Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
There were 148 horses (after withdrawals) catalogued versus 179 last year, and 222 in 2022.
Clearance rate improved to 62.1 per cent, up from 57.5 per cent last year but down from 73 per cent in 2022.
Gross sales rose from last year's $10,943,500 to $15,370,000, despite fewer horses being offered.
The sale set a record with a $1 million Written Tycoon filly, surpassing last year’s $400,000 sale-topper and the $750,000 top price in 2022.
The average price increased to $167,065, up from $103,210 last year and $106,248 in 2022. The median price also saw an increase to $110,000, compared to $90,000 last year and $75,000 in 2022.
Eight horses sold for $500,000 or more.
Written Tycoon was the leading stallion by aggregate ($2,035,000) and average ($508,750 for four progeny sold).
Lucky Vega (Ire) had the highest average among first-season sires, with two horses sold for $460,000.
Ledger Racing purchased five horses, averaging $28,200 each, with a top price of $50,000.
Yulong was the highest spender, buying four horses for a total of $2,035,000, including the sale-topper.
Nolen Racing was the leading vendor by aggregate, selling 12 horses for $1,896,000, with an average of $158,000.
Hong Kong-based buyers accounted for 31 horses, representing 33.6 per cent of total sales.
Buyers also came from New South Wales, Victoria, ACT, Western Australia, Queensland, Japan, Malaysia and China.
Hutch thrilled with results
Buyers from across Australia and Asia showed up in force at Tuesday's Inglis Ready2Race Sale, setting a record-breaking price and surpassing last year's key statistics. Despite the lingering impact of racing closures in Singapore and Macau, the sale bounced back with fierce competition, delivering outstanding results.
“I never imagined, while finalizing the catalogue and conducting inspections, that we'd be celebrating these achievements by the end of the day,” said an elated Sebastian Hutch, reflecting on the remarkable success of the sale.
“It was the second-highest grossing Ready2Race sale ever, despite having significantly fewer horses than when the record was set in 2022. The intensity of competition at the top end of the market was a standout,” Hutch said, proud of the day's accomplishments.
“It was the second-highest grossing Ready2Race sale ever... The intensity of competition at the top end of the market was a standout.” - Sebastian Hutch
Hutch explained that last year, demand for quality young horses exceeded supply, leaving many buyers with unspent funds. “After last year’s sale, we made it a priority to bring in a greater number of top-tier horses. Today’s results at the top end show we delivered on that goal.”
Reflecting on the event, Hutch highlighted several positive outcomes, including strong international engagement, domestic interest, numerous pin-hooking success stories, and impressive results for a wide range of vendors.
One interesting trend this year, Hutch noted, was that buyers seemed to place less emphasis on fast breeze-up times and more on the overall way horses worked. “With breeze-ups taking place at different tracks, it made direct time comparisons challenging. Buyers were more focused on how the horses performed rather than just speed, which I believe is a positive shift for future sales,” Hutch added.
“Buyers were more focused on how the horses performed rather than just speed, which I believe is a positive shift for future sales.” - Sebastian Hutch
Record-breaking $1 million filly marks a milestone
It was a record-breaking $1,000,000 that Yulong went to secure back a Written Tycoon filly (Lot 166) they bred and sold as a yearling; the price the highest achieved at an Inglis Ready2Race.
A significant increase on the previous sale-topper ($750,000 for a Dundeel {NZ} colt two years ago), the attractive dark bay had breezed up in 10.50s at Wangaratta for Baystone Farm who had purchased her from Yulong for $200,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel), Champion Middle Distance Horse in NZ in 2014-15; a dual Group 1-winning dam of three winners including the stakes placed Alsonso (Zoustar) who was exported to Hong Kong in March; trialling on Tuesday morning for the Mark Newnham stable who reported that "he trialled really well and is set to race on November 3rd."
Soriano (whom Yulong secured seven years ago for $1.15 million) is one of the five winners produced by the Listed Wagga Gold Cup winner Call Me Lily (NZ) (Just A Dancer {NZ}), also dam of the G3 Premier's Cup winner Kaiser Franz (NZ) (Savabeel) and grandam of the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock).
