Moments after selling the top lot on Day 2 of the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Gilgai Farm's Kelly Skillecorn could barely contain his excitement.
"This is the best place to sell horses. We've been very lucky with Inglis and it continues again today,'' a jubilant Skillecorn beamed after lot 345, a Written Tycoon x Naturale colt, sold to Mark Player's International Thoroughbred Solutions for $675,000.
The colt is the first foal of Naturale, an unraced full sister to undefeated champion Black Caviar and half-brother to Champion 3YO Colt All Too Hard.
Day 2 proved to be another strong day of trade at Oaklands, which saw 13 horses sell for $300,000 or more.
It took the sale's overall average to $125,287 and median of $100,000.
It was the bidding frenzy of the top lot that saw the final price exceed Gilgai's expectations on a colt Skillecorn is convinced will "furnish into a beautiful animal.''
"He's still the unfinished article, he's such an immature colt but in a year's time he's going to be a magnificent horse,'' Skillecorn said.
"The people who end up in the horse, they'll no doubt give him time. Congratulations to them for seeing that potential that obviously a few others saw as well.''
Player agreed the horse would need time, but said he's got plenty of that and is happy to be patient with the colt.
"There's no rush with him. He's a horse that's going to continue to develop and mature,'' Player said.
"He's come from a great nursery but it is a family that takes a little bit of time. He really is a quality individual and we're extremely thankful of the vendors for putting him up for sale here at Inglis.''
The 2020 Inglis Millennium is already on Ciaron Maher's radar for today's second-top lot.
Maher paid $575,000 for the Brazen Beau x Innovation Girl colt (lot 227) of Blue Gum Farm, continuing the demand for the Victorian-based Darley bull.
Maher's ultimate plan with the colt is to develop him into a valuable stallion.
"He's got the pedigree for it – he's a ripping type by a hot stallion with a strong page so while you've always got to have deep pockets to get those sorts of horses, they're the ones you really want to take home,'' the trainer said.
"We've had some great success with our two-year-old's in the stable this season and this horse fits the bill to continue that.
"Hopefully he's lining up in a Millennium and then some big Group 1s next year.''
Blue Gum Farm's Phil Campbell wasn't surprised by the horse's popularity in the ring.
"He's never had a sick day in his life, he's just got the best attitude,'' Campbell said.
"You wouldn't believe how many times he's paraded down here this week and his last was his best.''
The result ensured Blue Gum ended Day 2 as the sale's leading vendor by aggregate with 18 sales for $3,815,000. The leading vendor by average is Gilgai Farm at $260,833 from nine sales.
Yulong Investment remained at the top of the buyers' list by aggregate ($1,490,000) and equal top for lots purchased with Robbie Griffiths Racing/Peter Ford on eight.
Brazen Beau is still the most popular stallion by aggregate ($4,060,000 from 14 lots sold) while I Am Invincible is the best by average (for three or more sold) at $360,000.
The day's third-top lot went to Ross and Andy Lao's Upper Bloodstock who bought lot 388 – a Kermadec x Promenades colt – for $520,000 from Gilgai.
"This is a fast horse, I'm convinced of that,'' Ross Lao said.
"He is a very good walker, we liked him from when we first saw him so very happy to be taking him home.''
To view our Inglis TV story on horse whisperer Monty Roberts,CLICK HERE.
To view our end of day Facebook Live review show,CLICK HERE.
Book 1 concludes on Day 3, which begins at 11am tomorrow, Tuesday March 5.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
The remaining two days of the sale will again be broadcast oninglis.com.auand the Inglis Facebook Page, while Online Bidding and Make An Offer services will again be available.
To enquire about a Passed In Lot from the opening two days, contact Inglis Bloodstock representative Brett Gilding on 0401 300 280.
STATISTICS AFTER DAY 2
Lots Sold:277
Clearance Rate:79%
Average Price:$125,287
Median Price:$100,000
Top Price:$800,000
Gross:$34,704,500
