'Best Ever Premier' Concludes

Media Release - Tuesday March 1

It’s official – the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale of 2022 has been the best ever.

The most buoyant renewal of the sale today concluded with significant growth in all key aspects as the unprecedented demand for quality bloodstock continued a record-setting Inglis Sales Season.

Advertisement

On a spectacular three days at Oaklands:

*The overall Premier Sale gross of $85,313,000 surged 20% on the then record-breaking 2021 figures, despite less horses being catalogued

*The Book 1 average of $158,094 was a 13% increase of a year ago while the median of $140,000 was a spectacular 33% jump, all at a fabulous and ever-increasing clearance rate of 90%

*In an undeniable show of middle-market strength, 150 horses sold for $200,000 or more - a stunning 72% year-on-year increase - while 47 sold for $300,000 or more, up 27% from the 37 last year

*Widden Stud – who only expanded into Victoria 12 months ago – ended Book 1 as leading vendor by aggregate, grossing $5,322,500, ahead of Blue Gum Farm who sold all 25 of their offerings for a combined $4,790,000. Leading vendor by average was Gilgai Farm who enjoyed a 100% clearance rate from their eight yearlings which sold at an average of $317,500

*The results for the sale feature over 360 individual listed buyers, with leading Book 1 buyers led by Ciaron Maher Racing, Mick Price/Michael Kent Jr, Clinton McDonald, Lindsay Park and Legend Racing

*The Showcase Session set its own new benchmarks, with a record gross ($8,163,000) and new record top price ($270,000).

$340,000 Nicconi colt from Clearwater Bay

The Day 3 top lot honours were shared between a Nicconi x Clearwater Bay colt (lot 430) of Maluka Thoroughbreds (purchased by Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy) and lot 572, a Zoustar x Honey Rider colt that Craig Rounsefell bought on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the Widden draft.

$340,000 Zoustar colt from Honey Rider

Both colts realised $340,000.

“That was a great result,’’ Maluka’s Luke Anderson said.

“He's just one of those beautiful bombproof colts that dealt with everything so well. His full brother (Lankan Star) did a great job as an early two-year-old, running a place in the Blue Diamond, so you match that up and the cross works.’’

For Rounsefell, the Honey Rider colt (pictured) was just one he “really wanted to take home’’.

“He’s a beautiful colt, really well balanced. He was high on the hit-list,’’ Rounsefell said.

“Premier always has high quality horses here… good horses come out of this sale, particularly into Hong Kong. There’s been a lot of people here, it hasn’t been easy to buy but I’m really happy with what I’ve been able to buy.’’

The result capped off a fruitful three days for Widden, who not only sold the overall top lot of the sale (an I Am Invincible x Fine Bubbles colt for $950,000) but also ended as Book 1 leading vendor.

“It’s a great honour to be leading vendor. We did have a large draft of horses and while it’s not something we specifically target, it’s definitely a great thrill for the farm and for the staff who have done a lot of hard work to get these yearlings here in the way that they have,’’ Widden’s Antony Thompson said.

“The job that the Inglis team has done assembling a buying bench of the highest order has been fantastic. They’ve really upped the ante with the vibe and the feel of the Oaklands complex, it’s been a lot of fun.

“There were so many people here, particularly on Sunday, and a lot of new faces which is always exciting to see.

“The atmosphere was great, it was a great vibe, the Sunday session here is exactly that and I’ve never given away as many Coronas at a sales complex as I did here on Sunday. It had that real buzz to it, people were having beers with their mates and taking shares in any horses the trainers had bought. It gives everybody confidence.’’

Today’s Showcase Session continued along the same upward trend as the Premier Session.

$270,000 Preferment colt from Sea Spray

The top lot of $270,000 – a Preferment x Sea Spray colt from Rushton Park that Clinton McDonald purchased – set a new benchmark for an individual price for the session and is also the highest-priced yearling ever sold by the sire.

