The 2021 Inglis Classic yearling sale continued to show the strength of the yearling market in Australia, with records being set in several categories for the sale. Many thanks to the whole team at Inglis who ensured this sale could proceed at the high level it did despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Book 1 Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price | Lots =/over $200,000 |
| 2021 | $102k | $80k | 91% | 548 | $625k | 50 |
| 2020 | $87k | $75k | 86% | 563 | $380k | 33 |
As shown by the table above, which covers Book 1, there were increases across all categories. The top price of $625,000, brought by a son of Newgate’s in-demand young sire Capitalist, set a sale record. In fact, the top two lots, both by Capitalist, broke the previous highwater mark of $550,000. Lot 591, a filly by Widden’s flagship stallion Zoustar, set a record for highest price filly, bringing $450,000. One of the most notable increases this year is the number of horses that brought $200,000 or more. 50 lots reached/exceeded that price, roughly a 40% increase. The sale also set records for overall gross, average, and median in Book 1.
In terms of the international buying bench, 48 lots were purchased in 2020 from five different jurisdictions. This year while the number of jurisdictions remained the same, only 32 lots were sourced from this sale by international buyers. Like Magic Millions, Hong Kong carried the international representation.
Below are the statistics for the Highway session of the sale, which again showed increases in every metric. Again, the number that jumps out comes from the lots equal/over $100,000 category, with 15 bringing that figure or more, an outstanding 73% increase from the previous year.
Highway Session Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price | Lots =/over $100,000 |
| 2021 | $48k | $37.5k | 88% | 159 | $220k | 15 |
| 2020 | $37k | $30k | 81% | 176 | $160k | 7 |
Leading the sire standings by median (with 3 or more sold) was Yarraman Park’s stalwart I Am Invincible. Of stallions with first two-year olds this year, Capitalist was the runaway leader by all markers, and even topped the overall list by aggregate. For stallions with their first crop of yearlings on offer, Cambridge’s NZ based shuttler Almanzor (FR) continued to impress, topping the categories of top price, average, and median in his class. He also led the overall table by average of stallions with three or more sold.
Purchases
The Inglis Classic Yearling sale has provided Boomer Bloodstock and clients with some great horses over the years, such as Lady Sniper, Sweet Deal, Prize Catch, and Garibaldi. This year we were thrilled to purchase six horses for a range of clients.
Boomer Bloodstock kicked the sale off with the purchase of Lot 205, a flashy chestnut filly by first-season sire Russian Revolution. She is out of the Zamindar mare Orion Love (GB), who was competitive at the Group level in France. The filly, offered by Lustre Lodge, was purchased for $75,000 with Matt Cumani and Peter Diamond. We hope this filly will continue the success we have had together as a group with Tycoon Bec and Lady Naturaliste.
Day Two of the sale began with Lot 298, purchased for Lindsey Smith’s Warrnambool stable. The scopey filly by Vancouver was secured for $65,000 from Berkeley Park Stud. She is out of a Per Incanto half- sister to Group 2 winner All Roads (All Our Roads).
Lot 393 was next, bought from Yarraman Park for Matt Cumani. The colt is a son of top class sire I Am Invincible and has a great frame that, coupled with his later foaling date, point to him only improving as he matures. Purchased for $180,000, he a half-brother to stakes winner Secret Trail and Magic Legend, who is Group 3 placed in Hong Kong.
Lot 478, a well-bred son of young stallion Outreach, was secured for Matt Cumani and syndicator Domain Thoroughbreds, who I have teamed up with before on horses such as Declares War. The bay colt is a half-brother to Group 1 winner and young sire Under the Louvre. He was purchased for $60,000 from Kanangra.
The day was rounded off with Lot 488, a colt by Dundeel (NZ), was also secured for Matt Cumani. Offered by Holbrook Thoroughbreds the attractive bay is out of a half to the group performer Trichologist. He was purchased for $280,000 and was a very similar physical to Cumani’s Derby performer Hit the Shot.
Lot 580, a filly by Press Statement, was purchased on the final day of the sale for CJ Stone and her racing group. The group and Boomer Bloodstock have had great success buying fillies out of this sale together before, purchasing multiple Group winner Sweet Deal in 2015. The filly is out of a daughter of listed winner and group performer Dubleanny. She was purchased for $70,000 and impressed us with her professional attitude.
Another yearling by Press Statement, this time a colt, rounded off our purchases for the sale. Offered by Vinery, who stand Press Statement, Lot 793 was purchased for $70,000 with Matt Cumani. The precocious looking colt is a full brother to the promising Sydney two-year old Mistaken Identity.
We will now prepare for the Melbourne Premier Yearling sale at the end of February, which is one of my favorite sales of the season. We’ve had great success out of this sale, including recent impressive maiden winners Tuvalu and Stripped Back along with proven horses like Scales of Justice , Take Pride, and Beautiful Mind.
