For Kia Ora Stud's Alex Kingston, it was the most magical moment of her career.
After offering the Day 2 top Lot of the Australian Easter Yearling Sale today - a Fastnet Rock colt out of Group 1-winning mare O'Marilyn, which George Moore Bloodstock purchased for $1.8million - Kingston struggled to contain her emotions.
"These horses are finely selected for Easter and I've been at Kia Ora for eight years now and this is the best result in my time. As a boutique farm, this is our greatest moment,'' Kingston said.
"You hope for a good result but when it happens you don't expect it. Easter really is the best of the best and this was my best horse and he was always going to come to Easter but to get this result is still amazing, a huge result for the farm.''
Moore was convinced he was going to buy the colt from the moment he first laid eyes on him.
"The best horse in the sale,'' Moore said.
"He's a good moving, medium sized Fastnet Rock colt but that's exactly what you want.
"When [underbidder] Coolmore are going against you, you should be pretty pleased because they know what they're talking about.''
The Fastnet Rock colt was one of eight horses which sold for $1million or more on Day 2, taking the sale's total of seven-figure Lots to 15.
At the conclusion of Day 2, the sale's clearance rate has jumped to 80% with an average of almost $350,000, median of $260,000 and gross of $80,827,500.
The leading vendor by aggregate is Arrowfield Stud ($11,390,000) and by average is Kia Ora Stud ($720,000).
The leading stallion by aggregate is Snitzel ($14,120,000) and by average is Fastnet Rock ($551,739).
The buying bench has been broad, with Australian interests buying 50% of the catalogue to date, Asian clients 30%, Middle East 10% and NZ 7%.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott are leading buyer by individual Lots purchased with eight, while George Moore Bloodstock is the leading spender at $4,410,000.
Many of the horses purchased by overseas interests will remain in Australia to be trained.
Today's second-top Lot was a Snitzel x Go Indy Go colt (Lot 152) purchased by a syndicate consisting of Steve Morley Bloodstock, Glenlogan Park, Whitby Bloodstock and RIFA Mustang for $1.5million, from Kitchwin Hills.
It was the first of two $1million sales for Kitchwin on the day, the other being an I Am Invincible x Marianne colt which sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $1million.
"You come to these sales and there's always that idea that there's a $1million horse in your draft but I've been selling yearlings a long time and I know they're hard to come by,'' Kitchwin's Mick Malone said.
"The Go Indy Go, he's got this lovely attitude, unbelievable brain, nothing phases him. You'd imagine from a colt point of view he'd be perfect.''
To view our Inglis TV story on Fairview Park Stud's Ian and Linda Duckworth,CLICK HERE.
To view our Facebook Live end of day review,CLICK HERE.
Day 3 action begins at 11am tomorrow, Wednesday April 11, with the final 119 Lots of Book 1 from 11am before Book 2 begins immediately following.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster was delighted with how the sale was progressing.
"Today was largely as expected and it's been great to see the diversity in the buying bench,'' Webster said.
"Of the 15 Lots to have made seven figures, they have gone to 13 different buyers which is a great indication of that diversity.
"The day one clearance rate has risen to 86% which is very pleasing and I expect day two to follow suit.
"The Day 3 catalogue is exciting with the conclusion of Book 1 and then Book 2, which is another great range of horses for all markets.''
2018 AUSTRALIAN EASTER YEARLING SALE – END OF DAY 2 STATISTICS
(2017 figures in brackets)
Lots sold:232 (225)
Clearance Rate:80% (81%)
Average Price:$348,394 ($354,044)
Median Price:$260,000 ($270,000)
Top Price:$1,800,000 ($2,400,000)
Gross:$80,827,500 ($79,660,000)
Inglis Release
