Kia Ora Stud Sell $1.8 Million Fastnet Rock Colt

Media Release - Tuesday April 10

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.

Advertisement

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

Advertisment
More Reading...
$1million Mehmas a Stakes-Winner for Godolphin
One of the big ticket purchases for Godolphin at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year was the half-brother to triple Group I winner Perfect Power by Mehmas and this 1million guinea purchase opened his stakes account overnight in the UK.
Big Investment Begins Paying Off
A big investment by Rosemont Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in purchasing Group III winning mare Khulaasa for $1.35million produced a dividend on Friday, but that’s just the beginning!
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Unbeaten Filly a New Stakes-Winner for Ghaiyyath
Darley shuttler Ghaiyyath (IRE) is not returning to Australia this year after four seasons at Darley Victoria, but he was in the news overnight with a new stakes-winner after his unbeaten three year-old filly Al Uqda won the Listed Vichy Prix Madame Jean Couturie (2000m).
Sires With Winners - Friday July 18
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Without Peer Impresses On Debut For Pierata
Triple Crown Syndications appear to have a horse with plenty of upside as we approach the new season after their 2yo Pierata gelding Without Peer made a winning debut in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
Another Aussie Stakes-Winner for Lope de Vega
It’s just as well Australian owners are keen on bringing in imported tried horses to Australia or the $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday would have looked a very skinny event, but as it happened there was a promising young stayer on top in Don Diego de Vega (Fr).
What Stallions Can Step Up in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong racing season is over for another year, so a look at their sire tables by earnings and winners is always interesting and there is no surprise at the top with now pensioned Deep Field claiming his fourth consecutive champion sire title, but given he is now out of the picture the big question is what sires will replace him?
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 17
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Karaka Graduates Shoot for Selangor’s Seven-Figure Prize
A quality cast of four-year-olds will clash in Malaysia’s richest race this weekend, with a significant NZB influence throughout the 16-horse field.