A Deep Field colt from Torryburn Stud that had a special connection to Riverside Stables before he even stepped hoof on the property topped an encouraging Day 2 of the Classic Yearling Sale.
On a day that saw 10 of the top 12-priced lots of the sale to date sell, the Deep Field x Raheights colt (lot 398) - a half brother to the first horse ever sold at Newmarket - ended the day as market leader, selling to Ricky Yiu for $380,000.
It was a connection not forgotten by the team at Torryburn, who also offered the Shooting To Win Lot 1 of the 2018 Classic Sale amid significant hype of being the opening sale at Riverside.
“It was a fabulous experience to have the first lot to ever sell at Riverside and now to have his half brother come and be top lot today and hopefully top lot for the sale is really, really good,’’ Torryburn’s Mel Copelin said.
“I didn’t expect him to go for that much, I thought maybe half of that figure but obviously the stallion is doing a good job and the horse has been brilliant the whole time here.
“Everyone fell in love with his walk and he’s just so sound and everyone wanted to buy him.
“The sale has been brilliant. Despite the weather our inspection rates are up and our vet inspection rates are up.
“We had a really good feeling coming in and as we continue on into the sale it’s getting better and better.’’
Yiu is a big fan of Deep Field and insisted he wasn’t going home without one from Classic.
“The sire is very popular here in Australia and is also very popular in Hong Kong,’’ Yiu said.
“They are a very versatile kind of a horse. This one is a very nice individual, very athletic and I really liked him.’’
Today’s second-top lot was offered by Newhaven Park Stud, a Nicconi x Poison Ivy colt selling to Caulfield trainer Andrew Noblet for $370,000.
“We couldn’t have been happier,’’ Newhaven’s John Kelly said.
“He sold fantastically well. We’re thrilled he made that price.
“Nobby trained the half sister (Indigo Lass) who he thought was very good so it’s great that he’s shown the faith in the mare and the family and the farm to come back and buy him.
“The sale, it’s been very good. We had a pretty wet start to it yesterday but it’s fined up today and it’s been excellent, we really couldn’t be happier.
“Inglis have done wonderful job providing a good market under difficult circumstances.’’
Noblet said he had a “big opinion’’ of Indigo Lass, hence happy to bid to $370,000 for the Nicconi colt today.
“This guy is a lovely loose-walking colt and I’m glad to get him,’’ Noblet said.
“The Nicconis are very consistent, Nature Strip is his headline act and I’ve got a filly back home by Nicconi that I like a lot and this fella will be my third one in the stable.
“Classic was a good sale to me last year and hopefully this bloke is as good as I think he is.’’
An active buying bench saw the Day 2 action conclude with an average of $89,339, median of $75,000 and gross of $36,450,500.
Matthew Smith Racing with partners is equal leading buyer by individual purchases with 11 lots.
George Moore was especially active at the top end today, signing for two colts, a $360,000 Hinchinbrook x Morinda youngster from Yarraman Park Stud and $340,000 for a Starcraft x Sky Rubi colt from KBL Thoroughbreds.
To this point of the sale, 137 lots have sold for $100,000 or more, compared with 107 at an equivalent stage of the 2019 sale.
To view today’s Inglis TV story on international bloodstock agent Jamie Piggott, CLICK HERE.
To view our Facebook Live Day 2 wrap, CLICK HERE.
Lots 541-808 have been catalogued for Day 3 of the sale, which begins at 10am tomorrow at Riverside Stables.
The first 73 lots conclude Book 1 before the Highway Session begins at lot 614.
To view the catalogue, CLICK HERE.
Day 3 action will again be broadcast live on the Inglis website and Facebook page, plus Online Bidding and Make An Offer services will again be available.
To enquire on a Passed In lot from the opening two days of the sale, contact Harry Bailey on 0420 997 417.
To view all statistics from the Classic Sale to date, CLICK HERE.
STATISTICS
Lots sold: 408
Clearance Rate: 82%
**Average Price:* $89,339
Median Price: $75,000
Top Price: $380,000
Gross: $36,450,500