Baystone Farm's Dean Harvey was of course happy with the result, saying that “we thought we were pretty lucky getting her as a yearling, we thought she'd be out of our price range.”
The Baystone Farm team with Lot 166 | Image courtesy of Inglis
“We raced Alsonso and we know that Mark Newnham has a big rap on him,” he said, adding that the filly showed ability during her preparation for the sale.
“We identified a while ago that she has talent,” he said.
The sale continues to evolve
Selling another five horses whilst passing in seven, Harvey said that the sale had its challenges.
“Inglis did a good job with the buying bench they attracted but there was always going to be an adjustment with racing in Singapore and Macau closing down,” he said.
“That took the wind out of the sails for this sale,” he added whilst noting that he remains confident that the sale has a future; “it continues to evolve,” he said.
Yulong were also the winning bidders on Lot 14, another colt by Written Tycoon.
Lot 14 - Written Tycoon x Be My Star (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sold by them to CH Bloodstock Ltd for $150,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, he was bought back for $525,000 from the draft of Leanach Lodge.
Breezing up in 10.55s at Taupo, he is the first foal for the multiple city winner Be My Star (Zoustar) whose stakes winning grandam Adagietto (NZ) (Sackford {USA}) is ancestress of a number of stakes winners including the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}).
Supporting those who support us
Yulong's Vin Cox was delighted to welcome the two Written Tycoons back to the fold, noting that “it shows that we have faith in our product.”
“Our stallion is going exceptionally well and we like supporting those who support us.”
Cox declared the day's selling “a great one for Yulong stallions” with two sons of Lucky Vega (Ire) also selling well ($340,000 and $120,000 to Hermitage Thoroughbreds and Hong Kong Bloodstock) whilst two sons of Pierata head to Hong Kong, a $320,000 colt to Mark Newnham and a $200,000 gelding to Magus Equine.
Tagaloa also had a good result, Lot 84 sold by KBL Thoroughbreds to Chow Chun Tak Andrew and Wong Ho Hei Lawrence for $440,000.
Lot 84 - Tagaloa x La Magique (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
He is the first living foal for the Strathalbyn winner La Magique (Magic Albert) whose stakes placed half-sister Floridita (Fasliyev USA}) produced the Listed Wanganui Cup winner Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir)
From the debut crop of his G1 Blue Diamond S.-winning sire, he hails from an illustrious international whose members include the big-race winners Dr Devious (Ire), Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and the local Awesome Rock.
Bred by Fowler Thoroughbreds and breezing up in 10.19s at Hawkesbury, he was passed in for $35,000 at the 2023 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
“The demand for the progeny of our stallions shows that we are heading in the right direction,” Cox said.
“The demand for the progeny of our (Yulong's) stallions shows that we are heading in the right direction.” - Vin Cox
Successful first sale for McGrath
It was a first Ready2Race sale for Shane McGrath who partnered very successfully with trainer Clinton McDonald who prepared their selection of 2-year-olds; two of those selling particuarly well.
Lot 155 impressed Clinton McDonald during his preparation, so much so that he put a new bunch of owners together to secure the good-looking bay; laying down $750,000 for him.
Lot 155 - Deep Field x Sheer Pleasure (USA) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Bred by S F Bloodstock and Blake Sandblom Pty Ltd, the son of Deep Field (a member of his penultimate crop and his final full crop) was purchased by McGrath for $260,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“He was a smashing colt from day one,” McGrath enthused about the colt who breezed up in 10.90s at Wangaratta “and he continued to improve every day he was in the stable.”
“He (Lot 155) was a smashing colt from day one and he continued to improve every day he was in the stable.” - Shane McGrath
“We are delighted that he heads to Clinton's stables,” he said of the full brother to the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 3-year-old Deep Pleasure who was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $575,000 at last year's Magic Millions and who ran a nice second at his recent Mornington debut.
His dam is the triple Listed-winning imported mare Sheer Pleasure (USA) (Birdonthewire {USA}), half-sister to the Listed winner Got Even (USA) (Stephen Got Even {USA}) from the family of the Group 1 gallopers Private Persuasion (USA) (Pirate's Bounty {USA}) and Da' Tara (USA) (Tiznow {USA}).
