Recap
The 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale maintained the growth and strength that has characterised the market thus far this year. The sale set records for both overall gross and Book 1 average, with increases being seen across most of the board. Inglis did an exceptional job yet again to ensure the sale went off as a success, despite the threat of COVID-19 in Victoria.
Book 1 Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price |
| 2021 | $139k | $105k | 88% | 521 | $1.1 mil |
| 2020 | $127k | $110k | 83% | 463 | $725k |
As shown by the table above, which covers Book 1, there were increases across almost all categories. The sales topper, Blue Gum’s Lot 70, a Written Tycoon colt, became only the second Thoroughbred in Victoria to pass the seven-figure mark when he was knocked down for $1.1 million.
Below are the statistics for the Showcase session.
Showcase Session Review
| Year | Average | Median | Clearance Rate | Lots Offered | Top Price |
| 2021 | $46k | $40k | 88% | 195 | $175k |
| 2020 | $46k | $36k | 78% | 234 | $180k |
Leading the sire standings by median (with 3 or more sold) was Yarraman Park’s flagship stallion I Am Invincible. Of stallions with first yearlings on offer, it was Newgate’s Pariah who led median with three or more sold. Of sires with first runners, Arrowfield’s shuttler Shalaa (IRE) shook things up by taking the top spot by both average and median with three or more sold.
*All statistics are for the Premier Session only
Purchases
The Inglis Melbourne Premier sale is a key sale on my calendar, and this year’s edition was no exception. We took home thirteen yearlings, the most I have ever purchased at a single sale, and hope they follow in the success of previous graduates we’ve secured from this sale. Some of the horses I have purchased here include Group 1 winner Scales of Justice, Group 3 winner Take Pride, stakes winner Beautiful Mind, and exciting young prospect Tuvalu.
Lot 41, a son of Magnus, kicked off the sale. Consigned by Rushton Park, the sharp looking colt was purchased on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $200,000. He is out of a winning Starcraft (NZ) half-sister to two listed winners.
Hip 95 was purchased for $120,000 from the top-class team at Three Bridges with trainer Lindsay Smith. The scopey looking Zoustar colt is out of an American family and his dam is a half-sister to a listed winner and a Grade 3 winner.
A Smart Missile colt catalogued as Lot 253 concluded Day 1 of the sale. The racy bay was part of the Silverdale draft and is a half-brother to Vaucluse Bay, who is listed placed at Moonee Valley. Being a November foal, we expect him to mature and were very happy to get him for $70,000 for Lindsay Smith’s stable. Lindsay is a longtime client of mine and we have had a great run of success at this sale with horses such as Scales of Justice, Beautiful Mind, Stripped Back, and Tuvalu among others.
Lot 316, an exceptionally strong Deep Field filly from Flinders Park, kicked off Day 2. Purchased for $280,000 with Lindsay Smith, she is out of an Exceed and Excel half-sister to two listed winners.
Next was Lot 369, an athletic son of Tavistock (NZ) for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Secured for $400,000 through the Maluka draft on account of Cambridge Stud, he looks sharper than the typical Tavistock (NZ), which could be thanks to his damsire being the speedy Pivotal (GB), one of the world’s leading broodmare sires. His dam won sprinting in the UK and has already produced a stakes winner.
Lot 409 was another exceptional Tavistock (NZ) for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This one was more in the mold of his sire, with more scope and an athletic walk. Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds, he is out of a listed placed Elusive City (USA) mare. The colt was purchased for $220,000.
Lot 457, offered by Supreme Thoroughbreds, was purchased on behalf of a client in WA and is a daughter of Toronado (IRE), a stallion on the rise. Knocked down for $100,000, the scopey looking bay is a daughter of a winning Exceed and Excel mare and from the family of multiple stakes winner Lady Knockout and multiple group winner Mizzy.
Lot 492 is an exceptional son of the red hot young sire Capitalist and was purchased with Lindsay Smith, who stretched farther than he ever has to secure the colt he believed was the best horse on the grounds. Out of a winning Redoute’s Choice mare and offered by Caithness Breeding, we look forward to seeing what this colt’s future holds.
Last but not least on Monday was Lot 525, who I truly believe is the best Deep Field colt I have seen all sales season thus far. Offered by Grenville Stud, he was secured for the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $550,000. A strong chestnut with an incredible shoulder, girth, and hip, he is out of a winning More Than Ready mare and from the family of Group 2 winner Downhill Racer.
Next up was Lot 587, a colt by Spirit of Boom from the Three Bridges draft. Purchased with Matt Cumani for $160,000, the strong dark bay is out of the listed Commands mare, Dorf Command.
Lot 603 was again for Matt Cumani, this time a lovely bay filly by Nicconi. Offered by Rosemont Stud, we went to $40,000 to secure her and think she provides great value. She is out of a Fastnet Rock mare and from the family of Group 1 winner Zipping.
Offered by Merricks Station, Lot 620 was purchased for a group of clients looking to race a horse together. A son of Sizzling, the athletic bay is out of a listed placed Magic Albert mare. He was purchased for $35,000 and will head to the Brett Robb stable.
Last but not least was Lot 791, a grey son of Akeed Mofeed (GB) purchased with Domain Thoroughbreds and will go into the Matt Cumani stable. From the draft of Cornerstone Stud, the scopey colt is a half-brother to the Group 2 winning filly Arabian Gold, who herself is by Dubawi (IRE), the sire of Akeed Mofeed (GB). He was purchased for $60,000.
We are extremely pleased with the results of this sale and look forward to seeing this draft’s careers unfold. The next sale I will be preparing for is Inglis Easter and I look forward to beginning inspections.
