the grounds.

“He’s a colt that was well sought after, he was the best one here, the price suggests that and we got him so we’re very happy.’’

Kennewell conceded he had no ammunition left should the underbidder have pushed him any further.

“That was my last bid, the final figure I’d have let myself go to,’’ the trainer said.

“I was hoping to buy him for $80,000-$100,000 but it didn’t happen. It was a really good underbidder too, a very good judge so that always makes you feel a bit better when you blow the budget!’’

Nick Hodges was thrilled with the result.

“He was really popular, from day one everyone who saw him really liked him,’’ Hodges said.

“He had plenty of X-Ray hits, a lot of foot traffic so he was always going to sell well but that price was far and away more than what we were expecting. It absolutely exceeded expectations. It was a very good price for him.’’

Today’s second-top lot was a Time To Reign x Sweet Bouquet colt from Kingstar Farm, which sold to Kembla Grange trainer Ross McConville for $120,000.

The colt is the half brother to the Chris Waller-trained 2YO Emirate, who impressed at his sole trial last week.

“He’s a real flashy colt and they paid $1m for the half brother who has trialled well so that helps,’’ McConville said.

“It was a bit more than I wanted to pay for him but if you want the good ones, you’ve got to pay up for them.’’

Kingstar’s Adam Cook added: “It’s a great result. We’re happy as Larry.

“It’s obviously Time To Reign’s first crop and the market has reacted to how good a type he throws and this colt was no different.

“This guy is a December foal but he’s very forward and people have obviously seen that because he was very popular in the ring.’’

Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch was satisfied with today’s trade.

“This sale provides an important service to the market and while obviously we’d like to be able to post a stronger set of results for vendors, we are pleased with the level of buyer engagement with the sale,’’ Hutch said.

“It was really great to see names like Mark Newnham, Joe Pride, Annabel Neasham, Brad Widdup, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Lloyd Kennewell, Matthew Smith, David Payne, Trilogy, Darby Racing, Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Champion Thoroughbreds and a broad cross section of country NSW and Victorian trainers feature amongst the listed buyers, while the participation from buyers in Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand goes to show that this sale continues to attract a significant buying bench.

“As has been the case all year at every sale, yearlings that met the criteria of buyers sold well and for those that didn’t, vendors had to work harder to meet the market.

“We’ve had 16 lots realise $50,000 or more, while the figures for the clearance, average and median are within a reasonable range of the equivalent figures at the end of the sale 12 months ago.

“There is no disguising that the market at this level has challenges, but as is the case every year at this sale, there have been some excellent results and I have no doubt there will be some talented racehorses emerge from this sale.

“We now move to the Breeding Stock Sales Series, we have some strong catalogues for both our weanlings and broodmares sales in Sydney next week and we can’t wait to get into that.’’

To enquire about a passed in lot from today’s HTBA Sale, contact Harry Bailey from the Inglis bloodstock team on 0420 997 417.

The Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series begins with a week of action in Sydney starting with the Australian Weanling Sale (May 6 and 7) followed by the Chairman’s Sale (May 9) and Australian Broodmare Sale (May 10).

More than 700 lots have been catalogued for the week, which is headlined by the Chairman’s Sale where some of the most sought-after fillies and mares of the year will be offered including She’s Extreme, Kimochi, Startantes and Tutta La Vita.

To view the catalogues CLICK HERE.