Shane McGrath, Clinton McDonald with Lot 155 and some of the Nolen Racing team | Image courtesy of Inglis
Another excellent return on investment for McGrath was Lot 129, a $500,000 Toronado (Ire) colt purchased by Ho Yin Alexander Leung and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA).
Bred by Greg Perry and purchased from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $90,000, the flashy bay is out of the imported Pussycat Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), winner of her only start.
A half-brother to the Champion 4YO and Older Female of Singapore in What's New (Casino Prince) and his dam is a half-sister to the Listed winner Tavy (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), he breezed up in 11.04s at Wangaratta.
Lot 129 - Toronado (Ire) x Pussycat Dream (GB) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He is a lovely type,” McGrath said, noting that the bay improved each day at the sale.
“Every time someone got out of the box, he was a head-turner, and we just continued to get good feedback on him.
“We really want to thank Inglis for all their support for our first sale,” McGrath said. “And Clinton who did such a great job putting our horses through his system. I think our results indicate that our new business model seems to be working.”
“I think our results indicate that our new business model seems to be working.” - Shane McGrath
Two nice colts for Newnham
One of two purchases for the Hong Kong-based trainer Mark Newnham, Lot 7 was the third-highest priced horse through the ring, sold by Prima Park for $600,000.
Bought by them from Newhaven Park for $240,000 at Inglis Easter, the Graham Daws-bred colt is an Exceed And Excel half-brother to the stakes-placed, dual city winner Miss Drakova (Capitalist) out of the Randwick winner Allez Bien (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) who is a half-sister to the G1 Railway S. winner Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and the Listed winner Ruettiger (NZ) (Duporth).
Lot 7 - Exceed and Excel x Allez Bien (NZ) (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Breezing up at Taupo in 10.20s, he hails from a strong Perth family whose members include last weekend's Listed Seymour Cup Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}), also winner of the 2022 G2 Perth Cup and he hails from the third last crop of his high-achieving sire.
“I thought he was the best colt at the sale,” Newnham noted, saying that buying him was “a no-brainer.”
“I thought he (Lot 7) was the best colt at the sale.” - Mark Newnham
“I have a client who was willing to buy a nice horse, and this horse was easy to like, he has a great attitude, and he paraded really well.
“Exceed And Excel has had success worldwide and it is easy to see why. They are good, fast, tough horses and they have done well in Hong Kong.”
Newnham also took home Lot 87, a $320,000 Pierata colt from the draft of Regal Farm.
Lot 87 - Pierata x Lady Rah Rah (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
“He will probably be gelded sooner than later,” he said, describing the bay as “a no fuss sort of horse who breezed up well.”
As mentioned, Newnham trains the half-brother to the sale-topper and he had a look at her, reporting that “she was a ripper, if I'd been in the market for a filly she would've been on the list.”
Mark Newnham | Image courtesy of Inglis
Hong Kong buyers to the fore
Newnham was part of an active Hong Kong buying bench with Harry Tsang also active at the top end of the market, securing for $550,000 Lot 131, a Super Seth colt from Blake Ryan Racing.
Breezing up in 11.04s at Hawkesbury, he is a half-brother to three winners out of the placed Racing Nadine (Bernardini {USA}), a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner He's No Pie Eater (Canny Lad) from the same branch of the prolific Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) family as Super Seth's dam sire Redoute's Choice.
Bred on a 6 X 3 cross of his own third dam Show Lady (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}), he was bred at Cambridge Stud and sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds to Ryan for $115,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
And he is a horse who impressed from the get-go, Ryan telling us that “I didn't even have to gallop him to know that he was going to be our best horse for this sale.
“He is just a beautiful colt; he has one of the nicest heads you'd see and that was something people commented on during the inspections.
“He presented himself terrifically well and he is the most popular horse I have taken to the sale, he was rarely in his box!”
“He (Lot 131) is just a beautiful colt... He presented himself terrifically well and he is the most popular horse I have taken to the sale...” - Blake Ryan
He was Ryan's best Ready2Race result, and he is looking forward to seeing him race in Hong Kong; “I'd be very surprised if he didn't win races,” he said.
