Sale Overview

Highlighted by the $1.875M sale of Segenhoe Stud's Redoute's Choice-Regrowth colt and strong demand for Session II lots, the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale concluded in Sydney on April 8.

Rich Hill's Zabeel-Gin Player filly on Day 3 brought to four the number of seven figure yearlings sold over the three days, selling for $1.3million.

The sale gross for Session I cracked the $80million mark late on the last day, with the clearance rate also reaching 80%. Day One clearance grew to 83 per cent, up from 72 percent at the session close.

Day 3's session Of Easter 1 averaged $241,000 with a healthy median of $200,000.

"Overall we are down 8% on last year and while it’s not what we might have hoped for, it’s not too bad given we still had an average topping $220,000," Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster said.

"It’s a sale where you could say buyers won on some lots and vendors won on others, so I think it’s been a fair sale in that regard.

"It’s a totally different mix in terms of the buyer line up for this sale than we had two years ago. Our leading buyer this year spent $4million, but in 2008 we had two buyers spend $40million between them.

"I think it is a challenge for not just Inglis as a sales company, but for the industry as a whole to find new buyers who are prepared to buy at the top end of the market."

Thanks to fillies like VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume, Easter Session II has quickly garnered a reputation for being a wonderful opportunity to secure high class racehorses at value for money prices.

Buyers once again embraced the concept in 2010, with both the sale gross of $5.924million up 15% on last year and the $77,947 average climbing 18.5% on 2009 figures.

"One positive is the diversity of the buyers and strength of the middle market, which is highlighted by strong sales in the $150,000 to $300,000 bracket and the strength of Session II," Webster said.

"For Easter II to be up almost 20% on last year is an excellent result and it’s pleasing to see how quickly this new part of the sale has established itself in the marketplace."

Horses passed in during the sale are still available for sale via the Inglis Make an Offer service.