Cover image courtesy of Inglis
At A Glance
The re-branded Book 2 for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale was named the Showcase Section last year and ended on Tuesday night with 147 horses sold for a gross of $6,573,500. In 2024, the same session saw 158 yearlings sold in this session for $6,334,500.
The average price for Book 2 was $44,718 which compared to $40,092 for last year’s Showcase Session. The median rose in 2025 to $32,000 from 2024 and 2023’s median of $30,000.
The clearance rate for 2025 closed at 75 per cent for the session, while last year, the same day achieved 76 per cent.
The appetite at the top of the market remained strong, with four lots making more than $150,000 and 16 making more than $100,000. This compared with 12 months ago, where 17 horses made more than $100,000 on Tuesday, headed by three at $150,000 or more.
The top priced lot of $260,000 was higher than last year’s top price ($160,000), and was achieved by Lot 702 a Ghaiyyath (Ire) colt presented by Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds and bought by Ganbaatar Dagvadorj, while Yarran Thoroughbreds sold the Lucky Vega (Ire) colt to Pride Racing for $250,000.
Across the whole three days, the leading vendor was Yulong who sold 40 horses for a total of $6.3 million at an average of $157,000, while the leading vendor by average (3 or more sold) was Gilgai Farm who sold 13 yearlings at an average of $231,000.
Yulong were also the leading buyers by aggregate, putting $2.14 million back into their nine purchases, while the leading buyer by average across the three days (3 or more bought) was Hong Kong’s Upper Bloodstock.
Of the first season sires, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) lead the three days of the Inglis Premier Sale by average with four yearlings selling at an average of $180,000.
Positivity aplenty at Inglis
“The day had a great feeling to it,” Inglis’ Sebastian Hutch said, more than content with how results tallied at the end of proceedings.
75 per cent of Book 2’s horses have found homes, a clearance rate expected to be improved upon as deals are made over the coming days.
Gross sales of over $6.5 million, an average of $44,718 and a median of $32,000 are all figures that compare favourably with the 2024 sale.
Overall the Melbourne Premier was the first sale for the year to see an increase in trade from last year, something that had Hutch in an optimistic frame of mind.
“Gee, there is a lot to be positive about,” he said.
“The sale has passed $60 million in gross with averages and medians going up and at the start of the week I would’ve said that none of these things were possible.”
“The sale has passed $60 million in gross with averages and medians going up and at the start of the week I would’ve said that none of these things were possible.” - Sebastian Hutch
“And the trade has increased in a way that is not deceptive. Figures have not been skewed by a handful of distorted results - as shown by the way the median has held up. It all unfolded in a very healthy way, it is not as though the success is based on a handful of results.
“Participation has been fantastic,” he continued. “It is great to see how many different buying entities are involved.
“Sixty of the horses sold on the first two days went to New Zealand or Hong Kong and they were again significant buyers today.”
Sebastian Hutch | Image courtesy of Inglis
Buyers from China and Hong Kong purchased seven horses from Book 2 whilst New Zealanders put their hand up for five.
Three went to buyers from Japan and there was also plenty of interest from interstate; New South Wales (16 individual buyers of 18 horses), Queensland (two buyers, two horses), South Australia (three buyers of six horses), Western Australia (three of four) and Tasmania (two buyers, two horses).
Lots of yearlings, lots of buyers
As Hutch said, there were lots of different buyers with over 120 different entities in action, including 78 from Victoria.
“There was no reliance at this sale on particular buyers or one particular jurisdiction,” he noted.
Though one knocked down to Victoria is actually a horse purchased by Mongolian owner Ganbaatar Dagvadorj (Lot 702 discussed below), not a country of origin we see too often on buyers' lists!
“That came via somewhat of a chance meeting between Mr Dagvadorj and Nicky Wong (Inglis’ International Business Development Manager). They have built up a good relationship and it is really exciting to have him buying at Inglis and having his horses race in Melbourne.”
Nicky Wong | Image courtesy of Inglis
Such as today’s colt who will be trained by Danny O’Brien.
“Hopefully he will have success and continue to participate in Australian racing,” Hutch said.
Whilst on a high on the back of a big week, Hutch also felt for those vendors who were taking horses home.
“We are not blissfully ignorant of the challenges there are in the market,” he said, “though I think there are far more positives than negatives.”