Ryan has already cheered home five winners from last year's draft with his overall strike rate an excellent 78 per cent.
Blake Ryan | Image courtesy of Inglis
A Star Turn stars
Another Hong Kong buyer was one of the newcomers to their training ranks in David Eustace who purchased Lot 71 for $500,000, the colt had breezed up in 10.73s at Taupo for Woburn Farm.
By Star Turn, he is the first foal for the city-placed, two-time winner Hyannis Port (Redoute's Choice) whose dam is the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym) whose grandam is the dual Group 1-winning successful matriarch Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
Lot 71 - Star Turn x Hyannis Port (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
This is a strong black-type family, one which includes the recent stakes winners Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) and Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB})
Bred by Gerry Harvey, he was sold by his Baramul Stud for $260,000 at the Magic Millions, impressing Woburn's Adrian Stanley.
“He was a great type with a good attitude and a good walk,” he said, noting that "the Star Turns tend to improve as they get through their preparations. They are very professional which is probably why they have done so well in Hong Kong.
“It is a great result to have him going to such a good trainer, he is a pretty straightforward sort of horse, and I don't think they will have to wait long for him, he is a strong horse; the type to get up early for those Griffin races.”
Another of the eight lots to sell for half a million or more was Lot 186, a $500,000 Zousain colt sold by Nolen Racing to Magus Equine, Hong Kong.
Lot 186 - Zousain x Totally Sure (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
Breezing up at Wangaratta in 10.34s, he was bred by Widden Stud Australia and the Wheninrome Trust and sold by Widden to Tal Nolen for $80,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He is a half-brother to four winners out of the Doomben 2-year-old winner Totally Sure (Not A Single Doubt) whose Listed-winning dam Firenza (Kenny's Best Pal) also produced the dual Group 3 winner Tuscan Sling (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the dams of the stakes winners Assertive Approach (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) and Kiwia (Reset).
Top lots
| 166 | F | Written Tycoon | Soriano | Baystone Farm | Yulong, VIC | $1,000,000 |
| 155 | C | Deep Field | Sheer Pleasure | Shane McGrath Bloodstock | Clinton McDonald Racing, VIC | $750,000 |
| 7 | C | Exceed And Excel | Allez Bien | Prima Park | Mark Newnham Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Hong Kong | $600,000 |
| 131 | C | Super Seth | Racing Nadine | Blake Ryan Racing | Harry Tsang, Hong Kong | $550,000 |
| 14 | C | Written Tycoon | Be My Star | Leanach Lodge | Yulong, VIC | $525,000 |
| 71 | C | Star Turn | Hyannis Port | Woburn Farm | David Eustace, Hong Kong | $500,000 |
| 129 | C | Toronado | Pussycat Dream | Shane McGrath Bloodstock | Ho Yin Alexander Leung/ Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA), NSW | $500,000 |
| 186 | C | Zousain | Totally Sure | Nole Racing | Magus Equine Ltd, Hong Kong | $500,000 |
| 84 | C | Tagaloa | La Magique | KBL Thoroughbreds | Chow Chun Tak Andrew/Wong Ho Hei Lawrence, Hong Kong | $440,000 |
| 54 | C | Written Tycoon | Ghadaayer | DSB Thoroughbreds | C Fownes, Hong Kong | $420,000 |
Top buyers
| Yulong | VIC | 4 | $2,035,000 | $508,750 | $1,000,000 |
| Mark Newnham Bloodstock Pty Ltd | HONG KONG | 2 | $920,000 | $460,000 | $600,000 |