Other overall stats were also well increased – the average of $51,340 was up 11% while the gross of $8,163,000 was an 8% year-on-year rise.

Inglis’ Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price described the past three days at Oaklands as “exceptional’’.

“While setting new fiscal benchmarks is fantastic, what really stood out for me was the amount of and variety of buyers who were able to take horses home with them and the amount of vendors who enjoyed a 100% clearance rate or very close to,’’ Price said.

“We’re so grateful to the breeders and vendors who have again supported this sale and I’m very proud of the time and effort the staff at Inglis put into the sale to ensure it was the success that it was.

“For Premier to increase 26% last year and then back that up with a further 20% this year is really quite extraordinary and we can’t wait to do it all again next year.’’

To enquire about any passed in lot from this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, contact Will Stott on 0408 126 952.

To view our Day 3 Review Show from our Sale Day Live broadcast, CLICK HERE.

Buyers’ attention now moves to Inglis Digital, with the March (Early) Online Auction open for entries.

Entries close next Wednesday, March 9 at midnight, with the sale running from Friday March 11-Wednesday March 16.

To enter, CLICK HERE.

The focus then firmly centres on Riverside for the jewel in the crown of the Southern Hemisphere yearling sales season, the Easter Yearling Sale on April 5 and 6.

On-site inspections begin at Riverside from Wednesday March 30.

To view the Easter catalogue, CLICK HERE.

2022 PREMIER YEARLING SALE STATISTICS - BOOK 1 (2021 figures in brackets)

Lots Sold: 488 (456)

Clearance Rate: 90% (87%)

Average Price: $158,094 ($139,803)

Median Price: $140,000 ($105,000)

Top Price: $950,000 ($1,100,000)

Gross: $77,150,000 ($63,750,000)

SHOWCASE SESSION

Lots Sold: 159 (163)

Clearance Rate: 85% (84%)

Average Price: $51,340 ($46,273)

Median Price: $40,000 ($40,000)

Top Price: $270,000 ($175,000)

Gross: $8,163,000 ($7,542,500)

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Black Type Victory For Nellie Leylax (IRE)
Not a bad way to break through for your first Australian victory as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Nellie Leylax (IRE) cleared out by more than two lengths to claim the Group 3 ATC Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Autumn Glow
Resuming off the back of two solid barrier trials efforts, Chris Waller’s Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) stepped up to open company for the first time, with the $1.8m yearling purchase extending her unbeaten run to five with victory in the Group 3 ATC Toy Show Quality (1100m) at Randwick.
Wootton Bassett Colt Sells for 2.3million at Arqana
The second session of the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale on Sunday produced a sale ring battle between MV Magnier and Amo Racing over a colt by Woottton Bassett from High Celebrity with Coolmore winning out with a final bid of  €2.3million.
Third Black Type Win For Snitzel’s Lazzura
A member of the Waller team to hold a dual acceptance leading into Saturday’s Randwick meeting, it was the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) where 4yo Snitzel mare Lazzura came out on top, recording her third black type victory.
Winning Return for the Best in Australia - Via Sistina
Set to be crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for last season, the mighty Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) returned on a rain soaked track at Randwick on Saturday to win the $1million Group I ATC Winx Stakes (1400m).
Wuddzz Caps Fine 24 Hours For Dwyer
Handy stayer Wuddzz came with a well-timed run under Tim Clark to land the Gold Coast Turf Club Trophy (2400m) at Randwick.
Breeders Paradise - Inglis Digital August (early) Online
An abundance of high-quality broodmares – many in foal to some of the hottest young stallions in the Southern Hemisphere – and broodmare prospects headline a “breeders’ paradise’’ in the Inglis Digital August (Early) Online Sale.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
€3million Blueblood Filly Tops Record Breaking Arqana
The Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale concluded on Monday with the half-sister to last year’s sale-topper shattering all previous records when fetching €3million to the bid of Amo Racing.