Trainers active in Book 2
One positive of Book 2 is that trainers unable to participate in Book 1 were able to find nice prospects.
“A lot of trainers were getting shut out on the first two days,” Hutch said.
“Book 2 is an important day for them, it is one of the last opportunities to acquire quality stock as what is left for the season is lesser sales or Easter which is typically the most competitive auction of the year.”
“Book 2 is an important day for them, it is one of the last opportunities to acquire quality stock as what is left for the season is lesser sales or Easter which is typically the most competitive auction of the year.” - Sebastian Hutch
“Today’s horses fit into the budget of a lot of buyers.”
There were certainly a variety of trainers in action on Tuesday with the majority of them buying one horse with four the most going to a stable; Nick Ryan purchased that many, as did South Australia’s Finnis Lodge.
Also amongst the trainers who bid successfully were Joe Pride, Ciaron Maher, Andrew Noblet, Dan Meagher, Charles Cassar, Nigel Blackiston, Lindsay Park, Reece Goodwin, Gavin Bedggood, Liam Howley, David Jolly, Simon Zahra, Greg Hickman, Robert Hickmott, Wendy Kelly, Greg Eurell, Enver Jusufovic, Henry Dwyer, John Sadler, Jon O’Connor, Lindsey Smith, Fraser Auret, Robbie Griffiths, Clayton Douglas, Peter Ferne, Thomas Sadler, Richard & Will Freedman, Marc Conners and Siggy Car.
Online bidding continues to captivate
With Inglis the first company worldwide to introduce online bidding, Hutch is proud of his company’s record and has enjoyed seeing the increase in this trade since Covid and the way in which it is embraced even by those at the complex.
“We’ve had horses bought by people who are out at the barns, they are bidding without interrupting their inspection processes. Or those going to the airport to get home. And I’ve seen plenty actually sitting in the auditorium bidding online, that’s how easy it is.
“A lot of those transactions used to be on the phone which has its limitations and I think the pandemic had a massive effect, once people were compelled to use online bidding they gained more confidence in it.”
When discussing the role of the Internet in thoroughbred business, Hutch also touched on digital sales, disagreeing with the notion that they have had a derogative effect on live sales.
A busy week in Melbourne | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The assumption is that Internet sales of tried horses tie up money that would otherwise be spent on yearlings but we have found that is not necessarily the case.
“Mostly buying tried horses online means that you can’t participate in the good two and three-year-olds so I really think it is a different market.
“There are plenty who don’t see it as their expertise to develop younger horses whilst some don’t have the staff which stands to reason when you consider the challenges the industry is facing in regards to track riders, etc.
“In general I think that digital sales are a net positive for the market. They draw transactions out into the open, into the public eye. You can see sales that in the past would’ve taken place privately and it creates competition.
“In general I think that digital sales are a net positive for the market. They draw transactions out into the open, into the public eye. You can see sales that in the past would’ve taken place privately and it creates competition.” - Sebastian Hutch
“We see a lot of six and seven-figure fillies and mares sold online, very often making more than predicted. That ultimately is a good advertisement for the market. If people see that they can buy a yearling filly at a value price, enjoy racetrack success and sell at a huge premium, well that can only be good for us!”
Enthusiastic response to young stallions
Hutch was happy with the response to the younger stallions with progeny on offer.
“Plenty come here wanting to see the Hanseatic yearlings for example,” he said. “Doubtland had smaller numbers, but what we had were very good-looking horses who sold well.”
Finding yearlings by those stallions is, Hutch noted, one of the challenges for those doing the inspections for the sales.
“Credit to our bloodstock team, they spend a lot of time looking at thousands of horses and working with vendors.”
Shadow Hill love Book 2, Ghaiyyath colt sells for 260k
Book 2 was a success story for Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds with their best result for the week coming on Tuesday, Lot 702 sold for $260,000 to Mongolian owner Ganbaatar Dagvadorj who will place him under the care of Danny O’Brien.
“Our client thought one of his other colts would be our sale topper,” Shadow Hill’s Kim Alderton said, “but I kept saying oh I’m not sure, I think the Ghaiyyath (Ire) colt might pip them all!”
And she was right, the handsome chestnut popular enough all week to have Alderton confident that he would sell well.
“He sold for a fair way over his reserve but I was comfortable that he was going to make that sort of money. There was plenty of interest in him, he had 22 x-ray hits and there was plenty of interest from local and Hong Kong buyers.