| Clinton McDonald Racing | VIC | 1 | $750,000 | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd | NSW | 2 | $590,000 | $295,000 | $340,000 |
| Harry Tsang | HONG KONG | 1 | $550,000 | $550,000 | $550,000 |
| David Eustace | HONG KONG | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Ho Yin Alexander Leung / Andrew Williams Bloodstock | NSW | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Magus Equine Ltd | HONG KONG | 1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Chow Chun Tak Andrew / Wong Ho Hei Lawrence | HONG KONG | 2 | $470,000 | $235,000 | $440,000 |
| C Fownes | HONG KONG | 1 | $420,000 | $420,000 | $420,000 |
Sires by aggregate
| Written Tycoon | 8 | 4 | $2,035,000 | $508,750 | $1,000,000 |
| Super Seth | 3 | 3 | $1,090,000 | $363,333 | $550,000 |
| Deep Field | 6 | 3 | $1,080,000 | $360,000 | $750,000 |
| Star Turn | 7 | 2 | $650,000 | $325,000 | $500,000 |
| Tassort | 6 | 3 | $650,000 | $216,667 | $300,000 |
| Toronado | 6 | 3 | $640,000 | $213,333 | $500,000 |
| Exceed And Excel | 1 | 1 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 |
| Pierata | 4 | 4 | $600,000 | $150,000 | $320,000 |
| Zousain | 3 | 2 | $575,000 | $287,500 | $500,000 |
| All Too Hard | 7 | 3 | $496,000 | $165,333 | $250,000 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Written Tycoon | 8 | 4 | $2,035,000 | $508,750 | $1,000,000 |
| Super Seth | 3 | 3 | $1,090,000 | $363,333 | $550,000 |
| Deep Field | 6 | 3 | $1,080,000 | $360,000 | $750,000 |
| Star Turn | 7 | 2 | $650,000 | $325,000 | $500,000 |
| Zousain | 3 | 2 | $575,000 | $287,500 | $500,000 |
| Lucky Vega | 3 | 2 | $460,000 | $230,000 | $340,000 |
| Tagaloa | 5 | 2 | $449,500 | $224,750 | $440,000 |
| Tassort | 6 | 3 | $650,000 | $216,667 | $300,000 |
| Toronado | 6 | 3 | $640,000 | $213,333 | $500,000 |
| All Too Hard | 7 | 3 | $496,000 | $165,333 | $250,000 |
Vendors by aggregate
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 15 | 12 | $1,896,000 | $158,000 | $500,000 |
| Ohukia Lodge, Cambridge, NZ | 12 | 7 | $1,570,000 | $224,286 | $300,000 |
| Baystone Farm, Gnarwarre, Vic | 16 | 6 | $1,520,000 | $253,333 | $1,000,000 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock, Cranbourne, Vic | 8 | 3 | $1,390,000 | $463,333 | $750,000 |
| Lynton Farm, Baw Baw | 13 | 6 | $1,000,000 | $166,667 | $340,000 |
| Blake Ryan Racing, Sydney | 21 | 8 | $951,000 | $118,875 | $550,000 |
| Woburn Farm, Ohaupo, NZ | 3 | 3 | $870,000 | $290,000 | $500,000 |
| Prima Park, Matamata, NZ | 3 | 2 | $700,000 | $350,000 | $600,000 |
| AH Bloodstock, Stawell, Vic | 6 | 4 | $625,000 | $156,250 | $420,000 |
| DSB Thoroughbreds, Wagga Wagga | 4 | 3 | $610,000 | $203,333 | $420,000 |
Vendors by average (3 or more sold)
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock, Cranbourne, Vic | 8 | 3 | $1,390,000 | $463,333 | $750,000 |
| Woburn Farm, Ohaupo, NZ | 3 | 3 | $870,000 | $290,000 | $500,000 |
| Baystone Farm, Gnarwarre, Vic | 16 | 6 | $1,520,000 | $253,333 | $1,000,000 |
| Ohukia Lodge, Cambridge, NZ | 12 | 7 | $1,570,000 | $224,286 | $300,000 |
| DSB Thoroughbreds, Wagga Wagga | 4 | 3 | $610,000 | $203,333 | $420,000 |
| KBL Thoroughbreds, Beaudesert, Qld | 8 | 3 | $507,500 | $169,167 | $440,000 |
| Lynton Farm, Baw Baw | 13 | 6 | $1,000,000 | $166,667 | $340,000 |
| Nolen Racing, Benalla, Vic | 15 | 12 | $1,896,000 | $158,000 | $500,000 |
| AH Bloodstock, Stawell, Vic | 6 | 4 | $625,000 | $156,250 | $420,000 |
| Glenn Haven Thoroughbreds, Clarendon | 11 | 4 | $575,000 | $143,750 | $280,000 |
