Easter opens strong

There were few surprises at the first session of the three-day Inglis Easter

Yearling Sale in Sydney on Tuesday. Domestic buyers and Redoute's Choice

dominated, with the Arrowfield stallion accounting for the top three

horses on the day. The sales topper was Hip No. 169, a colt out of multiple

stakes winner Egyptian Ibis

(Straight Strike) who was purchased for A$2 million by Melbourne-based

agent Rob McAnulty. Consigned by Coolmore, agent, the bay is a half to Hong Kong

Horse of the Year Grand Delight.

The leading light came midway through the afternoon when McAnulty outlasted underbidders

that included Walter Alteri of Newlands Stud and

Bob Ingham's Woodlands to get the stunning dark bay colt. Sporting four white socks and a white

blaze, the youngster cruised around the sales ring as though he had not a care in the world as

his four would-be purchasers fought it out. McAnulty, sitting at the top of the

auditorium, prevailed on behalf of a group of eight businessmen.

"He is a

beautiful, athletic colt, but he cost a bit more than I thought," said McAnulty,

adding, "We have a group of people, but there will be a couple of shares in him

to sell."

Redoute's Choice had 18 yearlings go under the hammer Tuesday, and

they averaged A$627,800. McAnulty also secured last year's first-day topper, a

Redoute's Choice colt out of the Last Tycoon (Ire) mare Urge to Merge.

That colt, named Allied Force, is trained by David Hayes.

Five youngsters made A$1 million or more

on opening day, compared with seven last year, but the clearance rate dropped

from 90 percent to 74.4 percent, and several high-profile yearlings failed to

reach their reserves. With an additional 39 yearlings offered in the 2007

catalogued, the average climbed 13.9 percent, from A$260,663 to A$296,958, and

the gross rose to A$49.2 million.

"Eighty percent clearance is acceptable, and

we are not far off it," asserted Inglis acting Managing Director Jamie Inglis.

"It was 90 percent last year, but that is the stuff of dreams and will not

happen again in my time."

Woodlands Stud, leading buyer at Easter last year

after spending A$13.1 million on 27 yearlings, spent A$4,570,000 on 10 yearlings

Tuesday, and the team was also underbidder on many of the day's sales toppers.