“He is a really athletic style of horse, a beautiful mover with a great temperament. He was in and out of his box all the time and just kept his cool the whole time.”
Hailing from the second local crop of Darley’s well credentialled Dubawi (Ire) stallion whose $107,500 average was the second best in Book 2, he is the third foal for the winner No Time Like Now (Nicconi) whose dam is a sister to the Listed winner Back On Target (Barely A Moment).
Lot 754 was another good result for Shadow Hill, a Doubtland colt admired by St Kilda Lodge and Shane McGrath Bloodstock who laid down $170,000 for him.
Out of Shadow Hill’s mare Show Us Your Tatts (Written Tycoon), he is a horse Alderton was confident would sell well.
“The good judges noticed him and I felt that he was well and truly worth that money,” she said.
Only selling at Melbourne Premier, saying that she likes to “stay local,” Alderton said she considered Farnan for Show Us Your Tatts but ended up supporting the Victorian Doubtland; “and that decision has paid off."
Shadow Hill ended the day with the highest Book 2 average of $215,000, tying with Yarran in regards to aggregate ($430,000).
Vega Lucky For Yarran
Enjoying his second sales season as Yarran’s Stud Manager, Chris Stokeld was grinning broadly after Lot 688 had Pride Racing going to $250,000 to secure the son of Yulong’s up-and-coming young stallion Lucky Vega (Ire) whose $150,000 average was the highest for any stallion with Book 2 yearlings.
The colt's dam Merva (Fastnet Rock) is a half-sister to the four-time Group winner I Am Me (I Am Invincible) and this colt who Stokeld described as “a cracking colt” is her second foal.
“She had a nice filly here last year,” Stokeld said, referring to Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath's $60,000 filly who has been named Zoom Queen (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and who has been jumping out nicely at Cranbourne.
“She is a lovely mare who is producing nice types for us,” said Stokeld who was confident that her colt was going to sell well, though not quite so well!
“Far out, it was unbelievable!” he laughed.
“But he has been really popular, he has been run off his feet all week and he had lots of x-ray hits.”
“I was pretty happy when he got to $100,000 so $250,000 is fantastic.”
Boasting an interesting pedigree the colt is a member of the Storm Cat (USA) line from the same family of that great stallion, one which also produced Royal Academy (USA), dam sire of Merva’s sire Fastnet Rock. The result being a 7 X 5 X 5 cross of the terrific mare Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}).
Thoroughbreds and standardbreds
Yabby Dam Farms brought four horses to the sale and sold them all including Lot 43, a $320,000 The Autumn Sun filly purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) and in front ofLot 269, a $280,000 Too Darn Hot (GB) colt bought by Yulong Investments.
And on the final day Lot 636, a $140,000 Kermadec colt also going to the bid of Sheamus Mills who teamed with Wilde Racing.
Yabby Dam’s Pat Driscoll was pleased with the results both from Book 1 and Book 2 and has the unique record of also enjoying good recent success selling standardbreds; taking nine horses to New Zealand just a few weeks ago where he achieved an average of $80,000 with a top of $240,000.
Driscoll, an accountant who was raised on a farm at St Arnaud, breeds with between 15 and 20 thoroughbred mares and between 50 and 60 standardbreds. He enjoys both sports, noting that “I just want the stud to be an overall success.”
Driscoll was also a buyer this week, taking home two fillies including Lot 175, a $200,000 Written Tycoon filly from the Yulong draft.
“I was happy to buy from Yulong and happy when they bought from me,” he said. “Our whole team is rapt with the results this week, everyone has done a wonderful job and I am more than happy.”
