Local, interstate and overseas buyers converged on Sydney for a positive opening day to the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale snapping up 124 of Australasia’s finest bred and conformed young thoroughbreds.

“Competition in the ring has been fantastic. Buyers recognise that year on year Easter rolls out champions on the racetrack and in the breeding barn, and they come back to buy the next generation – it’s a well-known and proven formula,” said Inglis' Managing Director Mark Webster.

John Warren took home the top priced yearling today when going to $1,600,000 to secure the Fastnet Rock colt from Alinghi’s sister Perfect Persuasion that was offered by Coolmore Stud as Lot 149 (pictured right)

The $200,000 median today is on par with the opening day of the 2013 Easter Sale, but the clearance rate of 74% is higher than that recorded at the end of Day One last year.

There were plenty of records set today though, with new highs for a colt by Snitzel and a filly by Lonhro at a yearling auction.

The new record auction price for a yearling by Snitzel was set when Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum outbid James Harron as well as John Warren and the China Horse Club to buy Lot 118. Offered by Arrowfield Stud the brother to Group 1 winner Snitzerland (Snitzel x Monte Rosa) was eventually knocked down for $1,500,000.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum also secured the third highest priced yearling today going to $1,050,000 to buy Lot 127, a filly by Street Cry from Munhro that was offered from the draft of Segenhoe Stud. In all Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum bought four yearlings for $3,625,000 today.

Both the trainers and owners of Golden Slipper winning Easter graduate Mossfun were strong on the opening day of this year’s sale.

Hawkes Racing (pictured) purchased three yearlings for $1,370,000 including an even $1,000,000 for Coolmore Stud’s filly by Fastnet Rock from Hips Don’t Lie (Lot 42).
Emirates Park, which bought Mossfun for just $85,000 last year, picked up Little Avondale Stud’s filly by Pins from Kumari (Lot 74) for $410,000.

A new record price was set for a Lonhro yearling at auction amongst today’s action when John Moynihan of the USA out bid Shadwell Stud’s Angus Gold to purchase Turangga Farm’s filly from Midnight Joy (Lot 105) for $840,000. The Lonhro filly and Lot 38, a Fastnet Rock filly bought by Spendthrift Farm USA for $400,000, will both stay to be raced in Australia.

Shadwell Stud took home South Africa’s two most exciting juveniles Banadeer and Majmu from last year’s Easter Sale and Angus Gold was strong again today purchasing seven lots for $3,235,000.

Photos of today’s top lots can be viewed on Inglis’ Facebook page InglisBloodstock

Trainers, agents and syndicators from all over Australia were active today including Mark Kavanagh, Danny O’Brien, Peter Moody, Sam Kavanagh, Mick Price, Edwards Elkington Racing, Bjorn Baker, Anthony Cummings, Gai Waterhouse, Round Table Racing, Boomer Bloodstock, Snowden Racing, John Chalmers Bloodstock, Dynamic Syndications, Triple Crown Bloodstock, Snowden Racing and many more.

Overseas clients that purchased on Day One included buyers from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“There is such as broad range of owners, trainers, agents and syndicators all here at Newmarket, making for some great bidding duels over the cream of Australasia’s yearling crop yet again,” added Webster.

Horses passed in during today’s session are available for sale via the Inglis Make-An-Offer Service.

Complete vendor, buyer and sire statistics for today’s session can be viewed at www.inglis.com.au

Day Two of the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale starts at 10:30am tomorrow, Wednesday 9 April. All the live sale ring action can be again viewed in TVN, 7Two and online via Inglis Sale Day Live. Online Bidding will be available for buyers not able to make it to Newmarket.