After two days of selling the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is on track to deliver the greatest growth of any yearling sale in 2016, with the clearance rate, average, median and top prices to never before seen levels.
43 lots have been sold for $100,000 or more this weekend, well exceeding the 27 for last year's entire sale. The depth of buying has driven the average price to $58,820, a massive jump of 33% on last year. The median price has jumped a huge 37% to a remarkable $48,000.
A new Classic Sale record top price was set of $410,000, bettering the previous record of $350,000 set in 2007.
Fierce bidding saw the record smashed by a striking colt offered by Yarraman Park, by their hot young resident sire I Am Invincible.
The colt out of English mare Quirina(Lot 193)was secured by Lance O'Sullivan's Wexford Stables, and will stay in Australia initially to be trained by Mike Moroney at Flemington.
They outbid Yulong Investments of China, who have already purchased four others by I Am Invincible at the sale.
China Horse Club purchased the second highest priced offering of the day securing an Uncle Mo (USA) colt from Victory Tycoon for $280,000.
Consigned by Marquee Stud, the colt is from the second Australian crop of the Champion US 2YO Sire and First Crop Sire of 2015 in Uncle Mo and is from a half-sister to HK Group I winner Joyful Winner.
Vendors have been handsomely rewarded for the types they have presented at Newmarket, with 87% of horses being sold through the ring and 45 drafts recording a 100% clearance rate, reflecting the strength and tenacity of the buying bench at Classic this year.
After selling the last of the five yearlings they brought to the sale this afternoon, Inglis Classic regulars Davali Thoroughbreds are celebrating 100% clearance rate and $77,500 average.
"We definitely didn't do too much sitting down this week which is exactly how we want it, it's what we come here for. We've also noticed quite a few new faces this week," said Alison Hush.
"The Nicconi and the Zoffany were both pinhooks and have produced great results for their owners," Hush said.
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Another delighted vendor was Carramar Park with Wayne Alchin reporting "we sold all seven we offered today, they all made well above reserve. It's our 33rd year of continuous selling at the Sydney Classic Sale, we are thrilled."
The sale's leading buyer so far is Kurt Goldman, whose 2014 Inglis Classic purchase Hellbent won the recent Inglis Dash at Flemington. Four Lots were knocked down to the up and coming Goulburn trainer today, including the Per Incanto x Ornate colt(Lot 153), which he secured for $185,000 from the draft of Sledmere Stud.
"You've only for to go through the records to see the good horses that come out of the Classic Sale. It's all about the type and the Per Incanto colt ticked all those boxes," said Goldman.
From the family of Criterion, Crowningstone offered the Choisir x Money Tree colt(Lot 126), which was knocked down to Jamie Walter's Proven Thoroughbreds, who purchased him in conjunction with Joe Pride Racing.
"He's a beautiful colt. He has a lot of style, and is the second foal of a Fastnet Rock mare with winners all down the page. I couldn't go past the presence of Criterion, he's as tough a horse as I've ever seen, so being part of the same family was a bit of a buzz," said Walter.
Grant Morgan who purchased Brazen Beau from the first crop of I Am Invincible four years ago is looking to today's purchase, the Excelebration x Miss Coolumn colt(Lot 117)for $130,000, to repeat the success.
"Excelebration is a sire I'm quite keen on. There are similarities to I Am Invincible at the same stage a few years ago," said Morgan.
"Classic has been a great sale for us. It's always great value and I think it's good for stallions like him that are looking for a foothold in the marketplace," Morgan said.
270 yearlings have been sold across the first two days of the 2016 Classic Sale for a current gross of $15,881,500, just $4 million short of last year's record figure with 209 lots still to sell from 10am tomorrow, Monday 8 February.
Inglis' Make-An-Offer Serviceis available for lots which passed-in at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this weekend.
Lot 344 to 575 have been catalogued for the third and final day of the sale, including another 11 by leading sire I Am Invincible.
The sale will again be broadcast onInglis Sale Day Livetomorrow, plusOnline BiddingandMake-An-Offerwill again be available.
All yearlings offered at the sale are eligible for entry into the$5 million Inglis Race Seriescovering their 2YO, 3YO and 4YO racing seasons. For more information go toinglis.com.au/races
2016 Classic Yearling Sale statistics
(2015 in Brackets)
Lots Catalogued: 343 (390)
Lots Sold: 270 (309)
Clearance Rate: 87% (86%)
Average Price: $58,820 ($44,356)
Median Price: $48,000 ($35,000)
Top Price: $410,000 ($310,000)
Gross: $15,881,500 ($13,706,000)
Complete vendor, buyer and sire statistics for today's session can be viewed atinglis.com.au