Top Lots for Book 2
| 702 | Ch. | Colt | Ghaiyyath (IRE) | No Time Like Now | Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds, Avenel | G Dagvadorj | VIC | $ 260,000 |
| 688 | B. | Colt | Lucky Vega (IRE) | Merva | Yarran Thoroughbreds, Seymour | Pride Racing | NSW | $ 250,000 |
| 754 | B. | Colt | Doubtland | Show Us Your Tatts | Shadow Hill Thoroughbreds, Avenel | St Kilda Lodge / Shane McGrath Bloodstock | NZ | $ 170,000 |
| 599 | B. or Br. | Colt | Wooded (IRE) | Calaway Cruizer | Penfold Thoroughbreds, Diggers Rest | Kendall Bloodstock | NEW ZEALAND | $ 160,000 |
| 636 | B. | Colt | Kermadec (NZ) | Etoile Brillante | Yabby Dam Farms, Cardigan | Wilde Racing Ply Ltd / Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | $ 140,000 |
| 689 | Br. | Colt | Doubtland | Metacarpal | Balius Farm, Darnum | Nick Ryan Racing Pty Ltd | VIC | $ 140,000 |
| 638 | Br. | Colt | Bivouac | Explosive Cross | Tarcoola Stud, Tuerong | M Chang | HONG KONG | $ 130,000 |
| 664 | B. | Colt | Russian Camelot (IRE) | Just Hifalutin | Yarran Thoroughbreds, Seymour | Ciaron Maher Bloodstock | VIC | $ 130,000 |
| 698 | Br. | Colt | Tagaloa | Motown Lil | Yulong, Nagambie | R Yiu | HONG KONG | $ 120,000 |
| 705 | B. | Filly | Shalaa (IRE) | Ocean Gate | Noorilim Park, Arcadia | P Payne | VIC | $ 120,000 |
| 787 | Br. | Colt | Written By | Twice as Sweet | Golden Grove, Denman, NSW | Williams Racing / Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) | VIC | $ 120,000 |
Leading Buyers by Aggregate
| Yulong Investments | 9 | $ 2,140,000 | $ 237,778 |
| Shane McGrath Bloodstock / Clinton McDonald Racing | 12 | $ 1,765,000 | $ 147,083 |
| R Yiu | 7 | $ 1,480,000 | $ 211,429 |
| Sutton Racing / McKeever Bloodstock / B Rogers | 5 | $ 1,340,000 | $ 268,000 |
| Lindsay Park Racing / Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 10 | $ 1,315,000 | $ 131,500 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 5 | $ 1,210,000 | $ 242,000 |
| C Ramsay | 5 | $ 1,080,000 | $ 216,000 |
| John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) | 6 | $ 1,010,000 | $ 168,333 |
| Resolute Racing / McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 1 | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 |
| Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) / Hong Kong Bloodstock | 1 | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 |
Leading Buyers by Average (3 or more bought)
| Upper Bloodstock Pty Ltd | 3 | $ 960,000 | $ 320,000 |
| Sutton Racing / McKeever Bloodstock / B Rogers | 5 | $ 1,340,000 | $ 268,000 |
| McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) | 3 | $ 740,000 | $ 246,667 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 5 | $ 1,210,000 | $ 242,000 |
| Proven Thoroughbreds / Pride Racing | 3 | $ 720,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Yulong Investments | 9 | $ 2,140,000 | $ 237,778 |
| C Ramsay | 5 | $ 1,080,000 | $ 216,000 |
| R Yiu | 7 | $ 1,480,000 | $ 211,429 |
| Cameron Cooke Bloodstock / Scott Cameron Racing | 3 | $ 630,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Shane Nichols Racing | 4 | $ 830,000 | $ 207,500 |
Vendors by Aggregate
| Yulong, Nagambie | 87 | 13 | 40 | $ 6,310,000 | $ 157,750 |
| Widden Stud, Riddells Creek | 48 | 4 | 38 | $ 3,614,500 | $ 95,118 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 36 | 9 | 21 | $ 3,465,000 | $ 165,000 |
