Inglis ends on a high note

Participants at the Inglis Australian Easter Sale were reeling by the end of

Thursday's session as the market gained tidal-wave momentum on the third and

final day of the event. An unprecedented 15 yearlings -- nine fillies and six

colts -- surpassed the A$1-million barrier.

Sustained purchasing at the top end by representatives of Sheikh Mohammed,

Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and dominant leading buyer Woodlands

Stud ensured plenty of fireworks as dusk fell over the Newmarket sale complex.

An ebullient new group, headed by Tim Hughes, was also well represented, with

agent James Bester handling the bidding duties.

The passed-in rate, a subject of much angst over the first two sessions,

improved to a respectable 18.9 percent as the three-day sale closed with 445

lots sold for total receipts of A$148,215,000. The cumulative average climbed to

A$332,545, up 15.8 percent on last year's average of A$287,295. The cumulative

median was up 11.1 percent, to A$200,000.

"The number of million-dollar-plus yearlings sold puts Easter on a relative

scale to any sale in the world," said Jamie Inglis, acting managing director,

William Inglis & Son. "However, the most pleasing aspect is the diversity of the

buying bench with solid competition from the United Kingdom, USA, Ireland,

Europe, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong. It's indicative

of the esteem in which the Australian Thoroughbred is held and will have

long-term ramifications for our breeding industry. I truly thought that with the

extra 100 or so lots that we would struggle to maintain the average, so this

result is truly remarkable."

A total of 23 yearlings sold for seven-figure sums, with the Ingham family's

Woodlands Stud accounting for just two of them despite topping the buyers' list

with 25 purchased for A$15.4 million. The Ingham buying team is comprised of

patriarch Bob Ingham, bloodstock manager Trevor Lobb and his second-in-command

Rick Connelly, trainer John Hawkes and various family members.

Woodlands Stud had the winning bid on Thursday's top seller, going

to A$2.2 million for Hip No. 564, an Encosta de Lago filly out of Twyla

(Danehill).

"We have had great success with our purchases to date and we hope that will

continue with what we've bought this year," Lobb said. "The fillies we are

buying are great outcrosses for us. It has been a very strong sale for the top

of the market."

Consigned as Hip 564 by Coolmore, the elegant bay left Encosta de Lago within

a whisker of perennial leading sire Redoute's Choice, with 39 yearlings by the

Fairy King stallion averaging A$644,487 -- a significant hike on his average of

A$345,000 last year.

Woodlands Stud was also responsible for the co-second-highest price for a

colt on the day, going to A$2 million for an Elusive Quality youngster consigned

by Tyreel Stud owner Jim Fleming's son Dean Fleming, who has 15 mares at the

Castlereagh farm. Selling as Hip 431, the colt is out of multiple Group 1 winner

Republic Lass (Canny Lad).

"It has been a very strong sale for the top of the market," Lobb said. "There

have probably been a few too many horses in the sale, but overall, it has been a

very strong sale."

For the session, 189 horses sold for A$70,585,000, an increase of 47.3

percent over last year when 162 brought A$47,935,000. The average climbed 26.2

percent, from A$295,895 to A$373,466, while the median remained the same at

A$200,000.