Cover image courtesy of Inglis
As anticipation builds for Inglis' Ready2Race Sale, industry insiders express optimism about the quality of this year's 2-year-olds. Hutch shares insights on the impressive catalogue, highlighting the strong pedigree and vendor base that have garnered positive feedback during inspections.
“When we released the catalogue six or seven weeks ago, we did so with the confidence that it was the strongest group of 2-year-olds we had collated for this sale,” Hutch said.
“When we released the catalogue six or seven weeks ago, we did so with the confidence that it was the strongest group of 2-year-olds we had collated for this sale.” - Sebastian Hutch
“In regards to pedigree, type, stallion make up and the vendor base we are extremely happy, and our feelings are being backed up by the feedback we have been receiving over the past few days during inspections.
“We are getting generally positive feedback,” he continued though with a word of caution; “our expectation is that buyers will be even more selective than they have been at the yearling sales this season.”
“The clearance rate will be dictated by the willingness of vendors to meet the market but the early signs are encouraging.”
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
The influence of Singapore and Macau closures
Whilst last year's sale saw the average and median prices increase, the clearance rate was significantly down with, Hutch explaining, that vendors did not have much time to adjust to the lack of buyers from Singapore and Macau.
“The closure of racing in Singapore and Macau was not something breeders were taking into account when preparing horses for this sale last year,” he said, “but they have now had time to adjust.”
Whilst hopeful that some Singapore and Macau-based owners will continue to buy horses to race in other areas, Hutch said that it is hard to measure how much this will happen with those buyers tending to source their horses through trainers and agents.
And with the challenges of moving their current horses to other countries, many of those owners may be taking it quietly for the time being.
Hutch noted that the Malaysian market could help bridge the gap, as trainers and owners there have seen recent success with graduates from this sale. Inglis will also “continue to cultivate new markets while developing existing ones.”
“We will also have participation from Hong Kong and there are people here from China and the Philippines and from other jurisdictions bidding online.”
The perception of these ready to race type sales has, Hutch said, improved over the years with Australia still “relatively new” to the concept.
Increasing confidence
“Confidence in these sales is increasing all the time and all the major trainers in Australia have won a good race with a horse purchased from a 2-year-old sale."
“So, they all have a handle on how to train these horses which leads to ever-growing confidence.”
“As does the frequency of graduates winning good races, we don't have a lot of soldiers representing the sale but those we do have are doing a good job.”
Such as this year's G2 Ajax S. winner Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) who was purchased by Allam Racing with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $70,000, dual Group 3 winner Libertad (Russian Revolution), a $210,000 purchase for Annabel Neasham Racing and the dual Group 2 winner Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) who added a Listed win to his record last spring and who was a $330,000 buy for Busuttin Racing.
Gallery: Some of the high-quality racehorses that have been sold through the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
As well as the dual Group 1-winning mare Nettoyer (Sebring), the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Allibor (All Too Hard), the dual Group winners Gunstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Lightsaber, the G2 Alister Clark S. winner Prix de Turn (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}), the G3 Sydney S. winner Trumbull (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the dual Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir).
Since 2018 the sale has provided owners with the winners of over 200 races in Hong Kong with a couple of particularly promising types being Call Me Glorious (No Nay Never {USA}), a $460,000 purchase for Anton Koolman Bloodstock and James Tak, bought for $75,000 for Solari Bloodstock.
A half-brother to the G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner Marboosha (Dream Ahead {USA}), Call Me Glorious has won three of his eight Hong Kong starts whilst James Tak has won four of 10.
The breeze-ups for the sale took place at Hawkesbury and Taupo on September 30 and at Wangaratta on October 1.
Proven and popular stallions
Stallions represented include such proven and popular horses as Deep Field, Capitalist, Toronado (Ire), Starspangledbanner, Street Boss (USA), Justify (USA), Proisir, The Autumn Sun, Star Turn, All Too Hard, Snitzel, Zoustar, Written Tycoon, I Am Invincible, Exceed And Excel, Dundeel (NZ), Per Incanto (USA) and So You Think (NZ).
As well as a number of up-and comers such as Brutal (NZ), Exceedance, Alabama Express, Super Seth, Pierata, Tassort and Too Darn Hot (GB).
Also likely to attract attention are 2-year-olds from the debut crops of Anders, Bivouac, Cool Aza Beel (NZ), Dirty Work, Doubtland, Earthlight (Ire), Farnan, Ghaiyyath (Ire), Graff, Hanseatic, King’s Legacy, Lucky Vega (Ire), North Pacific, Ole Kirk, Peltzer, Tagaloa, Time To Reign and Wootton Bassett (GB).
The fastest split (10.14s) was recorded by Lot 84, KBL Thoroughbreds' colt by Tagaloa out of the winner La Magique (Magic Albert), half-sister to the dam of last year's Listed Wanganui Cup winner Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir).
Lot 84 - Tagaloa x La Magique (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Highlights in regards to having close Group 1-winning relations include include Lot 48, a Wootton Bassett colt out of the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking), Lot 73 a Harry Angel (Ire) colt out of the G1 Railway H. winner Imananabaa (Anabaa {USA}), Lot 95 a Churchill (Ire) half-brother to the Group 1 winner Questing New (Brz) (Romarin {Brz}), Lot 148 a So You Think half-brother to the G1 Easter H. winner Albany Reunion (Fastnet Rock) and Lot 166, a Written Tycoon filly out of the NZ Champion Middle Distance Horse Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel).