| Blue Gum Farm, Euroa | 34 | 3 | 26 | $ 3,353,500 | $ 128,981 |
| Gilgai Farm, Nagambie | 14 | 1 | 13 | $ 3,009,000 | $ 231,462 |
| Segenhoe Stud, Scone, NSW | 15 | - | 13 | $ 1,910,000 | $ 146,923 |
| Newhaven Park, Boorowa, NSW | 15 | - | 15 | $ 1,885,000 | $ 125,667 |
| Two Bays Farm, Flinders | 14 | - | 13 | $ 1,795,000 | $ 138,077 |
| Crossley Thoroughbreds, Avenel | 25 | 3 | 17 | $ 1,595,000 | $ 93,824 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 13 | 2 | 9 | $ 1,580,000 | $ 175,556 |
Vendors by Average (3 or more sold)
| Gilgai Farm, Nagambie | 14 | 1 | 13 | $ 3,009,000 | $ 231,462 |
| The Chase, Sutton Forest, NSW | 8 | 3 | 3 | $ 660,000 | $ 220,000 |
| Emirates Park Pty Ltd, Murrurundi, NSW | 6 | 1 | 3 | $ 600,000 | $ 200,000 |
| Yabby Dam Farms, Cardigan | 7 | 3 | 4 | $ 770,000 | $ 192,500 |
| Morning Rise Stud, Red Hill | 8 | 2 | 6 | $ 1,085,000 | $ 180,833 |
| Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW | 12 | 3 | 8 | $ 1,445,000 | $ 180,625 |
| Yarraman Park Stud, Scone, NSW | 13 | 2 | 9 | $ 1,580,000 | $ 175,556 |
| Vinery Stud, Scone, NSW | 14 | 1 | 9 | $ 1,527,500 | $ 169,722 |
| Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre | 36 | 9 | 21 | $ 3,465,000 | $ 165,000 |
| Milburn Creek, Wildes Meadow, NSW | 6 | 3 | 3 | $ 490,000 | $ 163,333 |
Sires by Aggregate
| Toronado (IRE) | 21 | 2 | 14 | $ 3,735,000 | $ 266,786 |
| Zoustar | 14 | 3 | 7 | $ 2,180,000 | $ 311,429 |
| Written Tycoon | 22 | 6 | 9 | $ 2,160,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 13 | 3 | 9 | $ 2,085,000 | $ 231,667 |
| Ole Kirk | 13 | 2 | 10 | $ 1,725,000 | $ 172,500 |
| The Autumn Sun | 14 | 10 | $ 1,620,000 | $ 162,000 | |
| I Am Invincible | 11 | 4 | 6 | $ 1,570,000 | $ 261,667 |
| Pinatubo (IRE) | 12 | 10 | $ 1,565,000 | $ 156,500 | |
| Frankel (GB) | 7 | 1 | 3 | $ 1,560,000 | $ 520,000 |
| Home Affairs | 14 | 2 | 10 | $ 1,550,000 | $ 155,000 |
Sires by Average (3 or more sold)
| Frankel (GB) | 7 | 1 | 3 | $ 1,560,000 | $ 520,000 |
| Zoustar | 14 | 3 | 7 | $ 2,180,000 | $ 311,429 |
| Toronado (IRE) | 21 | 2 | 14 | $ 3,735,000 | $ 266,786 |
| I Am Invincible | 11 | 4 | 6 | $ 1,570,000 | $ 261,667 |
| Written Tycoon | 22 | 6 | 9 | $ 2,160,000 | $ 240,000 |
| Wootton Bassett (GB) | 13 | 3 | 9 | $ 2,085,000 | $ 231,667 |
| Extreme Choice | 3 | - | 3 | $ 675,000 | $ 225,000 |
| Too Darn Hot (GB) | 6 | 2 | 4 | $ 840,000 | $ 210,000 |
| Snitzel | 8 | 4 | 4 | $ 820,000 | $ 205,000 |
| Lucky Vega (IRE) | 13 | 3 | 6 | $ 1,140,000 | $ 190,000 |
First Season Sires by Average
| St Mark's Basilica (FR) | 4 | - | 4 | $ 720,000 | $ 180,000 |
| Stay Inside | 14 | 4 | 7 | $ 1,152,500 | $ 164,643 |
| Pinatubo (IRE) | 12 | - | 10 | $ 1,565,000 | $ 156,500 |
| Home Affairs | 14 | 2 | 10 | $ 1,550,000 | $ 155,000 |
| Wild Ruler | 8 | 2 | 6 | $ 920,000 | $ 153,333 |
| Wooded (IRE) | 9 | 1 | 6 | $ 562,000 | $ 93,667 |
| Portland Sky | 7 | 1 | 6 | $ 460,000 | $ 76,667 |
| Palace Pier (GB) | 7 | 1 | 6 | $ 400,000 | $ 66,667 |
| Sword of State | 1 | - | 1 | $ 65,000 | $ 65,000 |
| Extreme Warrior | 2 | - | 1 | $ 60,000 | $ 60,000 |
| Captivant | 3 | 1 | 1 | $ 55,000 | $ 55,000 |
| Tiger of Malay | 5 | - | 4 | $ 193,000 | $ 48,250 |
| Acrobat | 5 | 2 | 3 | $ 80,000 | $ 26,667 |
| Profiteer | 3 | - | 1 | $ 20,000 | $ 20,000 |
